With a roster featuring Hina Sugita of Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC’s Jun Endo, Japan enters the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on the hunt for the team's second title on global football's grandest stage. The Japanese national team, or Nadeshiko Japan as the team is commonly referred to, has a rich history in the World Cup as one of seven national teams to appear in all nine iterations of World Cup. Their most notable runs saw them reach the finals in 2011 and 2015, defeating the United States to win their first-ever title in 2011 before losing the rematch four years later.

With a roster featuring Hina Sugita of Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC’s Jun Endo, Japan enters the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on the hunt for the team's second title on global football's grandest stage. The Japanese national team, or Nadeshiko Japan as the team is commonly referred to, has a rich history in the World Cup as one of seven national teams to appear in all nine iterations of World Cup. Their most notable runs saw them reach the finals in 2011 and 2015, defeating the United States to win their first-ever title in 2011 before losing the rematch four years later.Amid a strong NWSL season, Sugita returns to Nadeshiko Japan looking to avenge the team's Round of 16 elimination from the 2019 World Cup. In 12 games played for Portland so far, Sugita has totaled 3 goals and 3 assists. Endo, also a member of the 2019 roster, has 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games played for Angel City. While Endo picked up an assist in the 2019 tournament, both players are in search of their first World Cup goals. Japan will begin its latest World Cup run with a match against Zambia on Satruday, July 22nd.