Japan's continued success in women's football, including their Women's Asian Cup victory this year, is underpinned by the Japanese Football Association (JFA) Academy system. This initiative is credited with developing the nation's distinctive, technically proficient playing style.
The JFA operates three academies for girls across Japan: Fukushima, Sakai, and Imabari. Fukushima, the first to open in 2006, has a notable track record, with 25% of its original players progressing to the senior national team. At the 2023 World Cup, five of Japan's 23 players were Fukushima academy graduates, a number that rose to seven for the Paris Olympics a year later.
Players typically enter these academies at 13. Manaka Hayashi, who graduated in 2022 and now plays for Juventus, highlighted the rigorous selection process, with only a small number chosen from hundreds of applicants. The academies combine football training with education, including dedicated programmes for English and football-specific language.
Former national team analyst Shota Mishio, who coached at the Fukushima academy, emphasised the focus on technique and endurance as core tenets of the training. Hayashi also noted the emphasis on technical skill to compete against physically stronger international teams, stating, "We had to be skilful on the ball to become better than other countries."