From 6th and 5th place finishes in 2021 and 2022, to Group B in 2023, and now the very realistic chance for relegation, Japan is a women's hockey nation in turmoil.
From 6th and 5th place finishes in 2021 and 2022, to Group B in 2023, and now the very realistic chance for relegation, Japan is a women's hockey nation in turmoil.
Japan has often been talked about among the top teams in women's hockey, but it appears that could be changing, and there is no clear course correction for the nation.
After losing their opening game to China at the 2024 World Championships in a shootout, Japan lost to Germany 4-1. It was a crucial win for the Germans who now look set to stay in the top division of the World Championships, while it was a crushing blow to Japan who are on the verge of relegation for the first time since 2016.
Japan is a harbinger for other nations, of the need to find better competition for players to remain among the world's elite. Prior to last year's World Championship, Japan only had two key members of their roster, Ayaka Hitosato and Haruka Toko playing outside of Japan against stronger competition.
This season that number grew significantly to five players - Hitosato, Toko, Mei Mirui, Hikuru Yamashita, and Kanami Seki- in the SDHL, two in the SWHL in Aoi Shiga and Yoshino Enomoto, and Akane Shiga in the PWHL.
While it was a positive step, it came too late to make a noticeable difference. It's compounded by the fact that Japanese players have been completing their studies in Japan rather than coming to the NCAA. Nations usurping Japan in the international ranks including Germany, Czechia, Sweden, and Finland have been seeing more and more players come to North American at a younger age, some prior to the NCAA to play.
After a 6th place finish in 2021, and a 5th place finish in 2022, the two highest placings for Team Japan in history, a significant shift was seen last year as Japan dropped to Group B, and this year continued that plummet toward relegation out of the World Championships' top division.
Japan's hopes to stay in the top division is in some ways out of their hands. If China beats Denmark and Germany to finish their tournament, they would guarantee Japan is relegated. To avoid relegation, Japan will need to win their final two games in regulation against Sweden and Denmark, with China losing at least one of their games.