Japan have missed out on taking part in the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship only twice, in 1977 and 1981, with North Macedonia 2024 being their 21st consecutive appearance in the world handball flagship competition.

However, they have made the top-10 only twice, in 1997, when they secured their best-ever finish, the eighth place, and at Slovenia 2022, when they were ninth, underlining their penchant of improvement over the last year in women’s handball, as the Asian side delivered better and better performances.

This generation was not present at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, as they could not be present at the 2022 Asian Women's Youth Handball Championship due to Covid-19 restrictions, but they bounced back admirably over the last year, when they finished third at the 2023 Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship.

Last summer, at the Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship, Japan finished third, after conceding only two losses. The first one was against the champions, the Republic of Korea, 30:34, in the preliminary round, which saw Japan finish second and face the People’s Republic of China in the semi-finals.

With everything on the line there, Japan ended up with a loss, 27:28, after a superb comeback from China, which were down, 11:16, at the break, as Japan had to settle for the bronze medal.

Nevertheless, Japan are on the rise and will always be a dark horse, exerting pressure on their opponents, especially the European sides, which are in need to adapt to the free-flowing style of the Asian team. But with Norway and Denmark as opponents, plus the Chinese Taipei, which Japan won against in the bronze medal match, 43:23, in the continental competition, a main round berth might be just out of reach for Japan.

Key players: Ayumu Koyama (right back), Ayumi Rokugawa (left back), Konoka Azuma (right back)

Qualification: 2023 Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship: Bronze medal

History in the competition: 1979: 10th, 1983: 15th, 1985: 12th, 1987: 15th, 1989: 10th, 1991: 13th, 1993: 12th, 1995: 12th, 1997: 8th, 1999: 19th, 2001: 20th, 2003: 17th, 2005: 10th, 2008: 14th, 2010: 16th, 2012: 16th, 2014: 21st, 2014: 17th, 2016: 15th, 2018: 14th, 2022: 9th 

Group at North Macedonia 2024: Group D (Denmark, Norway, Japan, Chinese Taipei)