Japan finally make their debut on the global Wheelchair Handball stage as they get ready to appear in Cairo at the third edition of the IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship.

Late last year, the Japan Wheelchair Handball Federation (JWHF) held the 21st edition of the Japan Wheelchair Handball National Championship in Sakai City, with the 22nd edition set to take place in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture this coming November.

This highlights both the depth in quality and history of the sport in the Asian country which can boast 135 players (including 30 with physical disabilities) across 13 teams registered to the JWHF.

In Cairo, Japan have been drawn into preliminary group A where they will face teams from three different continents: Brazil, France and the United States of America as they look to progress through the competition.

“For Team Japan, every single game is new and the first against the team, but we will do our best and give all we’ve got,” said captain Takashi Yasuda to ihf.info.

“We are so proud to participate in the world championship – it’s our first time competing on the world level and we will try our best to become world champions. We consider ourselves an aggressive team, especially in offence, with good wheelchair handling and throwing skills.”

And for coach Mitsuru Onishi, he is relishing the opportunity to test himself and his team against the world’s best.

“We can’t wait,” said the 57-year-old to ihf.info. “Every single game is our first against any of the teams and we will play strong teams, such as the current champion, Brazil, plus France and the USA. Every single game is going to be tough but we will play as ‘one team’.

“But with our players’ skill level, quickness of wheelchair handling and throwing skill, there’s a good chance that we have good games in this competition,” he added. “All the players and team officials will play together as ‘one team’ and we would like to become ‘the eye of a typhoon’ on this world stage.”

2024 represents an opportunity two years in the making for the Japanese. Back in 2022, a lack of available players meant that plans to participate in the six-a-side world championship in Portugal were shelved, but that disappointment is now a distant memory as the country finally makes the step up to the global sporting event.

“For Japan Handball, it has been our earnest wish to be a part of this event,” explained Akihiro Nakashima, Senior Managing Director – JWHF, to ihf.info. “We have had national championship games in a variety of areas in Japan, but including players without physical disabilities. We have also had trial sessions for Wheelchair Handball in a variety of places in Japan, participated in the para-sports events in Tokyo and had training courses for referees and coaches in different blocs in Japan. 

“With this world championship we can now become a member of the world Wheelchair Handball family and it’s going to be a great chance for us to promote this sport not only in Japan, but also throughout the Asian region.

“We wish our players and coaches strive to become the world champion, but we also wish that they make lots of friends with those from the participating nations.”

Japan will hope that Egypt 2024 will act as a catalyst for more international appearances in the coming years, in addition to their regular hosting of local and regional competitions back home.

To help the Japan delegation with their preparation and appearance at Egypt 2024, a crowdfunding campaign was set up with a goal of 4,000,000 Japanese Yen (23,700 CHF). Ahead of the championship, this target had been exceeded https://readyfor.jp/projects/wc-handball with 4,423,000 Yen (26,000 CHF) raised, once again highlighting the support of the sport in the country.

“We’ve come a long way and overcome so many hurdles and it would not have been possible without the great support from the IHF, Japan Handball Association (JHA), Japan Wheelchair Handball Federation (JWHF), plus many volunteer staff members, our family and friends,” explained Onishi.

“I would like to express my deep appreciation to the IHF and Egyptian Handball Federation for hosting this event as it’s a great honour for Japan to be able to participate in this event. We will carry on the passion and intentions of those who have worked with Wheelchair Handball for so many years, and we hope that it will become a Paralympic sport in the near future.” 

Coach: Mitsuru ONISHI

Previous appearances: 2022 (4-a-side): DNQ, 2022 (6-a-side): DNQ

Preliminary Group at Egypt 2024: Group A – Brazil, France, Japan, United States of America