In each of the last four editions of the IHF Women’s World Championship, Japan have delivered at least one surprising result, beating an European side. It was Montenegro in 2017, Romania in 2019, Croatia in 2021 and Denmark and Serbia in 2023.

Over this time, Japan have finished 16th, 10th, 11th and 17th respectively in the last editions of the competition, breaking into the top-10 only once, but showed their penchant of being a dark horse and delivering shock after shock, or keeping their opponents in check throughout the 60 minutes of a match.

Indeed, the Asian side was close to improving on their result in 2021 at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, when they lost in the last second against Germany, 30:31, then lost only by two goals against Poland, 30:32, and four goals against Romania, 28:32.

But they did win against co-hosts Denmark, the bronze medallists, 27:26, in Herning, and against Serbia, 22:20, providing a roadmap for future improvement. And at Germany/Netherlands 2025, they want to do just that.

Nevertheless, they are facing some familiar foes in Group A, three teams which they already won against over the last six years – Denmark, Romania and Croatia, drawing the short straw in an action-packed Group A.

Japan’s growth has been truly on display at the previous edition of the AHF Asian Women's Handball Championship, where they finally secured the title for the first time in 20 years, breaking a five-edition stint as runners-up against archrivals the Republic of Korea.

Last winter, Japan built a five-match winning streak, including a 25:24 win in the final against Korea, to secure their second continental title in history, after the one clinched in 2004, with an experienced generation of players firing from all cylinders.

Now, Japan are trying to take it one step further, as they appointed Morten Soubak as the coach of the women’s national team in late June. Soubak will be the second Danish coach of the Japan women’s senior national team, after Ulrik Kirkely led the team between 2017 and 2021, including during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, when Japan finished on the 12th place.

"I'm very proud to lead the Japanese women's national team, I want to make this team stronger and better from now on," said Soubak upon his presentation.

Between 2007 and 2011, he moved to Brazil, where he coached EC Pinheiros, taking over the Brazil women’s national team in 2009. That coincided with the biggest success of his career, leading Brazil to the title at the 2013 IHF Women’s World Championship, one of the biggest surprises in the history of the competition.    
After seven years spent in Brazil – three of which he also spent in Austria, at Hypo Niederosterreich – Soubak moved to Angola, where he led both a club side, Primeiro de Agosto, and the women’s national team, being the latter’s coach between 2017 and 2021.

"My goal with this team is initially to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and reach the quarterfinals during this phase. In the long term, we will continue to work on strengthening our team, always with the goal of becoming one of the best teams in the world in mind," added the Danish coach.

Japan have plenty of experience in their squad, including some players who are featuring in Europe, such as backs Natsuki Aizawa and Haruno Sasaki and right wing Asuka Fujita, who has been stellar in the first part of the new season for Romanian outfit Gloria Bistrița.

Key players: Natsuki Aizawa (centre back), Kaho Nakayama (right back), Haruno Sasaki (left back). Asuka Fujita (right wing)

Coach: Morten Soubak

Qualification for GER/NED 2025: 2024 AHF Asian Women's Handball Championship: Winners

History in tournament: 1962: 9th, 1965: 7th, 1971: 9th, 1973: 10th, 1975: 10th, 1986: 14th, 1995: 13th, 1997: 17th, 1999: 17th, 2001: 20th, 2003: 16th, 2005: 18th, 2007: 19th, 2009: 16th, 2011: 14th, 2013: 14th, 2015: 19th, 2017: 16th, 2019: 10th, 2021: 11th, 2023: 17th

Group at GER/NED 2025: Group A (Denmark, Romania, Japan, Croatia)