The Japan Rugby Football Union announced the squad and training schedule for the Sakura Sevens, the women’s national rugby sevens team, ahead of their upcoming assembly in Nagoya. The team will hold a training camp from September 29 through October 5, utilizing facilities across Nagoya and Nisshin in Aichi Prefecture.
During the training window, the squad is scheduled to compete in the rugby sevens tournament at the 20th Asian Games, which runs from October 1 to October 3 in Aichi and Nagoya. The Japan Rugby Football Union outlined the full delegation and schedule details on their official JRFU news portal.
Nagoya Training Camp Schedule and Locations
The Sakura Sevens assembly begins on Tuesday, September 29, and concludes on Monday, October 5. Training sessions and team meetings are stationed across Aichi Prefecture in the cities of Nagoya and Nisshin, providing a localized base of operations ahead of the multi-sport continental competition.
The squad’s competitive fixtures form the core of the week during the Asian Games rugby sevens tournament from Thursday, October 1, to Saturday, October 3. The tournament brings together regional national sides for three days of pool and placement matches.
Sakura Sevens Roster for the Nagoya Assembly
Head coach Yuka Kanematsu selected a roster combining experience from club teams, corporate sides, and university programs across Japan. The roster lists athletes alongside their physical measurements and club affiliations:
- Wakana Akita — SDF Physical Training School | 165 cm, 60 kg (Born Feb. 24, 2003)
- Hanako Utsumi — YOKOHAMA TKM / Yokohama Future Healthcare System | 160 cm, 60 kg (Born Mar. 16, 2000)
- Mei Ohtani — Nagato Blue Angels / Yamane Corporation | 162 cm, 61 kg (Born May 28, 2000)
- Marin Kajiki — SDF Physical Training School | 164 cm, 68 kg (Born Sept. 20, 1999)
- Chiaki Saegusa — Hokkaido Barbarians Diana / Medical System Network Co., Ltd. | 167 cm, 68 kg (Born Mar. 21, 1997)
- Michiyo Suda — Mie Women’s Rugby Football Club PEARLS / Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | 157 cm, 60 kg (Born Feb. 25, 2003)
- Honoka Tsutsumi — Nippon Sport Science University Women’s Rugby Club / Dic Solution Engineering Inc. | 154 cm, 56 kg (Born June 19, 1997)
- Hana Nagata — Nanairo Prism Fukuoka / NORTH PACIFIC, Inc. | 168 cm, 60 kg (Born May 19, 2000)
- Yume Hirano — Nagato Blue Angels / Yamane Corporation | 161 cm, 62 kg (Born Mar. 15, 2000)
- Himawari Matsuda — Otemon Gakuin University Women’s Rugby Football Club VENUS / Otemon Gakuin University | 161 cm, 56 kg (Born Aug. 2, 2004)
- Sakurako Yazaki — Nagato Blue Angels / Yamane Corporation | 159 cm, 59 kg (Born Jan. 19, 2004)
- Mayu Yoshino — Nanairo Prism Fukuoka / Toyota Corolla Fukuoka Co., Ltd. | 160 cm, 60 kg (Born June 23, 2001)
Coaching and Support Staff
The national team operation is managed by a dedicated performance and medical staff appointed by the Japan Rugby Football Union:
- National Team Director: Koichi Umeda (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Head Coach: Yuka Kanematsu (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Strength & Conditioning Coach: Takahiro Sakata (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Trainer: Nao Ugajin (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Team Doctor: Kazuya Kishima (Hyogo Medical University)
- Assistant Trainer: Himawari Tsuchiya (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Analyst: Shota Nakajima (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Team Manager: Izumi Inaguma (Japan Rugby Football Union)
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