Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Sporting Witness

Podcasts

Factual: History

Sport

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service East Asia

Sporting Witness: Japan's women footballers lift the nation

Magazines & Reviews

Japan's women footballers lift the nation

13/06/2019 GMT

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Japan's women footballers lift the nation

In 2011, winning the soccer World Cup lifted Japan's morale after the Fukushima disaster.

In 2011, winning the women's soccer World Cup lifted Japan's morale after the Fukushima disaster.

In 2011, the Japanese women's football team defied the odds to win the World Cup final against the overwhelming favourites, the USA. The players and coaching staff were inspired by the prospect of boosting Japan’s morale as it recovered from the devastating Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. In 2017, Robert Nicholson spoke to Japan's star midfielder Mizuho Sakaguchi and coach Norio Sasaki.

Image: Japan captain Homare Sawa lifts the World Cup trophy in 2011 (Credit: Reuters/Action Images/Matthew Childs)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sporting Witness

Japan's women footballers lift the nation

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service