Jul 22, 2023 (newsonjapan.com) - Some nations too often consider Japanese national teams as underdogs in major sporting events.
Over the past few decades, Japan has achieved much sporting success. In certain sporting codes, Japan is now regarded as the favorite or holds its own against top countries when taking the field.
With several mainstream sporting events happening in 2023, let's have a look at how Japan's teams and individuals have featured in the past. We'll also delve into future expectations at upcoming 2023 events.
Baseball
As recently as March, Japan's Men's team defied the odds by beating the USA in the final of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The Championship game, held at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, saw the pre-tournament favorites beaten 3-2.
By winning, the Japan team extended its record with a third World Baseball Classic title. Japan's Shohei Ohtani won the MVP award, as the final's slight underdog added to its previous WBC wins of 2006 and 2009. Japan is now ranked first in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
Upcoming events
The Japan Women's baseball team competes in Group B of the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup in Miyoshi City, Japan in September. Bookmakers are tipping the defending champions and current world #1 to retain their title. Japanese betting will certainly not ignore Samurai Japan for the event.
Basketball
Japan's glory years in Men's basketball go all the way back to the 1960s and early 70s. It was during this time that Team Nippon won two FIBA Asia Cup titles. Unfortunately, barring a slight resurgence in the 1990s, the Japan Men's basketball trophy cabinet has been bare.
Women's basketball in Japan has been more successful. At the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Japan ended as runners-up, losing 90-75 to the USA in the gold medal match. This marked the first time that an Asian team had reached the basketball podium since China in 1992.
The Japanese Women's basketball team had also won the last five FIBA Women's Asia Cup tournaments before losing July's 2023 final to China.
Upcoming events
Japan will co-host the 2023 FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup with the Philippines and Indonesia. The event starts on 25 August, with Team Nippon featuring in Group E alongside Australia, Germany, and Finland. As the lowest-ranked team in the group, punters can expect long odds when backing Japan.
Association Football
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Japan Men's national football team defied the odds to qualify for the last 16. The Samurai Blue defeated Germany in its opening group-stage game. Japan went on to top Group E by also shocking the favored Spanish national team in its final group fixture.
This was the first time in history that an Asian team had topped a FIFA World Cup group outside of their own country. Unfortunately, Japan bowed out in the second round with a penalty defeat to the 2018 FIFA World Cup runners-up, Croatia.
Nadeshiko Japan, the Japan Women's national football team, overcame the USA in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final. In so doing, Japan became the first Asian team to win a World Cup title. The team followed this victory with silver medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Upcoming events
Nadeshiko Japan stands a good chance of qualifying from the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Its first match takes place on 22 July, two days after the tournament starts, against an unfavored Zambia side. The Japanese women will also start as favorites against Costa Rica four days later.
Japan's biggest test of the group stage will be the 31 July meeting against Spain. The Wellington match should decide Group C if the results go to form.
Other Memorable Japanese Sporting Moments
Japan sports has experienced some defining moments throughout recent history. In 2018, Naomi Osaka defeated Serena Williams, her idol, in straight sets to claim the US Open Women's Tennis title. Three years before, Japanese MLB player, Ichiro, recorded his 4,257th career hit to break Pete Rose’s all-time Major League hit record.
Also in 2015, the Japan National Rugby team, the Brave Blossoms, pulled off one of the biggest sporting upsets in history. Japan defeated a heavily-favored South Africa in a pool match during the Rugby World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The encounter, since dubbed the "Miracle of Brighton", pitted the teams with the best and worst RWC win records at the time together. Japan has defied the odds to make history in the past and, as such, sports followers and punters alike should never write off its future chances.
