The Japan women's national lacrosse team announced its goal to win its first-ever medal at the World Lacrosse Women's Championship on Tuesday [1, 2].

A historic performance on home soil could elevate the sport's profile in Japan and create critical momentum as lacrosse returns to the Olympic program for the first time in 120 years [3, 4].

During a press conference in Tokyo, head coach Asuka Miyazawa, 38, and captain Runa Fujita, 26, expressed their determination ahead of the tournament [2, 5]. The event is scheduled to run from July 24 to Aug. 2 in Tokyo [2]. This marks the first time in approximately 30 years that the championships have been hosted in Japan [4].

Japan enters the competition ranked fifth in the world [4]. The team's previous best finish at the tournament was also fifth place [3]. The national squad consists of 22 players [5].

"I want to achieve the first-ever medal in history and create a good flow toward the 2028 Olympics," Miyazawa said. She said that she intends to challenge the tournament with all her soul to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone involved [1].

Fujita described the opportunity to represent the national team during a home tournament as a rare alignment of circumstances. "I want to make this a tournament where people can realize how interesting this sport is," Fujita said [3].

MC Shuzo Matsuoka, who attended the event, said the challenge is "extremely difficult" [3].

“"I want to achieve the first-ever medal in history and create a good flow toward the 2028 Olympics,"”

A medal win for Japan would signify a shift in the global lacrosse hierarchy, traditionally dominated by North American teams. By leveraging the home-field advantage of the Tokyo championships, the Japan Lacrosse Association aims to secure public and institutional support ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport's inclusion provides a high-stakes incentive for national growth.