Japan national badminton team

The Japan national badminton team (Japanese: 日本代表バドミントンチーム) represents Japan in international badminton team competitions. The Japanese women's team have won the Uber Cup 6 times, with their most recent being the 2018 Uber Cup. The men's team won their first Thomas Cup title in 2014. The mixed team were runners-up three times at the Sudirman Cup.

The Japanese badminton team has been prestigious in the Olympics, having won a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics and a silver and 2 bronze medals.

Japan made its Olympic badminton debut when the sport became a full medal event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The nation won its first-ever Olympic badminton medal at the 2012 London Olympics, where Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa secured a silver in women's doubles. Japan's first gold medal came at the 2016 Rio Olympics from Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in women's doubles; at the same Games, Nozomi Okuhara claimed a bronze in women's singles, Japan's first medal in that discipline. Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino won the nation's first mixed doubles medal with a bronze in 2020 Tokyo Olympic and followed it with another bronze in 2024 Paris Olympic, becoming the first Japanese badminton players to win medals in consecutive Olympics.^[1]

As of the 2024 Olympics^[2]

Japan has competed in the BWF World Championships since the inaugural tournament in 1977, where Etsuko Toganoo and Emiko Ueno won the nation's first gold medal in women's doubles.^[3][4] Following medals in 1977 and 1980, the team did not secure another medal until 2003. The country's first medal in a men's event was a bronze in men's doubles in 2007.

The nation has seen significant achievements at the world championships since 2017. That year, Nozomi Okuhara became Japan's first women's singles world champion.^[5][6] Kento Momota subsequently becoming the first Japanese men's singles champion with consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019. In women's doubles, Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara also won back-to-back gold medals in 2018 and 2019.^[7] In 2021, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi becoming Japan's first men's doubles world champions.^[8] With three women's singles titles, Akane Yamaguchi is Japan's most successful player across any discipline at the world championships.^[9][10] To date, mixed doubles remains the only discipline in which Japan has not won a World Championship title.

As of 2025 BWF World Championships

A list of Japanese players who have won at least two gold medals at the BWF World Championships.

**Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

The World Junior Championships includes individual competitions known as the "Eye-Level Cups". Japanese players have achieved significant success in these events, with Kenichi Tago winning the nation's first medal (silver) in 2007.

As of 2025 BWF World Junior Championships

The following table lists the medalists in individual disciplines at the World Junior Championships:

As of 21 October 2025 ^[14][15]

As of 1 April 2025 ^[16][17]

• Players & Staffs (2025), badminton.or.jp

The composition of the Japan national team is determined by the Badminton Association of Japan (BAJ). The national squad is divided into three primary categories based on age and performance levels:

• National Team: The primary squad consisting of approximately 32 players. The quota includes a maximum of 4 players for singles disciplines and 4 pairs for each doubles discipline.^[18]
• U24 National Team: A developmental squad for players who are under 24 years of age (specifically those reaching 24 years old within the fiscal year). The structure mirrors the main National Team with approximately 32 players.^[18]
• Junior National Team: This category is further divided into U19, U17, U15, and U13 squads to nurture younger talent.^[18]

To be eligible for the National Team, athletes must hold Japanese nationality.^[18] Selection for the team is generally based on meeting one of the following criteria established by the BAJ:

1. Domestic Performance: Winners of the All Japan Championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles are automatically selected.
2. Japan Ranking: Players ranked first in the Japan Ranking released immediately after the All Japan Championships.
3. International Achievements: Players who have won a medal at the Olympics or a gold medal at the World Championships during the fiscal year.
4. World Ranking: The highest-ranked Japanese player or pair that is placed within the top 8 of the BWF World Ranking following the All Japan Championships.
5. Association Recommendation: Players selected by the Strengthening Strategy Headquarters based on a comprehensive evaluation of their performance in major domestic and international tournaments, as well as their future potential.

Selection for the U24 National Team is primarily based on recommendations by the coaching staff, prioritizing players with high future potential who meet the age requirements.^[18]