Hidden away in the leafy suburbs of greater Tokyo, far from the city's dazzling lights, lies a modest entity making significant strides in youth development. Welcome to Tokyo Verdy Beleza, Japan’s most successful women’s football team. Their achievements are not just reflected in the country’s most crowded trophy cabinet but also in the remarkable number of academy graduates excelling at the highest levels of the sport. The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee Yui Hasegawa of Manchester City and West Ham forward Riko Ueki are among several Beleza academy graduates thriving in the English WSL. Legends like Mana Iwabuchi and Homare Sawa also emerged from this prestigious academy.
The 2024 Under-20 Women’s World Cup bronze boot winner Maya Hijikata, along with standout performers Mayu Matsunaga and Rihona Ujihara, are recent examples likely to secure high-profile moves outside Japan soon. What makes this club, nestled in humble surroundings, so adept at producing top talent? There’s no surplus of wealth here, nor do they boast a state-of-the-art sports science department. To understand this, we must first look at Japanese society more broadly.
In a 2019 academic publication, sociologist Osamu Takamine noted the rapid rise in sports participation among children approaching junior high school age, a period often linked to the development of technical skills. Takamine also highlighted the narrowing gender gap during this phase, with female participation in sports rivaling that of males. On any given Saturday morning in Tokyo, one might encounter large groups of school-agers in sporting attire, often carrying hefty equipment, heading to their respective sports activities. Football, Japan’s second most popular sport after baseball, benefits from this large pool of committed youngsters.
As the only professional women’s football club in Japan’s capital, Beleza enjoys a strong advantage. Their on-pitch success has earned them a reputation highly appealing to aspiring female footballers. However, their prominence isn’t solely due to geographical advantage; their style of play and coaching methods are also noteworthy. Intricate passing skills and a firm understanding of the game are common traits among Japanese players, qualities that Beleza’s philosophy nurtures. Their approach is characterized by fluidity and cohesion, emphasizing a front-foot style of play.
Head coach Takeo Matsuda recently stated, “In training, we focus on our buildup play and cultivate a mutual understanding of how we will execute this during matches. It’s crucial to express what we practice in actual competition.” Such training routines are what bring out the qualities seen in Japanese players in top leagues like the WSL. However, the system isn’t without flaws. An overemphasis on rigorous training and teamwork raises questions about the room for individual creativity. In collectivist societies like Japan, the group’s good often takes precedence over the individual, leading to high cohesion but sometimes leaving players indecisive when faced with choices between passing to a teammate or going for goal.
Despite this, Japanese players remain attractive to European and American clubs, where the environment is more physical. Their agility and sharp technical skills offer a unique edge. Japanese clubs like Beleza find themselves in a predicament as overseas clubs snap up their promising youngsters. For the players, the allure of an overseas career is irresistible, offering significant benefits to their development. Houston Dash forward and Beleza academy graduate Yuki Nagasato noted, “In football, physical attributes are extremely important these days. Also, the number of pacey players has increased, and a player can acquire and adjust to these attributes by moving outside Japan.”
With the progress of Japan’s professional league, the WE League, lagging behind the world’s best, it’s hard to see why players would turn down an opportunity abroad. The domestic league must evolve to offer similar, if not better, opportunities for growth and development. Until then, talent factories like Beleza must take pride in their ability to produce players capable of competing at the highest level. The production line shows no signs of slowing, continuing to operate with remarkable efficiency.
