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Japan
Aim For First Win at World Championships
This
Year: With new coach Glen Robinson behind
the bench Japan's goal this year is simple; win
a game at the World Championships in Prague. It
is important with this the last time Japan plays
in Pool A under the East Asia qualifying system
that Japan wins a game or two and maintains their
place in the top pool. While there has been progress
in the last few years in important games that were
winable Japan has failed to capitalize. The men's
national team has failed to play the full 60 minutes
at the same intensity. With the popularity of hockey
in Japan declining each year this team needs to
suceed on the world stage.
The womens national team will be playing the top
group at the next Womens World Championships in
Canada. Japan will have their hands full with the
powerhouse teams of the USA, Canada, Sweden, etc.
but it should be a good experience.
Last Season: The Cranes finished
a disappointing 3rd in the regular season one year
after finishing 1st. Once again the Cranes ran into
Kokudo in the playoffs and once again they failed
to find a way to get past them. |
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Former
All-Star Dopson |
Team
Japan played their first international game in a
3-0 loss to England in the 1936 Olympics. Unfortunately
after that due to World War II Team Japan rarely
played. Japan once again started playing abroad
more often in the 1960's. They have appeared in
8 Winter Olympics with their last appearance as
the host of teh Nagano Olympics. Before that they
last played in the 1980 "Miracle on Ice"
Olympics. Recently Japan has played in the A pool
of the World Championships as part of a limited
time Far East Asia qualifying process which ends
this year. Although they haven't won in pool A they
have improved in the last 4 years. Still, there
is a long way to go. |
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Team
Japan
>JIHF
Official Site
First
Game :
1936, 3-0 loss vs. England
Biggest Win:
44-1 vs. Kuwait (1999)
Biggest Loss:
16- 0 vs. USSR (1980)
All-Time Record:
(1936-2002)
Last
Season:
Mens- Asia Games Gold Medal
Womens- Asia Games Silver Medal, Womens World
Championships Div. 1 Gold Medal
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