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 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] After winning medals in 1980, the team did not secure another podium finish until 2003. The country's first medal in a men's event occurred in 2007, with a bronze in men's doubles.

Starting in 2017, the team secured several historical firsts. Nozomi Okuhara became Japan's first women's singles world champion that year.^[5][6] Kento Momota followed as the first Japanese men's singles champion, winning consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019. In women's doubles, Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara also claimed back-to-back gold medals during those years.^[7] In 2021, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi became the nation's first world champions in men's doubles.^[8] With three women's singles titles, Akane Yamaguchi is Japan's most successful player across any discipline at the world championships.^[9][10] Mixed doubles remains the only discipline in which Japan has not yet won a 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 Japanese women's team has achieved significant success in the Asia Team Championships, winning consecutive titles in 2018 and 2020 after finishing as runners-up in the inaugural 2016 edition. The men's team reached a historic milestone in 2026 by winning their first-ever title, surpassing their previous best finish of runners-up in 2016.^[14] In the mixed team event, Japan won the inaugural tournament in 2017 and finished as runners-up in 2019.

Japan began achieving podium finishes at the World Junior Championships in 2007, when Kenichi Tago won the team's first medal (silver) in boys' singles. The nation secured its first gold medals in 2012 through Kento Momota in boys' singles and Nozomi Okuhara in girls' singles.^[15] Akane Yamaguchi successfully defended the girls' singles title in 2013 and 2014.^[16][17] As of 2025, Japanese players have won a total of 10 gold medals across four disciplines, with mixed doubles being the only category in which the team has not yet claimed a title.

As of 2025 BWF World Junior Championships

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

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:

1. National Team: The primary squad of approximately 32 players, with a maximum of 4 players in singles disciplines and 4 pairs in each doubles discipline.^[18]
2. U-24 National Team: A developmental squad for players under 24 years of age, mirroring the main National Team structure with approximately 32 players.^[18]
3. Junior National Team: Further divided into U-19, U-17, U-15, and U-13 squads to nurture younger talent.^[18]

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

1. Domestic Performance: Winners of the All Japan Championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
2. Japan Ranking: Players ranked first in the Japan Ranking released after the All Japan Championships.
3. International Achievements: Olympics medalists or World Championships gold medalists during the fiscal year.
4. World Ranking: The highest-ranked Japanese player or pair within the top 8 of the BWF World Ranking following the All Japan Championships.
5. Association Recommendation: Players selected based on comprehensive evaluation of performance and future potential.

Selection for the U-24 National Team is primarily based on recommendations by the coaching staff, prioritizing players with high future potential who meet the age requirements.^[18]

As of 17 February 2026 ^[19]

As of 29 January 2026 ^[19]

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