Japan’s roster for next month’s friendly matches against the U.S. Women’s National Team was announced Thursday by the Japan Football Association. The squad includes three former Women’s Professional Soccer players – midfielders Aya Miyama and Homare Sawa and Karina Maruyama- in addition to Yuki Nagasato, who plays for Turbine Potsdam in Germany’s Bundesliga. Nagasato scored the game-winner for Potsdam in a 1-0 win over Duisburg in the Champions League semifinals two weeks ago. Japan will play the U.S. twice in May, the first on May 14th in Columbus, Ohio, and then on May 18 in Cary, North Carolina.
Japan’s roster for the May friendlies vs. the USWNT
Goalkeepers: Nozomi Yamago (Urawa Reds Ladies), Ayumi Kaihori (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Defenders: Yukari Kinga (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Kyoko Yano (Urawa Reds Ladies), Maiko Nasu (INAC Kobe Ladies), Akemi Nishida (Urawa Reds Ladies), Azusa Iwashimizu (Nippon TV Beleza), Aya Samejima, Saori Ariyoshi (Nippon TV Beleza), Saki Kumagai (Urawa Reds Ladies)
Midfielders: Homare Sawa (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Aya Miyama (Okayama Yunogo Belle), Nahomi Kawasumi (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Mizuho Sakaguchi (Albirex Niigata Ladies), Rumi Utsugi (Montpellier), Emi Nakajima (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Forwards: Kozue Ando (FCR 2001 Duisburg), Karina Maruyama (JEF United Ichihara・Chiba), Shinobu Ohno (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Yuki Nagasato (1 FFC Turbine Potsdam), Megumi Takase (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Mana Iwabuchi (Nippon TV Beleza)