Newly ranked world No. 1 Japan will open a training camp in preparation for The World Games (TWG) women’s softball competition, set to take place in Chengdu, China, from 13 to 17 August. The team will convene on 29 July and train together at Utsugi Stadium in Takasaki until 9 August, four days before the tournament begins.
Four Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists – Haruka Agatsuma, Miu Goto, Minori Naito and Yukiko Ueno – are set to participate in TWG. Additionally, nine players from the squad that won last year’s WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025 in Castions di Strada, Italy, will also feature: Urara Fujimoto, Goto, Kyoko Ishikawa, Ayana Karoji, Yume Kiriishi, Sakura Miwa, Yui Sakamoto, Hotaru Tsukamoto and Ueno.
The World Games roster
Pitchers
Yukari HamamuraSakura MiwaYukiko Ueno
Catchers
Haruka AgatsumaYume Kiriishi
Infielders
Kyoko IshikawaYuuki Kamata Kanna KudoMinori NaitoYui Sakamoto
Outfielders
Natsumi FujimoriUrara Fujimoto Ayana KarojiHotaru Tsukamoto
As part of their preparation, Japan will play a pair of tune-up games against No. 8-ranked Australia on 5 and 6 August, at Ota City Sports Park Baseball Stadium and Utsugi Stadium, respectively.
Japan and Australia are both in Group B at TWG, alongside No. 3 Puerto Rico and No. 4 Canada. The two teams will face off on opening day of the competition. You can view the full TWG schedule here.