[Handball] Announcement of Participating Members for the 1st Training Camp of Japan Women's U-18 (Youth) National Team

The Japan Handball Association is pleased to announce the members selected for the first training camp of the 2026 fiscal year for the Japan Women's Youth National Team (U-18), which will be held from May 24 to May 26, 2026, at Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education in Tokyo.

This team, formed primarily from the generation that achieved runner-up status in the 2025 Youth Asia Championship, will engage in activities aimed at the 11th IHF Women's Youth (U-18) Handball World Championship, scheduled to be held in Romania from July 29 to August 9.

**Camp Outline**
● Period: May 24 (Sunday) - May 26 (Tuesday), 2026
● Location: Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education, Tokyo

**Members**

**Staff**
Coach: Zhang So-hee
Assistant Coach: Mariko Komatsu
GK Coach: Masako Komatsu
Doctor: Shinzo Onishi
Trainer: Ayaka Takegami
Analyst: Mayu Taguchi

**Players** (24 members) (P / Height / Age / Affiliation / Hometown)
Yukina Suzuki: PV / 166cm / 18 years old / Kokushikan University / Iwate Prefecture
Ari Iimura: BP / 167cm / 18 years old / Tokai University / Ibaraki Prefecture
Kotoko Nakaya: BP / 165cm / 18 years old / Fuji University / Iwate Prefecture
Kokomi Makino: BP / 165cm / 18 years old / Kansai University / Kyoto Prefecture
Kanan Nakasuji: BP / 163cm / 18 years old / Prestige International Aranmare Toyama / Toyama Prefecture
Kokomi Takeuchi: PV / 170cm / 17 years old / Showa Gakuin High School / Ibaraki Prefecture
Hina Miura: BP / 156cm / 17 years old / Lutheran College High School / Kumamoto Prefecture
Kaho Kanazawa: BP / 162cm / 17 years old / Showa Gakuin High School / Saitama Prefecture
Hana Wakayama: BP / 168cm / 17 years old / Chiharadai High School / Kumamoto Prefecture
Rinoa Nakagawa: BP / 161cm / 17 years old / Chiharadai High School / Kumamoto Prefecture
Juliet Maya Goto: RW / 167cm / 17 years old / Club de handball Celtique de Montréal (CAN) / Canada
Ayane Nagata: PV / 170cm / 17 years old / Oita Tsurusaki High School / Oita Prefecture
Karin Tange: GK / 170cm / 17 years old / Oita Tsurusaki High School / Oita Prefecture
Mizuki Kanayama: BP / 166cm / 17 years old / Rakuhoku High School / Kyoto Prefecture
Rio Hamaguchi: BP / 168cm / 17 years old / Showa Gakuin High School / Tottori Prefecture
Yu Matsuura: GK / 172cm / 17 years old / Takamatsu Commercial High School / Kagawa Prefecture
Oto Sasaki: GK / 171cm / 17 years old / Showa Gakuin High School / Miyagi Prefecture
Honoka Uchiyama: PV / 163cm / 17 years old / Chiharadai High School / Kumamoto Prefecture
Yui Sugimoto: BP/RW / 153cm / 17 years old / Osaka Commercial University Sakai High School / Osaka Prefecture
Aisami Sakamoto: GK / 168cm / 17 years old / Rakuhoku High School / Kyoto Prefecture
Rui Arakaki: GK / 177cm / 17 years old / Urasoe High School / Okinawa Prefecture
Aika Ito: BP/RW / 164cm / 16 years old / Inabe General Gakuen High School / Mie Prefecture
Saho Saito: LW / 154cm / 16 years old / Kobe Seijo High School / Aichi Prefecture
Riko Maeda: BP / 170cm / 16 years old / Komatsu City High School / Ishikawa Prefecture

*Ages/Affiliations are as of May 12, 2026
*Position (P): BP Back Player, LW Left Wing, RW Right Wing, PV Pivot, GK Goalkeeper

**11th IHF Women's Youth (U-18) Handball World Championship Draw**
We are pleased to announce the draw for the 11th IHF Women's Youth (U-18) Handball World Championship, to be held in Romania from July 29, 2026.
32 countries and regions will participate in this tournament.
The Japan Women's U-18 National Team has been placed in Group G, alongside Slovakia, the 2025 Youth European Championship winner, Brazil, and Angola.
The preliminary round will feature 8 groups (4 teams each), with the top 2 teams from each group advancing to the main round.

Please refer to this announcement for further details.

**Tournament Outline**
Tournament Name: 11th IHF Women's Youth (U-18) Handball World Championship
Period: July 29 (Wednesday) - August 9 (Sunday), 2026
Host City: Romania

**About Japan Women's U-18 (Youth) National Team**
Eligibility: Players born on or after January 1, 2008

**Activity Schedule**
・1st Training Camp (Member Selection)
　Late May (scheduled)
・2nd Training Camp
　Late June (scheduled)
・3rd Training Camp / 1st Overseas Expedition
　Late July (scheduled)