[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)