[Handball] Men's and Women's Japan National Teams Announce 2026 Activity Schedule

The Japan Handball Association is pleased to announce the main activity schedule for the men's national team 'Comet JAPAN' and women's national team 'Orihime JAPAN' for fiscal year 2026.

With participation in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture in September as the core, we will promote strengthening activities aimed at acquiring qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Men's National Team 'Comet JAPAN' Women's National Team 'Orihime JAPAN'

Overview

Men's National Team 'Comet JAPAN' 2026 Main Schedule

* May 4-9: 1st Strengthening Camp (Ajinomoto National Training Center) - Season Start
* June 10: 30th Men's World Championship Draw
* Late June - Mid-July: Announcement of 20th Asian Games Participants
* August 4-5: PSG Japan Tour 2026 (Ariake Arena) *Next Japan National Team participation
* August 31 - September 18: 2nd Strengthening Camp (Pre-tournament adjustment)
* September 20-29: 20th Asian Games (Inazawa City, Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture)
* November 2-8: 3rd Strengthening Camp (Ajinomoto National Training Center)
* Late December - Early January 2027: 4th Strengthening Camp (Ajinomoto National Training Center)
* Early January 2027: 1st Overseas Expedition
* January 13-31, 2027: 30th Men's World Championship (Germany)
* Mid-March 2027: 2nd Overseas Expedition (Planned)

Women's National Team 'Orihime JAPAN' 2026 Main Schedule

* Late June - Mid-July: Announcement of 20th Asian Games Participants
* July 7-14: 1st Strengthening Camp (Ajinomoto National Training Center) *Overseas players expected to join
* September 9-18: 2nd Strengthening Camp (Pre-tournament adjustment)
* September 21-27: 20th Asian Games (Inazawa City, Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture)
* October 18-26: Overseas Expedition (Europe)
* November 23 - December 1: 3rd Strengthening Camp (Ajinomoto National Training Center)
* Early December: 21st Women's Asian Championship (Venue undecided) *Top 4 countries qualify for World Championship
* Early March 2027: 4th Strengthening Camp (Ajinomoto National Training Center)

*Dates and venues are subject to change.

Background/Additional Information

The men's national team 'Comet JAPAN' is being strengthened under head coach Tony Gerona.

Through experiences in the Paris Olympics (two consecutive appearances, including their first self-qualified in 36 years), the World Championship in January 2025, and the 2026 Asian Championship (4th place), they have secured World Championship qualification.

At the Asian Games, they aim for their first-ever gold medal at the Asian Games, surpassing their 2nd place finish at the 1994 Hiroshima Games.

In the PSG Japan Tour 2026 in August, the 'Next Japan National Team,' composed mainly of promising players born after 2002, will compete against Paris Saint-Germain. This is positioned as an important opportunity to develop the next generation and strengthen the national team's foundation.

Head Coach Tony Gerona, Kotaro Mizumachi (Toyota Gosei Blue Falcon Nagoya), who served as captain in the Asian Championship in January '26.

The women's national team 'Orihime JAPAN' continues to strengthen under head coach Morten Soubak (from Denmark), building on their 13th place finish (out of 32 countries) at the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship.

Several players have gained practical experience in European leagues, and their international experience forms the basis of the national team's strengthening.

As the defending champions, they will approach the home Asian Games aiming for consecutive victories.

The 21st Women's Asian Championship in December (top 4 countries qualify for the 2027 World Championship) is also an important goal.

Head Coach Morten Soubak, Natsuki Aizawa (Thüringer HC, Germany), who served as captain in the World Championship in December '25.

Future Outlook

12 teams each for men and women will participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

(Host country USA, World Champion, winners of each continental qualifier, World Olympic Qualification Tournament)

For men, the winning team of the World Championship in January 2027 (Germany) will be the first to qualify. Teams ranked 2nd to 7th will advance to the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in April 2028. Winning the Asian qualifiers around autumn 2027 is a crucial target for the Japan National Team.

For women, winning the Asian qualifiers in summer-autumn 2027 will be the first opportunity. Subsequently, the winning team of the World Championship in December 2027 (Hungary), and the top teams from the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in February-March 2028 will qualify.

If the Los Angeles Olympics qualification is achieved, it would be the women's first self-qualified appearance in 52 years.

The Japan Handball Association is recruiting donations for the 'Aim for Los Angeles! Japan Handball National Team Support Project' from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, to continuously support the strengthening of the national teams.

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