Tomohito Okubo Appointed Head Coach, Hanae Kubo and Jun Hanzawa Appointed Coaches of Japan Women's Ice Hockey National Team (SMILE JAPAN)

It has been decided that Tomohito Okubo will be appointed as the head coach, and Hanae Kubo and Jun Hanzawa as coaches for the Japan Women's Ice Hockey National Team. Tomohito Okubo graduated from Komazawa University Tomakomai High School and Toyo University. He played for Seibu Tetsudo, Kokudo, Nikko Kobe Ice Bucks, High1 (Korea), SEIBU Prince Rabbits, Nikko Ice Bucks, and Tohoku Free Blades. After retiring as a player in 2013, he transitioned to coaching, serving as coach and head coach for Tohoku Free Blades, and since 2023, as head coach for SEIBU Prince Rabbits. He also served as coach and head coach for the Japan Men's National Team from 2017 to 2019, and for the Japan Men's U18 National Team from 2023 to 2026. Hanae Kubo had a distinguished playing career with Iwakura Peregrine and SEIBU Prince Rabbits, competing in three consecutive Olympics: Sochi, Pyeongchang, and Beijing. After retiring from competition following the Beijing Olympics in 2022, she began her coaching career. She travels nationwide to provide instruction at the "Taiyo Life Junior Ice Hockey Skill Up School," sponsored by the federation, and has served as a coach for the Japan Women's U18 National Team since 2024. Jun Hanzawa graduated from Hokkaido Kushiro Technical High School. He played for Seibu Tetsudo and Nikko Ice Bucks. After retiring as a player in 2004, he joined the Shimizu Town Ice Hockey Association, coaching Hokkaido Shimizu High School and Shimizu Mikage Ice Hockey Youth Team. He has also been a coach for the Japan Men's U18 National Team from 2016 to 2026. The Japan Women's National Team, under its new leadership, will begin domestic training camps around June, with team building progressing towards the Women's Asia Championship scheduled to be held in Japan in October and the IIHF Women's World Championship scheduled to be held in Denmark in November. Head Coach Tomohito Okubo (Okubo Tomohito) Born: September 22, 1976 Affiliation: Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc. Coaching History: 2014-20 Tohoku Free Blades Coach 2017-19 Japan Men's National Team Coach 2020-23 Tohoku Free Blades Head Coach 2023-26 SEIBU Prince Rabbits Head Coach 2023-25 Japan Men's U18 National Team Coach 2025-26 Japan Men's U18 National Team Head Coach Mr. Tomohito Okubo Coach Hanae Kubo (Kubo Hanae) Born: December 10, 1982 Affiliation: Taiyo Life Insurance Company Coaching History: 2012-13 SEIBU Prince Rabbits Coach 2022-23 SEIBU Prince Rabbits Coach 2024-26 Japan Women's U18 National Team Coach Ms. Hanae Kubo Coach Jun Hanzawa (Hanzawa Jun) Born: February 9, 1976 Affiliation: NPO Shimizu Town Ice Hockey Association Coaching History: 2005-23 Shimizu Mikage Ice Hockey Youth Team Coach 2006-26 Hokkaido Shimizu High School Ice Hockey Club Coach 2016-26 Japan Men's U18 National Team Coach 2026- Mikage Ice Hockey Academy Head Coach Mr. Jun Hanzawa [Related Site] Japan Ice Hockey Federation https://www.jihf.or.jp/ [Contact] Japan Ice Hockey Federation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) Tel: 03-5843-0375 E-mail: jihf@jihf.or.jp