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Homare Sawa

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Homare Sawa
Sawa at the 2015 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Homare Sawa[1]
Date of birth (1978-09-06) 6 September 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1999 NTV Beleza 136 (79)
1999–2000 Denver Diamonds
2001–2003 Atlanta Beat 55 (13)
2004–2008 Nippon TV Beleza 85 (47)
2009–2010 Washington Freedom 41 (6)
2009 → Nippon TV Beleza (loan) 4 (2)
2010 Nippon TV Beleza 0 (0)
2011–2015 INAC Kobe Leonessa 94 (12)
Total 415 (159)
International career
1993–2015 Japan 205 (83)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Team
FIFA Women's World Cup
Winner 2011 Germany
Runner-up 2015 Canada
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Winner 2014 Vietnam
Runner-up 1995 Malaysia
Runner-up 2001 Chinese Taipei
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Malaysia
Bronze medal – third place 1997 China
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Vietnam
Bronze medal – third place 2010 China
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Team
Silver medal – second place 1994 Hiroshima Team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Doha Team
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Bangkok Team
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Busan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Homare Sawa (澤 穂希, Sawa Homare, born 6 September 1978) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward or a midfielder. Regarded by many as one of the greatest female footballers of all time and the greatest Asian female footballer of all time,[3][4][5] Sawa had a professional club career spanning 24 seasons, mostly with Nippon TV Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa. She also spent 22 years with the Japan national team, most notably captaining them to a FIFA Women's World Cup win in 2011 and an Olympic silver medal finish in 2012.

Sawa made her club debut in 1991 at the age of 12, and went on to win five titles with Nippon TV Beleza between 1991 and 1999 before departing to the United States to play football in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). She played for two WUSA clubs, the Atlanta Beat and the Denver Diamonds, before returning to the Japanese league in 2004. Sawa won another nine titles with Nippon TV Beleza in four years, but left the club again in 2008. That year, Japan reached their first Olympic medal match at the Summer Olympics, and Sawa was Japan's top scorer of the tournament.

In 2011, Sawa captained the Japan national team at the 2011 World Cup. In Germany, Japan advanced to their first final of a major international tournament, where Sawa scored Japan's match-tying goal in extra time, allowing Japan to win the match on penalties. She finished the tournament with the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer. Later in the year, Sawa was named the 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, the first Asian person regardless of gender to receive a major year-end individual award. She later captained Japan to a silver medal finish at the 2012 Summer Olympics and then retired from international football for the first time immediately after the completion of the tournament.

Sawa returned to her role in the Japan national team to play in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, her sixth World Cup and the final major international tournament of her career. Japan reached their second-ever Women's World Cup final that year, and after a runner-up finish, she retired from international football for the second and final time. At the end of the year, after winning the 2015 Empress's Cup with INAC Kobe Leonessa, she retired from football completely. She retired from club football with 11 league titles and 8 domestic cup titles in the Japanese League, and was also named to the league's Best XI for 11 seasons.

Sawa remains the leader in both caps and goals for Japan, with 205 and 83 respectively.

Early life

[edit]

Sawa was born in Fuchū, Tokyo on 6 September 1978. She began playing football at the age of six. While watching her older brother train, she was invited by his coach to join the boys' team on the pitch.[6]

Club career

[edit]

NTV Beleza

[edit]

In 1991, long considered Japan's finest female footballer, Sawa was promoted to Yomiuri Beleza (later NTV Beleza) from youth team by manager Kazuhiko Takemoto. She made her debut in L.League, Japan's highest domestic league, at the young age of 12.[7] She played as forward and played 136 matches and scored 79 goals in League. She was also selected Best Eleven 5 times (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998).

In 1999, NTV Beleza cancelled Sawa's contract, forcing her to move abroad to the United States.[8]

Atlanta Beat

[edit]

With the birth of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) in 2001, Sawa found herself playing in the highest-level professional women's league in the United States, for the Atlanta Beat. She scored the first goal in the club's history, and was a centerpiece of the Beat's three seasons in the league, helping them into the playoffs each year. Despite her diminutive stature at 5'5" (165 cm) tall and 121 lbs. (55 kg), she held her own with the mostly larger and more physical players, and was regularly among the team and league leaders in fouls taken.[citation needed]

Nippon TV Beleza

[edit]

Following the WUSA's demise in 2003, Sawa returned to Japan, where she played with powerhouse Nippon TV Beleza. In 2004, she was named Women's Player of the Year for the Asian Football Confederation.[9] She played the club until 2008. The club won L.League championship for four years in a row (2005–2008). She also was selected L.League MVP awards in 2006 and 2008.

Washington Freedom

[edit]

On 24 September 2008, Sawa was selected by the Washington Freedom in the first round of the 2008 WPS International Draft. She was a fixture in the Freedom midfield through the league's first two seasons in 2009 and 2010.

Nippon TV Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa

[edit]

Sawa returned to Japan temporarily at the end of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, and joined Nippon TV Beleza on loan.[10] At the end of 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season, she returned to Nippon TV Beleza.

In January 2011, Sawa moved to INAC Kobe Leonessa due to financial strain at Nippon TV Beleza, with international players; Shinobu Ohno, Yukari Kinga, and Chiaki Minamiyama. The club won the L.League championship three years in a row (2011–2013). On 16 December 2015, she announced her intent to retire at the end of the 2015 season. At the 2015 Empress's Cup, Sawa's final tournament as a player, INAC Kobe Leonessa reached the final. In the final against Albirex Niigata on 27 December, she scored the lone goal of the match in the 78th minute to secure the championship for her side.[11]

International career

[edit]
Sawa captaining Japan in the 2011 World Cup

On 6 December 1993, at age 15, Sawa made her Japanese international debut, scoring four goals in her first ever match, a win against the Philippines.[12] Sawa debuted in her first Women's World Cup tournament in 1995, making her first start at 16 years old against Germany.[13]

On 12 July 2003, Sawa scored the tie-winning goal against Mexico in 2003 Women's World Cup qualification play-offs to secure Japan's participation in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.[8][14]

Sawa played in all of Japan's matches at the 2004 Olympics, leading them to the knockout round of a major international tournament for the first time in Japan's history.[8]

Sawa scored a hat trick in a 2011 World Cup group stage match against Mexico, becoming the then-oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat trick.[m 1][15][16] Sawa led the Japanese national team as captain to a world championship victory at the 2011 World Cup . After a 2–2 tie in front of a sellout crowd in Frankfurt, Germany (with one goal by Sawa in the 117th minute), Japan won the penalty shootout 3–1, defeating the United States to win their first ever World Cup.[17] Sawa was awarded the Golden Boot for being the tournament's leading scorer with five goals and the Golden Ball for being the tournament's MVP.[18]

On 9 January 2012, Sawa was awarded the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year in Zurich, Switzerland.[19] She broke Marta’s streak of 5 consecutive FIFA Women's World Player of the Year awards, and also became the first Asian person regardless of gender to receive a major individual year-end award.[20]

In February of that year, Aya Miyama took over captaincy of Japan from Sawa.[21][22]

Yuki Ogimi (17) scores for Japan against the United States off a pass from Homare Sawa (10) as Kelley O'Hara (5) defends and Hope Solo (1) attempts to save.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Japan met the United States in the gold medal match where they were defeated 2–1.[23] She announced her immediate retirement from international football in August 2012.[24] In October 2012, she was shortlisted for the 2012 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, where she finished 4th place in the voting.[25]

Sawa returned to international competition in 2014 at the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup, which served as qualifiers to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Sawa scored Japan's opening goal in the semifinal against China, helping Japan win 2–1 to send them to the final.[26] Japan went on to win the final 1–0 against Australia, claiming their first ever Asian Cup title.[27][28]

Sawa was absent for many months after Japan's Asian Cup win, coinciding with multiple injuries.[12][29] In November 2014, Sawa was a member of the first round of inductees into the Asian Football Hall of Fame.[30] In March 2015, Norio Sasaki left Sawa out of Japan's squad for the 2015 Algarve Cup despite her being injury-free.[22] Her exclusion from the Algarve Cup squad presented speculation that she would not be named to Japan's World Cup roster, as the Algarve Cup was typically used as warm-up matches for major international competitions.[12][31]

To some surprise, Sawa was called into Japan's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad after not featuring for Japan for the second half of 2014 or the early months of 2015.[13][29] She did not regain her captaincy, however, which was still held by Aya Miyama. She returned to the national team from injury after a one-year absence, marking the occasion by scoring Japan's match-winning goal in a friendly against New Zealand.[32] On 8 June, she started Japan's first match of the 2015 Women's World Cup, achieving her 200th cap with 57 minutes against Switzerland.[33] Sawa and Brazil's Formiga became the first footballers to appear for a record sixth World Cup.[note 1] Sawa had an off-the-bench role for the remainder of the tournament, starting just twice in seven games. Japan went on to advance to the final against the United States, where Sawa was subbed into the match in the 33rd minute after Japan had already conceded four goals. Japan went on to lose 5–2 to the U.S. in the final in what would end up being Sawa's last ever match with the Nadeshiko.[34]

On 16 December 2015, Sawa announced her retirement from football after the completion of the 2015 Nadeshiko League season. Sawa's retirement was met with tributes from people across Japanese football, including coach Norio Sasaki, teammates Yuki Nagasato, Eriko Arakawa, and Azusa Iwashimizu, and male footballing compatriot Shunsuke Nakamura.[35]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of 11 November 2012
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Yomiuri Beleza 1991 13 5 — —
1992 20 3 — —
1993 17 5 — —
1994 17 11 — —
1995 18 16 — —
1996 17 14 — —
1997 18 14 — —
1998 16 11 — —
1999 0 0 — —
Total 136 79 0 0 0 0
Denver Diamonds 1999 —
2000 —
Total
Atlanta Beat 2001 19 3 — — — 19 3
2002 21 7 — — — 21 7
2003 15 3 — — — 15 3
Total 55 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 13
Nippon TV Beleza 2004 6 5 — —
2005 21 16 5 3 — — 26 19
2006 17 13 3 2 — — 20 15
2007 20 6 4 5 2 0 — 26 11
2008 21 7 4 1 — — 25 8
Total 85 47 2 0 0 0
Washington Freedom 2009 20 3 — — 1[a] 0 20 3
2010 21 3 — — — 21 3
Total 41 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 41 6
Nippon TV Beleza (loan) 2009 4 2 4 1 — — 8 3
Nippon TV Beleza 2010 — 1 0 — — 1 0
INAC Kobe Leonessa 2011 16 4 4 0 — — 20 4
2012 17 2 3 0 4 0 — 24 2
2013 6 0 —
Total 33 6 7 0 10 0 0 0 50 6
Career total
  1. ^ Appearance in play-offs

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[36][37]
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 1993 4 4
1994 6 1
1995 8 0
1996 10 3
1997 7 13
1998 10 4
1999 8 0
2000 1 1
2001 8 6
2002 8 5
2003 12 10
2004 8 2
2005 9 3
2006 17 7
2007 14 6
2008 15 7
2009 1 0
2010 15 3
2011 14 5
2012 10 1
2013 2 0
2014 8 1
2015 8 1
Total 205 83
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sawa goal.
List of international goals scored by Homare Sawa
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 December 1993 Sarawak State Stadium, Kuching, Malaysia  Philippines Unknown 15–0 1993 AFC Women's Championship
2
3
4
5 20 August 1994 Slovakia  Slovakia Unknown 2–2 Slovakia international Women's Cup
6 10 July 1996 Fort Lauderdale, United States  Australia Unknown 2–2 Friendly
7
8 15 July 1996 Fort Lauderdale, United States  Sweden Unknown 1–3 Friendly
9 5 December 1997 Guangzhou, China  Guam Unknown 21–0 1997 AFC Women's Championship
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 7 December 1997 Guangzhou, China  India 1–0 1–0 1997 AFC Women's Championship
17 9 December 1997 Guangzhou, China  Hong Kong Unknown 9–0 1997 AFC Women's Championship
18
19
20 14 December 1997 Guangzhou, China  Chinese Taipei 1–0 2–0 1997 AFC Women's Championship
21 2–0
22 8 December 1998 Bangkok, Thailand  Thailand Unknown 6–0 Football at the 1998 Asian Games
23 12 December 1998 Bangkok, Thailand  Vietnam Unknown 8–0 Football at the 1998 Asian Games
24
25
26 17 December 2000 Phoenix, United States  United States 1–1 1–1 Friendly
27 4 December 2001 Taipei, Taiwan  Singapore Unknown 14–0 2001 AFC Women's Championship
28
29
30
31 8 December 2001 Taipei, Taiwan  Guam Unknown 11–0 2001 AFC Women's Championship
32
33 9 April 2002 Poitiers, France  Canada 2–1 3–2 Friendly
34 3–1
35 4 October 2002 Changwon, South Korea  Vietnam 3–0 3–0 Football at the 2002 Asian Games
36 7 October 2002 Masan, South Korea  South Korea 1–0 1–0 Football at the 2002 Asian Games
37 9 October 2002 Changwon, South Korea  China 2–0 2–2 Football at the 2002 Asian Games
38 9 June 2003 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand  Philippines 7–0 15–0 2003 AFC Women's Championship
39 11 June 2003 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand  Guam Unknown 7–0 2003 AFC Women's Championship
40
41 13 June 2003 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand  Myanmar Unknown 7–0 2003 AFC Women's Championship
42 15 June 2003 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand  Chinese Taipei Unknown 5–0 2003 AFC Women's Championship
43
44 12 July 2003 National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Mexico 1–0 2–0 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Play-offs
45 20 September 2003 Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United States  Argentina 1–0 6–0 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup
46 2–0
47 27 September 2003 Gillette Stadium, Boston, United States  Canada 1–0 1–3 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup
48 18 April 2004 National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Vietnam Unknown 7–0 Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics qualification
49 18 December 2004 Nishigaoka Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Chinese Taipei 6–0 11–0 Kirin Challenge Cup
50 21 May 2005 Nishigaoka Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  New Zealand 1–0 6–0 Kirin Challenge Cup
51 3–0
52 28 May 2005 Russia  Russia Unknown 2–0 Friendly
53 10 March 2006 Italy  Scotland Unknown 4–0 Friendly
54 19 July 2006 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia  Vietnam 1–0 5–0 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup
55 2–0
56 19 July 2006 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia  Chinese Taipei 4–1 11–1 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup
57 9–1
58 30 November 2006 Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Jordan 10–0 13–0 Football at the 2006 Asian Games
59 13–0
60 10 March 2007 National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Mexico 1–0 2–0 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Play-off
61 7 April 2007 Tokyo, Japan  Vietnam 1–0 2–0 Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification
62 15 April 2007 Thailand  Thailand 1–0 4–0 Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification
63 3 June 2007 Tokyo, Japan  South Korea 6–0 6–1 Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification
64 4 August 2007 Vietnam  Vietnam 7–0 8–0 Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification
65 12 August 2007 Tokyo, Japan  Thailand 1–0 5–0 Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification
66 18 February 2008 Chongqing, China  North Korea 3–2 3–2 2008 EAFF Women's Football Championship
67 5 July 2008 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam  China 1–0 1–3 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup
68 8 July 2008 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam  Australia 3–0 3–0 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup
69 24 July 2008 Kobe, Japan  Australia Unknown 3–0 Friendly
70 6 August 2008 Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Qinhuangdao, China  New Zealand 2–2 2–2 2008 Summer Olympics
71 12 August 2008 Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China  Norway 4–1 5–1 2008 Summer Olympics
72 15 August 2008 Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Qinhuangdao, China  China 1–0 2–0 2008 Summer Olympics
73 20 May 2010 Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu, China  Myanmar 2–0 8–0 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup
74 7–0
75 30 May 2010 Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu, China  China 2–0 2–0 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup
76 1 July 2011 BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany  Mexico 1–0 4–0 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
77 3–0
78 4–0
79 13 July 2011 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany  Sweden 2–1 3–1 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
80 17 July 2011 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany  United States 2–2 2–2 (3–1 p.s.o) 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
81 11 July 2012 National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Australia 3–0 3–0 Friendly (Kirin Challenge Cup 2012)
82 22 May 2014 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam  China 1–0 2–1 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
83 24 May 2015 Kagawa Marugame Stadium, Kagawa, Japan  New Zealand 1–0 1–0 Friendly (MS&AD Nadeshiko Cup 2015)

Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

[edit]

Sawa has competed in six FIFA Women's World Cups (Sweden 1995, USA 1999, USA 2003, China 2007, Germany 2011, and Canada 2015); she and Brazil's Formiga, who competed at the same Women's World Cups, are the only players of either sex to appear in six World Cup final tournaments. Sawa has also represented Japan in four Olympics: Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. In all, she played 41 matches and scored 11 goals at those ten global tournaments.[38] Sawa was a member of the Japanese teams that won the 2011 Women's World Cup, and were runners-up at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2015 Women's World Cup.

Key (expand for notes on "world cup and olympic goals")
Location Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred
Lineup Start – played entire match
on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time

off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time
(c) – captain

Min The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal.
Assist/pass The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information.
penalty or pk Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.)
Score The match score after the goal was scored.
Result The final score.

W – match was won
L – match was lost to opponent
D – match was drawn
(W) – penalty-shoot-out was won after a drawn match
(L) – penalty-shoot-out was lost after a drawn match

aet The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation
pso Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parentheses; the match was tied at the end of extra-time
Orange background color – Olympic women's football tournament
Blue background color – FIFA women's world cup final tournament

Honors

[edit]

Yomiuri/Nippon TV Beleza

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Japan

Individual

Personal life

[edit]

Sawa attended Teikyo University in 1999 until her club team- Nippon TV Beleza- ended her club contract, forcing her to drop out to go play club football in the United States.[8]

On 11 August 2015, Sawa announced her marriage without naming her husband. The next day, when asked, she said that her husband was former Vegalta Sendai player Hiroaki Tsujikami.[41] On 10 January 2017, it was announced that she had given birth to a baby girl.[42]

In 2013, Sawa was made an ambassador for Japan's bid for the 2020 Olympics, which was later chosen to be hosted in Tokyo.[43][44] In 2021, she pulled out of the 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay due to a chronic inner-ear condition.[45]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This record was held until Formiga participated in her seventh World Cup in 2019.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 – List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 28 July 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "2015 World Cup" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. ^ Lewis, Michael (3 August 2016). "The 20 greatest female football players of all time". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  4. ^ Peters, Jerrad (4 July 2013). "Ranking the 10 Greatest Female Soccer Players in History". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  5. ^ Matchett, Karl (5 December 2014). "20 Greatest Women Footballers of All Time". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Homare Sawa". 2012 London Olympics Committee. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Star bio: Japan's Homare Sawa". CBC Sports. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d "La historia de las "Nadeshiko Japan", que se preparan así para enfrentar este martes, de madrugada, a Chile". todofutbol.cl. Todofútbol.cl. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Olympedia – Homare Sawa". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  10. ^ nikkansports.com(in Japanese)
  11. ^ Match Report at Japan Football Association(in Japanese)
  12. ^ a b c Borden, Sam (9 March 2015). "Japanese Women Play Without Their Superstar". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  13. ^ a b Kassouf, Jeff (9 June 2015). "Sawa, Formiga set record with 6th World Cups". equalizersoccer.com. Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  14. ^ "2003 FIFA World Cup (™) Match Report". fifaworldcup.yahoo.com. Yahoo. 12 July 2003. Archived from the original on 31 August 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  15. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (1 July 2011). "Japan throttles Mexico 4-0, Sawa nets hat trick". equalizersoccer.com. Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Sawa's hat trick powers Japan in rout of Mexico". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  17. ^ "USA v Japan - as it happened". Guardian. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Sawa: I could never imagine this". fifa.com. FIFA. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Japan's Homare Sawa is FIFA women's player of the year". BBC News. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Sawa, Messi named Players of Year". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Aya Miyama announced as new Nadeshiko Japan's captain, Homare Sawa steps down". womenssoccerunited.com. Women’s Soccer United. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  22. ^ a b Kassouf, Jeff (1 May 2015). "Sawa makes Japan roster for record 6th World Cup". equalizersoccer.com. Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  23. ^ "U.S. defeats Nadeshiko Japan 2-1 in women's Olympic soccer final". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Japan's Sawa set to quit international football". Reuters. 11 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  25. ^ "Japan trio in running for FIFA award". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 27 October 2012. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  26. ^ "Japan secures spot in Women's Asian Cup final". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  27. ^ "Lesser lights eye share of the spotlight". FIFA. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.[dead link]
  28. ^ "Matildas fall short in Women's Asian Cup final". The Guardian. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  29. ^ a b "After one-year absence, Sawa named to Nadeshiko Japan squad for Women's World Cup". thejapantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Okudera, Sawa inducted into AFC Hall of Fame". thejapantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  31. ^ Curren, Ray (23 June 2015). "Round of 16 game preview – Japan vs Netherlands". equalizersoccer.com. Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Sawa returns with winning goal as Nadeshiko beat New Zealand". The Japan Times. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  33. ^ Lauletta, Dan (8 June 2015). "Japan opens title defense by edging Switzerland, 1-0". equalizersoccer.com. Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Japan legend Sawa makes cut for sixth World Cup". Reuters. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  35. ^ Odong, Ann (17 December 2015). "Japan legend Homare Sawa announces retirement". thewomensgame.com. The Women’s Game. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  36. ^ Japan Football Association(in Japanese)
  37. ^ List of match in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Archived 11 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine at Japan Football Association (in Japanese)
  38. ^ "FIFA Player Statistics: Homare SAWA". FIFA. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007.
  39. ^ "IFFHS BEST WOMAN PLAYER - AFC - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020". IFFHS. 3 February 2021.
  40. ^ "IFFHS WOMAN TEAM - AFC - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020". IFFHS. 30 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Sawa breaks silence about husband". The Japan Times. Kyodo. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  42. ^ "Ex-Nadeshiko star Sawa gives birth to girl". The Japan Times. Kyodo. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  43. ^ "Tokyo 2020 officials head to Europe". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  44. ^ "Inose pitches Tokyo '20 Games bid". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Nadeshiko Japan hero Homare Sawa to miss Tokyo Olympic torch relay". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
Match reports
  1. ^ a b "FIFA Women's World Cup: Germany 2011: MATCH Report: Japan – Mexico". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013.
  2. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: Sweden 1995: MATCH Report: Germany – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  3. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: Sweden 1995: MATCH Report: Brazil – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  4. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: Sweden 1995: MATCH Report: Sweden – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Atlanta 1996: Match Report: Germany – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Atlanta 1996: Match Report: Brazil – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Atlanta 1996: Match Report: Norway – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013.
  8. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: USA 1999: MATCH Report: Japan – Canada". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  9. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: USA 1999: MATCH Report: Japan – Russia". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  10. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: USA 1999: MATCH Report: Norway – Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  11. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup: USA 2003: MATCH Report: Japan – Argentina". FIFA.[dead link]
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