The team nicknamed “Smile Japan” is a close-knit group. Of the 23 players on the roster, 21 have been on the squad that earned promotion to the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship last spring and 20 players were on the team that won the Final Olympic Qualification tournament on home ice in Tomakomai one year ago to earn the ticket to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.

Despite being among the regular Women’s World Championship participants, Japan was missing in the Olympic women’s ice hockey line-up in 2002, 2006 and 2010 and for the first time earned qualification on the ice for Sochi 2014 and the second time for PyeongChang 2018. 15 of the players on the current roster were also part of the last Olympic squad four years ago.

All 23 players have been playing their club hockey in the Japanese championship recently although a few players have overseas experience. Canada-born defender Akane Hosoyamada played NCAA hockey for the Syracuse University and a few CWHL games for the Calgary Inferno before moving to Japan. Goaltender Nana Fujimoto also has overseas experience minding the net for the NWHL’s New York Riveters in 2015/2016 while defenders Sena Suzuki (Toronto Furies) and Aina Takeuchi (Calgary Inferno) played in the CWHL before coming back to Japan for the Olympic season. Forward Miho Shishiuchi played in the Finnish women’s league for HPK Hameenlinna from 2014 to 2016.

Takeshi Yamanaka, who played at the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament on home ice in Nagano 1998, is in his second season as head coach of the women’s national team. He originally joined the team as an assistant coach after the 2014 Olympics.

Chiho Osawa has been the team captain during the last few years. With 70 national team games in IIHF-sanctioned events 35-year-old forward Hanae Kubo is the most experienced players. She had her debut at the 1999 Women's World Championship B-Pool. Shoko Ono, 36, debuted in the same year and came back in 2016 after a seven-year absence on the national team. 17-year-old defender Aoi Shiga is the youngest player on the team.

Goaltenders:
Nana Fujimoto, Vortex Sapporo
Mai Kondo, Mikage Gretz
Akane Konishi, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Defence:
Mika Hori, Toyota Cygnus
Akane Hosoyamada, DK Peregrine
Shiori Koike, DK Peregrine
Aoi Shiga, Obihiro Ladies
Sena Suzuki, Seibu Princess Rabbits
Aina Takeuchi, Daishin
Ayaka Toko, Seibu Princess Rabbits

Forwards:
Yurie Adachi, Seibu Princess Rabbits
Moeko Fujimoto, Toyota Cygnus
Tomomi Iwahara, Seibu Princess Rabbits
Hanae Kubo, Seibu Princess Rabbits
Ami Nakamura, Seibu Princess Rabbits
Shoko Ono, Mikage Gretz
Chiho Osawa, DK Peregrine
Miho Shishiuchi, Toyota Cygnus
Suzuka Taka, DK Peregrine
Naho Terashima, Daishin
Haruka Toko, Seibu Princess Rabbits
Rui Ukita, Daishin
Haruna Yoneyama, DK Peregrine

Head Coach:
Takeshi Yamanaka