AFC Women's Champions League
With the inaugural edition of the AFC Women's Champions League™ set to kick off next month, the-AFC.com highlights the inspiring journey of Haruna Takata, Chairperson of Japan's WE League, one of the fastest-growing leagues on the Continent.
As a key figure in the WE League, Takata has become a driving force in women's football in the island nation and has dedicated herself to elevating the women's game both domestically and internationally.
Takata's foray into football began as a chance encounter in 2017 when her then-employer acquired the professional football club V-Varen Nagasaki, and she has since, turned it into her life's passion.
In 2018, she joined the club's management team, and by 2020, had ascended to the position of club president, making her the only female president among the 56 J League clubs at the time.
"I found the imbalance in gender representation to be unnatural," she said. "At the time, the situation was not uncommon, but in my opinion, the perspective of women is crucial for the progress of football as a whole."
While considering taking on the challenge of filling the shoes of Kikuko Okajima, the first Chairperson of the WE League, she attended her first WE League game in 2022, where the palpable potential of women's footballers in the country made her realise her calling.
"When I was thinking about taking up the position of Chairperson, I had the chance to watch a game in the WE League and was really impressed by the players. I felt that I was given an opportunity to promote their talent so that more people, especially women, would know about them and feel proud," she reminisced.
A quick glance at the current roster of the Nadeshiko Japan paints a vivid picture of the high standards, with six national team players emerging from WE League teams.
In 2023, Japan finished their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign in the Quarter-finals but stunned eventual champions Spain 4-0, with midfielder Hinata Miyazawa picking up the Golden Boot at the competition.
Meanwhile, in 2022, the East Asians finished runners-up at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup where Maika Hamano won the Golden Ball as well as the Silver Boot, while compatriot Yuzuki Yamamoto won the bronze and Japan clinched the Fair Play Award.
"The level of women's football has significantly improved because players can now dedicate more time to training. As a result, now about half of the national team members are selected from the WE League," said Takata.
"The league has created a pathway for every girl in Japan to aspire to become a professional football player. The J League was launched about 30 years ago which changed the level of men's professional football and now, the same thing is happening for the girls," she continued.
Japan further captured the attention of the Continent by finishing runners-up in both the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ and AFC U17 Asian Cup™ earlier this year, and Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies clinched the final edition of the AFC Women's Club Championship™.
The WE League chief is now keen for Japanese clubs to make their mark at the inaugural edition of the AFC Women's Champions League™ which kicks off next month.
"The fact that the AFC Women's Champions League™ is now happening shows that women's football is becoming equally important on the global stage. Thanks to the AFC, the gap between nations is narrowing and now the clubs can further strengthen their game by playing against each other in a Continental competition," said the WE League Chairperson.
"Right now, it is very important for fans to show their support to the clubs at the AFC Women's Champions League™ and I hope that women's football in Asia will continue to progress and will inspire more girls to play football."
Launched on the AFC Women's Football Day in 2018, the AFC's "It's My Game" campaign continues to honour inspiring women in football throughout the world's largest Continent, reaching millions of people via the AFC's digital channels.