Hockey: Japan women on path to graduate with aggression

Japan coach Yugi Nagai with player Yukari Yamamoto. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

Giving up, not just in sport but as population, isn't in the psyche of Japan.

"Like big rock," a smiling Shuku Morimoto, of Wellington, says in translation as Japan women's coach, Yugi Nagai, nods in approval in Hastings when asked why oppositions traditionally have utmost respect for their defence.

The Land of the Rising Sun take pride in sitting deep before executing a wave of counterattacks to catch teams on the hop.

They play hosts to the Black Sticks from 7.30pm today in the Eight Nations Hawke's Bay Cup annual tournament.

The word is Japan tend to take a defensive approach too often so competing at major tourneys, such as the HB Festival of Hockey, offers them an ideal opportunity to face more aggressive opponents to find some balance with attack.

"I want to make a new team of players who can make decisions for themselves on the field.

"They always think a lot about trying to attack when they have a chance but we must defend, too," Morimoto says on behalf of Nagai who is mindful he and the players are new and also in the process of building a rapport.

From the Gihu Province, the 51-year-old has been at the helm of the current No 10 team in the world for five months and has two daughters in the squad.

He studied hockey for six months in Australia from 1988-89 before going on to assume the mantle of Japan's men's coach on the heels of an illustrious domestic record of more than 50 national championships.

Born in Sapporo City, Nagai also played for his country, leading them as captain to the Barcelona Olympics.

He previously coached the Japan women's team in 2011, leading them to the London Olympics the next year and is on course to take the incumbents to the Rio Olympics next year.

Not surprisingly, he instils a hard-work ethic that resulted in a 1-0 win over the Kiwis.

"We're quite even so we have the potential."

Japan accept they are not physically imposing but "we have quickness and stamina.

"We build muscles and the inner core with weight training and physical workout," he says.

He takes heart in Japan finishing fourth at the Asian Games last October with a couple of players as young as 19.

An eighth place at the Champions Trophy a month later means they would like to finish in the top four here.

Yukari Yamamoto epitomises the determination of Nagai.

The 33-year-old from Nita has come out of retirement since the London Olympics to provide some much-needed experience in the engine room.

"Before London, I made a goal that I was pretty satisfied so I was going to retire," says Yamamoto who works as assistant coach to Nagai at the Sony Club.

Her goal is to help the team make the cut to Rio in the impending Olympic qualifiers before deciding on her future.

While her parents are happy she's still living her hockey dream, a smiling Yamamoto says they also would like to see her settle down to have a family soon.

While they have a demure persona, she says the Japanese have the ability to switch on and off the turf at the height of battle.

"We have no knowledge of how to be aggressive so we're coming here to gain that," she says through the translator.