The Japan Football Association appointed Nadeshiko Japan's first ever female manager on Wednesday, naming four-time Asian women's coach of the year Asako Takakura as successor to Norio Sasaki.
Takakura will also be in charge of the under-20 national side, and the JFA has entrusted her to revive the former world champions with an eye on the 2019 Women's World Cup in France and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Sasaki, who led Japan to two World Cup finals and an Olympic silver medal four years ago in London, stepped down last month after his team failed to qualify for this summer's Rio de Janeiro Games.