Women's world champion Japan kicked off its pre-World Cup training camp on Monday in Kagawa Prefecture as the Nadeshiko began their quest to retain the title they won four years ago in Germany.

"Putting on the blue shirt again, I feel like it's finally upon us," said Homare Sawa, who is back in Norio Sasaki's squad after a one-year absence.

The 36-year-old No. 10 is headed to her sixth consecutive World Cup, a record for either men's or women's, after leading Japan to their first championship as tournament MVP and top scorer.

Sawa has said Canada will be her last World Cup, having virtually carried the team since making her international debut in 1993 at the age of 15.

While Sawa has not played for Japan since the Women's Asian Cup in May last year, 17 of the 23 headed to the June 6-July 5 tournament this summer were part of the World Cup-winning side in 2011.

Captain and two-time Asian Player of the Year Aya Miyama said it's as if Sawa never left.

"It's not like a comeback; we take it as a given that she's with us," Miyama said.

The holders will face New Zealand here on Sunday and take on Italy in Nagano four days later before flying off to Canada on June 1.

Japan launches its World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 8 in Vancouver, followed by Cameroon four days later before moving to Winnipeg to face Ecuador on June 16.

"It's a huge responsibility to put on the No. 10 for Japan," Sawa said. "I hope I can live up to it by helping us produce the results."