Akari Nishimura Earns Professional Contract at FairBreak Invitational 2023

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Akari Nishimura (formerly Akari Kano) has earned a professional contract and will travel to Hong Kong for the FairBreak Invitational 2023.

She joins the reigning champions, the Tornadoes, as a wicket-keeper / batter and becomes the 12th different nationality in the 15-strong squad as the six-team tournament prepares to get underway on Monday 3rd April at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

Akari began her journey into cricket in March 2018 as one of the founding members of the Sendai University Cricket Project and was fast-tracked that year into the Women’s Japan National Squad. She made her debut in 2019 in an ICC World Cup Qualifier in Vanuatu, and in 2022 she scored her first international half century.

Upon hearing the news that she had been chosen Nishimura said: “It was a big surprise to hear that FairBreak wanted me to jon the tournament. The FairBreak tournament last year and Shizuka Miyaji becoming the first Japanese player to be awarded a professional contract inspired my ambition to play in it as well.”

She went on to thank her teammates at Sendai University, with whom she trains every day, and everyone she has played alongside in the Japan National Team. She acknowldges that her half-century against Hong Kong last October has boosted her confidence of being able to perform against strong opposition.

Lastly she said: “I really want to thank FairBreak for this opportunity, and everything they are doing for women’s cricket, and also our Women’s Japan National Squad partner, Mitsui Knowledge Industry, whose support for women’s cricket in Japan is vital. Finally, I would like Sendai University for encouraging me and supporting both my playing and professional career.”

The full FairBreak scheudle can be seen via the following link, and Tuesday 11th April is a date to mark in your diaries as Nishimura’s Tornadoes will take on Shizuka Miyaji’s Spirit! https://fairbreak.net/fairbreak-invitational-2023/fixtures-fbi-23

Akari Nishimura Player Profile:

  • Born November 25, 1997 (age 25), in Kawasaki Town, Miyagi Prefecture
    Lives in Ogawara Town, Miyagi Prefecture
  • Started playing cricket in 2018 as a first-year student of the Sendai University Cricket Club
  • Debut for Japan in 2019 at the ICC Women’s East Asia Pacific Qualifiers
  • Right-handed wicket-keeper batter
  • Scored first international 50 in October 2022 vs Hong Kong at the East Asia Cup in Kaizuka, Osaka
    Graduated School of Sendai University
    Founding member of Sendai University Cricket Club
    Sendai University staff member

Sendai University Women’s National Team Challenge

In 2018, JCA started a project in partnership with Sendai University as part of the Great East Japan Earthquake revitalisation. The purpose is to develop human resources who can play an active role in the sports industry.

In 2022 six members of the university team were selected in the Women’s Japan National Squad and two members would later be named in the team to participate in the East Asia Cup at the end of the year.

This project also led to the JCA being introduced to Watar Town in Miyagi Prefecture who were searching for ways to promote international exchange and a more distinctive identity for the town. By becoming a City of Cricket in 2021 and having a hard pitch installed in late 2022, Watari is now established as the home of cricket in the Tohoku regoin and has plans to host plenty of matches and community events in 2023 and beyond.

About FairBreak Global:

  • At FairBreak, we see a world where people have fair and equal access to opportunities that enable them to succeed in their chosen endeavour, independent of gender or geographical location. Our mission is to create opportunities that progress gender equality on a truly global scale, using cricket as our primary vehicle. In doing so, we aim to create opportunities across health, business, media, arts and education to empower women to pursue success in their chosen endeavour.
  • https://fairbreak.net @FairBreakGlobal

Five Year Strategy 2023-2027 Released

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We are pleased to announce the JCA Five-Year Strategy for 2023-2027: “KAIKA – Time to Flourish”.

Our previous five-year strategy for 2018-2022, “Building a Brighter Future” brought many successes including; qualifying for the U19 World Cup, redeveloping the Sano City International Cricket Ground, a first professional contract for a Japanese cricketer, the formation of a cross party Parliamentary Group to support Cricket and many more.

We have also been able to take the “City of Cricket” model to two places outside of Kanto and are excited to see the growth in the Kansai and Tohoku regions through their centres in Kaizuka City, Osaka and Watari Town in Miyagi.

Our latest strategy states, “By 2027, Cricket will be recognised as a sport flourishing in Japan, attracting new fans, participants and partners, through: Competing on the world stage, Reaching new audiences, Creating social value for all and Providing professional opportunities.”

We believe that by focusing on providing a positive impression of cricket for people new to the game, as well as positive experiences for everyone, we can continue to grow the budding Japanese cricket community. We will work hard to bring more participants, fans and partners to the game by holding powerful events that bring a sense of excitement and fun to all who are involved.

Chief Executive Officer of the JCA, Naoki Miyaji, said: “This new five-year strategy is launching with the dream of taking the JCA mission of enriching lives and broaden horizons to more people than ever. We have seen how sport can provide people with the benefits of a healthier lifestyle while also bringing people and countries closer together.”

He continued: “We are extremely grateful to the 300 or so people who contributed to the formation of this strategy, many of whom have seen the building of a brighter future and are now excited to see the seeds sown begin to Flourish. We are as excited about the next five years as we have ever been and we know that with the support of our passionate community we can see Japanese Cricket really come into a full bloom.”

More About the Strategy:

About “Friends of Cricket”:

  • One of the early steps in the new strategy is the formation of a “Friends of Cricket” supporter group where volunteers can register to be part of the growth of Japan Cricket, the link below has details of how to register your interest in being involved.
  • https://cricket.or.jp/en/archives/21332

Commentators Wanted!

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Do you love watching cricket?

Do you love talking about cricket??

If the answer to both of those questions is YES then there are great opportunities available for you to develop your skills as a Cricket Commentator!

In 2022 we streamed more than 70 cricket matches on the JCA YouTube Channel and we have even more planned for 2023. While we cannot provide commentary for all of these, we are very keen to build the number of people able to enhance the quality of our broadcasts to our fans, in both English and Japanese!

If you are interested in joining the JCA Commentary Team then please provide your details here: https://forms.gle/sprYouFnNP4Kb9q97. Please complete the form no later than Sunday 2nd April.

We at the JCA are very keen to support people in developing this valuable skillset and while it will likely begin as voluntary, there will be earning opportunities for those who demonstrate a high aptitude for explaining the game.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Superstar Scorers Needed!

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In 2021 we founded the JCA Umpires Panel which has been a great success and helped us to grow the expertise of our core group of umpires in Japan.

In 2023 we want to start bringing together the best scorers in the country to try and have a similar impact of raising standards in this vital area of the game.

As cricket in Japan gets increased attention and with more matches being live streamed, it is so important that the integrity of the game is protected by ensuring that we have all the matches scored perfectly.

With several high-profile events lined up in 2023 and beyond, we hope that you can help us bring all the best scorers and become part of an elite team that ensures high standards.

We will make sure that all those involved are suitably rewarded for their skillset and we encourage people of any age and gender to join.

Please complete the following form no later than Sunday 2nd April: https://forms.gle/CrtzTc52TfkZAWmQ7

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

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Here at the JCA we are regularly hosting events which are a key part of promoting the game in Japan.

The success of any event is often dependent on the quality of staff we have at our disposal and we are keen to build a database of people who are available and willing to assist at our events.

There are a wide range of roles available from scoring matches, explaining cricket or even just directing spectators and handing out information.

We are currently in planning to create a “Friends of Cricket” programme where anyone who is willing and able to give their time to help us in events can be part of a reward system where various perks can be taken advantage of at other times of the year.

Anyone who is interested should please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/noJmPk6b2C7HSrmq5

Please complete the form no later than Sunday 16th April.

Thank you in advance for helping to develop the game here in Japan!

Shizuka Miyaji Announces International Retirement

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Japan Cricket’s most capped international player, Shizuka Miyaji, has announced her retirement from international cricket, but will continue her professional career for as long as opportunities arise.

The announcement comes just weeks before Miyaji will participate in the FairBreak Invitational 2023 to be held from the 3rd to the 16th of April in Hong Kong.

When making the announcement she said: “When I first started playing Cricket, I didn’t imagine that I would be fortunate enough to not only represent Japan but do so for 17 long years. I would like to thank the JCA for giving me the opportunity, the sponsors and coaches for their support, and my family for their encouragement.”

Miyaji, who made her debut for Japan on September 12th, 2006, has played 74 times for the Women’s Japan National team. During her career she took a Women’s National team record of 45 wickets while also scoring the second highest number of runs (663) for the team.

Among her many accolades, she was part of the bronze-medal winning team at the 2010 Asian Games, was selected for the team of the tournament at the 2017 Women’s World T20 EAP Qualifier and the best batter at the 2019 Women’s East Asia Cup. She has also won four Japan Women’s Player of the Year Awards.

Miyaji has a reputation for hard work and was rewarded with her persistence when she became the first Japanese cricketer to earn a professional contract in 2022 when she travelled to Dubai for the inaugural Fairbreak Invitational. She showed her quality with some outstanding performances playing with and against some of the best players in the world.

Talking about Fairbreak she said: “Although I have decided to end my career for Japan, I am looking forward to the challenge of playing in the FairBreak Invitational 2023 this April, and I hope you will all continue to support me.”

She added that her focus throughout the winter has been on the tournament in Hong Kong, and that she will think more about her next steps once that concludes.

While playing for Japan for many years, she has also contributed to the development of Cricket in Japan as a willing volunteer since her days as a university student.

She served in various roles in the Kansai region including Head of the JCA Kansai Branch which built the foundations for the Kansai Cricket Association, she has coached and managed for Uenomiya High School Cricket Club and Sano Junior Cricket Club, helping the development of youth pathways and players, and has actively taken part in various other development activities across the country.

The JCA would like to formally express our respect and gratitude towards Shizuka for her commitment, hard work and endless enthusiasm for the Women’s Japan National team and the development of cricket in Japan over the last 17 years. Her presence will be missed but we would like to wish her the best of luck for the future.

New Competitions for the 2023 Japan Cricket Season

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We are excited to confirm two new competitions for the new cricket season in Japan.

The Women’s JPL (WJPL) will take place over three days in July while there will also be a short Japan Cricket League T10 (JCL T10) for eight clubs to participate in.

In keeping with tradition, the first weekend should coincide with the arrival of the cherry blossom on the first weekend of April, although there will also be some activity in March.

The Japan Women’s Squad trials will take place at the Sano International Cricket Ground on the spring equinox holiday which falls on Tuesday 21st March this year, while the National Academy Under 19 and Under 15 trials will take place on Saturday 19th March.

Plenty of cricket will be available to watch live on the JCA YouTube Channel, so don’t forget to subscribe to catch the action.

Below is a list of key event dates for the season ahead, please be sure to download the Japan Cricket App to see all the fixtures once they are released in March.

March:

  • 19th : National Academy Under 19 & Under 15 Trials
  • 21st : Women’s National Trials
  • 25th : Regional Trials – Kanto Region

April:

  • 1st : Japan Cricket League Starts
  • 23rd : Japan Cup Starts
  • 29th : Women’s Japan Cricket League Starts
  • 29th – 30th : Futures League

May:

  • 5th – 7th : Japan Premier League
  • 21st : JCL T10 Starts
  • 21st : J-BASH All-Stars Starts

July:

  • 15th – 17th : Women’s Japan Premier League
  • 22nd: JCL T10 Finals
  • 29th : JCL T20 Starts

September:

  • 2nd : JCL T20 Quarter Finals
  • 23rd: JCL T20 Finals
  • 30th : J-BASH All-Stars

October:

  • 21st – 22nd : Japan Cup National Finals
  • 28th – 29th : Embassy Cup

November:

  • 25th : JCA Annual Awards

Establishment of a Reporting System for Registered Participants and Staff

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The JCA has established a Reporting System for Registered Participants and Staff to preserve and strengthen the integrity of the sport.

Registered players/officials and JCA staff can report any wrongdoings or any threat of wrongdoings in relation to the JCA operations to the contact below. Enquiries on whether an action that is about to happen would be considered as a wrongdoing can also be made.

Please see here for more information on the Reporting System and Contact.

JCA Lifetime Service Award

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The JCA is delighted to announce that Mr. Keiji Nishiwaki of Uenomiya High School was awarded the JCA Lifetime Service Award.

Mr. Keiji Nishwaki, the founder of cricket at Uenomiya High School, will retire in March this year, after 16 years of service to cricket.

Nishiwaki-Sensei established Japan’s first school cricket club after being approached by a former student with an interest in British culture who showed him a video about the sport. He was taken by the idea that such a popular sport around the world was still relatively unknown in Japan and believed it could be popular with his students.

The journey has not always been easy, access to grounds in Kansai has long been a challenge and existing clubs at the school provided stiff competition to access the space required for cricket to flourish. However, Nishiwaki-Sensei was always willing to travel and his teams would often be seen competing at the Fuji Grounds as well as in Sano.

During his time running the club, Nishiwaki-Sensei has seen 11 men, 10 women and 17 under 19 players be selected for Japan National Squads, a magnificent achievement and the debt these players owe to him was clearly visible when so many travelled back to Kansai for his retirement function last month.

The opening of the Kaizuka Cricket Field in 2020 marked the start of a new era for cricket in Kansai and Nishiwaki-Sensei was present to witness the Grand Opening, and also to see two of his most recent players make their debuts for Japan Women as the venue hosted its first internationals in October 2022.

Away from the cricket field Nishiwaki-Sensei has been active in the Kansai Cricket Association and numerous other development activities as well as serving on the JCA Board of Directors. The JCA would like to take this opportunity to formally thank Nishiwaki-Sensei for his many years of service and we hope to see him at cricket matches around Japan as he enjoys his well earned retirement.

National Selectors Confirmed for 2023

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The Japan National Squad Selection Committees for 2023 have been confirmed as below:

Japan Men & Japan A:

Dhugal Bedingfield (Head Coach), Alan Curr, Ardene Ruhode

Women:

Ardene Ruhode (Head Coach), Alan Curr, Naotsune Miyaji

National Academy (Under 19 & Under 15):

Ardene Ruhode (Head Coach), Alan Curr, Dhugal Bedingfield

The selectors will be responsible for choosing the players who join the national training squads for the year. The final selections for the touring teams to play in tournaments will also involve the national team captain.

There is also a small change in the Men’s National Squad structure for 2023 with the Under 23 squad being replaced by the Japan A squad and moved under the control of Men’s Head Coach Dhugal Bedingfield.

All squads will be selected according to the National Squad Player Eligibility & Selection Policy and with a view to being successful on the international stage both now and in the future.