SSL Team JPN – By Sailors for Sailors

THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP... IN SAILING

15 NOV - 13 DEC 2026 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Events

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G3 - Race 1

14:00

26 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R1D2

R1B1

THA

JPN

Results

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G3 - Race 2

15:30

27 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R1D2

R1B1

THA

JPN

Results

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G3 - Race 3

11:00

28 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R1D2

R1B1

THA

JPN

Results

Upcoming

1/16 FINALS

G3 - Race 4

12:30

29 November 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R1D2

R1B1

THA

JPN

Results

See All Races

News

The Football World Cup in Sailing Enters Its Next Phase

Sailing is moving deeper into its “world championship” phase, modelled on the idea of a football World Cup. With 197 days left until the Grand Final of the second SSL…

DateYesterday at 15:40

The Countdown Is On: Road to the SSL Gold Cup

30 days until the second qualification round in Grandson, Switzerland, and 200 days until the SSL Gold Cup in Rio, Brazil! The countdown to the 2nd Football World Cup in…

DateSunday at 11:13

Understanding the SSL System: PART 2

In this second Q&A cycle, we take a closer look at the structure behind team composition, race dynamics, and eligibility within the Star Sailors League. From how national squads are…

Date30.04.2026

Rising Sun Japan

Hyakkaryoran

“Hyakka Ryoran” means “many flowers blooming” in English. It expresses the image of a lively and beautiful fusion of diverse talents. This is a Japanese word used to describe a situation in which many different elements, ideas, and talents bloom and coexist in harmony, creating a rich and colorful landscape.

Team Rising Sun Japan It incorporates the image of the sun, which is also included in the Japanese national flag, and represents the Japanese sailing team thriving on the international stage and moving toward the future.

Japan, a country surrounded by the sea, has had a deep connection with the sea since ancient times, and even today, various activities are carried out. Many sailing events are held across the country. Also, college sailing is very popular, with national qualifying rounds and championships held every year. We have attempted the America’s Cup four times and have produced many great sailors.

STATISTICS

THE COUNTRY

600000 sailors
40 Club & 13700Marinas
497 Olympic medals
29,751 kilometers coastline

ACHIEVEMENTS

1996　Atlanta　470
2004　Athens　470

SSL RANKING

SSL best ranked woman:MIho Yoshioka 44
SSL best ranked man:Keizyu Okada 31
SSL nations ranking:29

MAIN EVENTS

World Cup Series Enoshima
All Japan Yacht Match Race Championship

“8” means “abundance and richness”. Expanding at the end has the meaning of moving toward the end, like Mt. Fuji.

THE CAPTAIN

Eiichirou Hamazaki

Eiichirou Hamazaki is a distinguished sailing athlete hailing from Japan, known for his exceptional leadership as the captain of the SSL Gold Cup team, Rising Sun Japan. His sailing journey has been marked by outstanding achievements, including impressive results in the All Japan Yacht Match Race Championship and the Ninomiya Cup Match. Furthermore, his participation in the Sydney Olympics in the 470 class showcased his remarkable skills and dedication to the sport on the global stage.

The Leaders

Norio Igei

Norio Igei is a highly accomplished sailing athlete from Japan, renowned for his exceptional skills and dedication to the sport. With a remarkable track record, he has achieved the prestigious title of World Champion in the TP52 class, showcasing his prowess on the international sailing stage. His passion for sailing and commitment to excellence have made him a celebrated figure in the global sailing community.

Kazuhiko Sofuku

Kazuhiko Sofuku’s exceptional sailing talent came to the forefront in Challenged the America’s Cup four times: 1995, 2000 Nippon Challenge (JPN), 2003 One World (USA), 2007 BMW Oracle Racing (USA) General manager of Softbank Team Japan. sailGP basic team manager Japanese super legend 2014 when he secured the top position in the 2014 Soto 40 Open and also clinched victory in the highly competitive Soto 40 World Championship. His remarkable performance in these prestigious events underlines his prowess as a world-class sailor.

THE YOUTH FACTOR

The youth factor in sailing in Japan is experiencing a notable resurgence, with a growing number of young sailors taking up the sport and showing remarkable promise on both domestic and international stages. Initiatives such as youth sailing programs, coaching, and increased participation in youth regattas have contributed to this rejuvenation, fostering a new generation of talented Japanese sailors. As these young athletes continue to hone their skills and gain experience, they are poised to make a significant impact and potentially become future stars in the world of sailing.

Confirmed Athletes

Captain | 10

Helm | 1

Main Trimmer | 7

Pit | 5

Mid Bow | 13

Floater | 8

Bow | 15

Grinder | 11

Trimmer | 6

Trimmer | 3

Floater | 9

Potential Team Position

1 BOW Norio Igei	2 MID-BOW Fumiya Kobayashi
3 PIT Kazuhik Soufujku	4 GRINDER HIdeki Wakayama
5 TRIMMER Takumi Nakamura	6 TRIMMER Kousaku Yoshida
7 MAIN TRIMMER Tetsuya Sasaki	8 HELMS Yasutaka Funazawa
9 TACTICIAN Eiichiro Hamazaki	10 CAPTAIN Eiichiro Hamazaki
11 FLOATER Teruaki Shimakura /Kaito Ikeda

BOW

Norio Igei

MID-BOW

Fumiya Kobayashi

PIT

Kazuhik Soufujku

GRINDER

HIdeki Wakayama

TRIMMER

Takumi Nakamura

TRIMMER

Kousaku Yoshida

MAIN TRIMMER

Tetsuya Sasaki

HELMS

Yasutaka Funazawa

TACTICIAN

Eiichiro Hamazaki

CAPTAIN

Eiichiro Hamazaki

FLOATER

Teruaki Shimakura /Kaito Ikeda

SQUAD

Eiichiro Hamazaki	Yasutaka Funazawa
Kazuhik Soufujku	HIdeki Wakayama
Tetuya Sasaki	Takumi Nakamura
Kousaku Yoshida	Fumiya Kobayashi
Teruaki Shimakura	Kaito Ikeda
Norio Igei