Discover Tokyo: Home of the inaugural WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup

The United States and hosts Japan will lead the charge among the 12 teams vying for the title of World Champion in the maiden edition of the WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup from 21-29 October in the bustling city of Tokyo.

The Japanese capital is a vibrant metropolis, where cutting-edge technology meets ancient traditions. It is known for its art, fashion, technology and innovation, traditional and popular culture, and its sports scene.

Setagaya and Ota wards

The U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup will be held in three venues namely Komazawa Olympic Park Sports Complex Baseball Stadium and Setagaya City Okura Sports Center Baseball Ground located in the Setagawa ward as well as Ota Stadium in Ota ward.

The 30 Opening Round games will be played at Komazawa and Setagaya from 21-24 October, followed by the 18 games at Komazawa and Ota Stadium from 26-28 October and the medal games at Ota Stadium on 29 October.

Best things to do and see in Tokyo in October

October is a very pleasant time of year to visit Tokyo. October features food shows, temple festivals, cultural arts events, film festivals, book festivals, and, of course, sports events. It is a great month for experiencing many different faces of Tokyo. 

The average temperature is around 18ºC (64°F) during the day, and 14ºC (57°F) at night. The weather in October is not humid and the temperature is perfect for sightseeing and other outdoor activities.

One of the events that will be held concurrently with the U-15 Softball World Cup at Komazawa Olympic Park is the Tokyo Ramen Fest 2023 from 26 October 20 to 5 November. It is one of Japan’s largest outdoor events dedicated to ramen and has been running annually since 2009.

Japanese sport culture

Japanese sport culture is woven with tradition, innovation, and excellence, which encapsulates the nation’s commitment to athleticism and pursuit of greatness. Likewise, it extends beyond athletic competitions as it influences society with lessons in teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.

The Japanese capital has hosted many big sports events including two editions of the Olympic Games (1964 and 2020). And sports continue to grow and evolve in the city whether it is participation or spectator sport event.

Rise of women’s softball

Women’s sport participation and success in elite sports have been increasingly recognised by the public. This was true for team sports, where the women’s national volleyball team gained popularity with their success in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the women’s national softball team in the 1990s and 2000s.

Softball has ushered in a new era of women’s sport in contemporary Japan, with some of the athletes and teams coming to have larger followings. Softball has been an Olympic sport since 1996 and the Japanese women’s team is one of only four teams that took part in the event from the start.

After finishing fourth at Atlanta 1996, the team won medals at every subsequent edition of the quadrennial. They also took home the Asian Games gold in Doha in 2006 and two years later, beating long-time rivals USA at Beijing 2008.

Tokyo 2020 Legacy

The Japanese capital hosted the 2020 Olympic Games, where softball made a symbolic return to the sport programme since Beijing 2008, but the most important thing for its citizens was witnessing their team make a historic repeat of winning gold at their home Games.

Host federation - the Japan Softball Association - - says the hosting of the U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup in Tokyo promotes the city’s vision of continuing the legacy of Tokyo 2020 and making it a city of sports by creating connections with its people and providing them with excitement, dreams and hopes through the competition.