The Japanese National Women's Softball Team received an unexpected result at the last softball game of the 2008 Summer Olympics. It was the last softball competition before the sport is dropped from the Olympic program, and the hard work and dedication of Japanese National Softball Team led to a surprising gold medal with a victory over the United States in the final. It ended the Americans' 22-game winning streak and denied them a fourth straight title since softball was introduced in 1996. The team fought tough for victory and resulted in Japan's win of three games over two days for the gold. Most players on the team play for Japanese Corporate teams. The national team gets funding from the Japanese government. The roster of the 2008 Summer Olympics National Softball team is listed below:
• At the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Japanese prized pitcher, Yukiko Ueno, shut down the seemingly unstoppable American batters. Spectators labeled her the star of the series. With her challenging fast ball, the 26-year-old right hander threw 413 pitches in three full games over two days. In the game against the United States she threw strike after strike with speed and movement even though she had a huge blister on her pitching hand.
• At the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Japanese National Women's Softball Team had to pull out a 4-3 extra-inning win against Australia with Rei Nishiyama belting a home run in the 12th inning to reach the final. In the game prior to that, Japan lost 4-1 to the United States with the Americans scoring four runs in the ninth which allowed the Americans to reach the final.
• At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the Japanese National Women's Softball Team won all their games until the gold medal match in which they lost to the United States 1–0 in extra inning and had to settle for the silver. The Japanese had beaten the United States in an earlier game, ending the American's 112-game winning streak.
• In the Athens Olympics in 2004, Yukiko Ueno entered the history books by pitching the first perfect game in Olympic history, leading Japan to a 2–0 win over China.
• Many softball players from abroad come to Japan to play for Japanese Corporate teams. Each team is allowed two foreigners, some even coming from the United States National Softball team.
Results
Olympics: Gold Medal - 2008; Silver Medal - 2000; Bronze Medal - 2004
ISF Women's World Championship: Gold Medal - 1970; Silver Medal - 2002, 2006; Bronze Medal - 1965, 1998
Softball at the World Games: Gold Medal - 2009
2006 Japan Softball Cup: 2nd
World Cup of Softball: 1st - 2005; 2nd - 2007, 2006
