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AFC Women's Asian Cup
Appearing in her first continental tournament, the midfielder’s composed demeanor showcases the belief Japan have that they can lift the coveted trophy for a third time, with Korea Republic awaiting them in Wednesday’s semi-final.
“I came here to be a champion and I want to show the joy of being at this tournament. I’m proud to be part of the national team and I’ll do my best tomorrow,” said Tanikawa.
“The head coach (Nils Nielsen) has various approaches to strengthen us mentally and we have learned a lot from him. We will try to enjoy the game. I’m looking forward to it . We have had really good preparation, we want to win and advance to the final.”
“The head coach (Nils Nielsen) has various approaches to strengthen us mentally and we have learned a lot from him. We will try to enjoy the game. I’m looking forward to it . We have had really good preparation, we want to win and advance to the final.”
A member of Japan’s gold-medal winning squad at the 2022 Asian Games, Tanikawa’s exploits saw her recruited by Bayern Munich in 2024.
The German club sent the then 19-year-old midfielder on loan to Norway side Rosenborg, where the budding Japanese star bloomed, helping her team win the league title.
Rejoining Bayern for the 2025/26 season, Tanikawa is on course to win another title but the Aichi-born has her eyes set on the Asian trophy first where she hopes to play a pivotal role in the semi-final.
The German club sent the then 19-year-old midfielder on loan to Norway side Rosenborg, where the budding Japanese star bloomed, helping her team win the league title.
Rejoining Bayern for the 2025/26 season, Tanikawa is on course to win another title but the Aichi-born has her eyes set on the Asian trophy first where she hopes to play a pivotal role in the semi-final.
“As a team, we try to focus from the start. We will try to win our one-on-one duels. This is the kind of game that could be decided by a single goal, a single moment and hopefully, I will be able to contribute to that.”
