The head of Japan¡¯s professional women¡¯s soccer league says support for women¡¯s sports still lags behind other countries, even as global interest is rising.
Haruna Takata, who chairs the two-year-old WE League, came into the spotlight recently when she floated an idea to start a crowdfunding campaign to fund the broadcast rights to avoid a TV blackout for the upcoming Women¡¯s World Cup.
Public broadcaster NHK stepped in at the last minute to air Japan¡¯s group-stage games at the tournament, set to start in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday ¡ª though the first two matches will air on satellite channel NHK BS1. Takata said the saga helped raise awareness of the problems facing women¡¯s soccer in Japan.
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