The WE League, Japan’s top division, is a new competition founded in 2021 and still a young championship, with several interesting players whose stories deserve to be told. One of them is Sasai Chinari, featured in the 15th episode of the “WE Life” series, produced by the League with the support of the PERSOL Group. The series highlights the personal journeys of people striving to reach elite football.
Sasai Chinari’s Story
Born in 2004, she plays as a forward for Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara – currently 10th with 15 points in a league without relegation, already improving on last season, when they finished bottom with only 13 points from 22 matches. A product of the club’s youth academy, she was promoted to the first team and has also earned call‑ups to the Japan U‑20 national team. She recently scored a remarkable goal, juggling the ball with her right foot before firing a left‑footed shot under the crossbar to make it 2-2 against Chiba – a crucial moment both for the standings and for the team’s morale. But her story is not only about talent.
The Disability
Sasai Chinari’s journey stands out not only because of her ability, but also because she was born with a hearing impairment. She plays with a hearing aid that works properly except when it rains, a condition that makes the surrounding sounds become “almost faint”, as she explained. She hopes to inspire players with hearing loss or other disabilities by reaching the professional level and playing football at the highest stage, including with the national team – the same team whose 2011 World Cup victory inspired her to start playing football. Her story is still being written, but every step she takes shows that resilience can be as defining as talent in shaping a footballer’s path.
