Japan will campaign for the America’s Cup for the first time in 17 years in May.
Team Japan general manager, Kazuhiko Sofuku, said the race in Bermuda was an important opportunity to showcase his nation's sailing legacy.
"It is a great challenge to show to the world that we are one of the greatest maritime countries,” Sofuku said.
The team has enlisted domestic talent but will have sailors from Australia and New Zealand onboard for the May qualifiers and the June playoffs.
New Zealand-born skipper Dean Barker, who will be competing in his sixth America’s Cup, said competing in the race was the best way to grow the popularity of sailing in Japan ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.
"We really hope we can keep building and developing this team,” Barker said.
“The best way we can do this is to keep bringing in Japanese talent.”
Barker, who steered Team New Zealand to victory in 2000, said Team Japan was trying to upskill Japanese sailors as quickly as possible, and was working with a youth team.
Sofuku said he believes Japan's technological innovation will be a key advantage for the team in Bermuda .
“In the future I want to combine all the technology and knowledge from Japan to challenge for the America’s Cup – that is my dream,” he said.
The sentiment is shared by Barker, who said technology in Japan was “leading edge".
“They are passionate and very loyal people. Part of the challenge is developing the sailing culture around this type of racing,” Barker said.
Nick Vindin is a freelance journalist who travelled to Bermuda as a guest of one of the major sponsors.
