Tokyo, Japan, November 2, 2026: Two-time badminton world champion Wakana Nagahara has announced her return to competitive badminton approximately 18 months after retiring, revealing plans to take on a dual role as a player and coach with Narita Co., Ltd.
The 30-year-old Japanese former women’s doubles star, who won consecutive BWF World Championships titles in 2018 and 2019, confirmed her comeback through a recent social media announcement.
Nagahara explained that she had signed with Narita Co., Ltd. and would help establish a new badminton team while continuing to compete and develop her coaching career.
Her decision marks a new chapter for one of Japan’s most accomplished women’s doubles players, whose return will combine competitive ambitions with mentoring the next generation of badminton talent.
Why Wakana Nagahara Decided to Return to Badminton
Nagahara revealed that two factors influenced her decision to return after approximately a year and a half away from competitive badminton.
The first was the opportunity to become involved in building a new team from the beginning.
According to her social media announcement, Nagahara was impressed by the vision and values of the president of Narita Co., Ltd. and became interested in helping develop the organization.
Rather than simply returning as an established athlete, she saw an opportunity to contribute to the team’s development while taking on new responsibilities as a coach.
The second reason came from her experiences after retirement.
During her time away from professional competition, Nagahara met new people and expanded her personal and professional network.
Some of those she met expressed regret that they had never been able to watch her compete in person.
Those conversations encouraged her to reconsider whether her competitive badminton career was truly over.
Nagahara Initially Turned Down Comeback Opportunity
Despite eventually accepting the offer, Nagahara admitted that returning to competition was not part of her original plans.
She explained that she had retired without regrets because she believed she had given everything possible during her professional badminton career.
That sense of fulfillment initially led her to decline the invitation to return.
However, the organization’s determination to recruit her ultimately changed her perspective.
When she was told that she was precisely the person the new team needed, Nagahara began to view the opportunity differently.
She realized that returning to competition could allow more people to experience her badminton firsthand while giving her a chance to contribute to the sport in a new capacity.
The combination of those factors eventually convinced her to accept the player-coach position.
Wakana Nagahara Plans Move to United States While Competing in Japan
One of the more unusual aspects of Nagahara’s comeback is her plan to divide her time between the United States and Japan.
The former world champion revealed that she intends to relocate her primary base to the United States before the end of 2026.
While living in the US, Nagahara plans to continue coaching and training before traveling back to Japan to participate in badminton competitions.
She also expects to maintain regular contact with her new team through online communication, allowing her to contribute to its development even when she is overseas.
The arrangement will enable Nagahara to pursue opportunities outside Japan while remaining involved in competitive badminton and team development.
However, she has not announced a specific tournament schedule or confirmed when she will make her first competitive appearance following her return.
Two-Time World Champion Built Successful Partnership With Mayu Matsumoto
Nagahara is best known internationally for her successful women’s doubles partnership with Mayu Matsumoto.
The Japanese pair established themselves among the world’s leading combinations, capturing consecutive women’s doubles gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 BWF World Championships.
Their first world title came in Nanjing, China, in 2018, when they defeated compatriots Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota in the final.
A year later, Nagahara and Matsumoto successfully defended their championship in Basel, Switzerland, again overcoming Fukushima and Hirota in the final.
Winning back-to-back world titles established the Japanese partnership as one of the most successful women’s doubles combinations of that period.
They also reached world No. 1 in the BWF women’s doubles rankings during their careers.
Nagahara’s experience competing at the highest international level will now become an important part of her new responsibilities as a player and coach.
A New Chapter for Japan’s Former Badminton World Champion
At 30, Nagahara’s return represents a different approach to competitive badminton from the one she followed during her years on the international circuit.
Rather than focusing exclusively on tournament results, she will balance competition with coaching, training and helping establish a new team.
Her planned relocation to the United States also introduces an international dimension to her next career chapter.
Nagahara said she enjoys taking on new challenges and is looking forward to the opportunities ahead.
She also expressed appreciation for the support she has received throughout her badminton career.
For fans who followed her achievements alongside Matsumoto, the announcement offers another opportunity to see the former world champion compete.
Although details of her competitive schedule remain unconfirmed, Nagahara’s decision ensures that her involvement in badminton will continue both on and off the court.
Complete Tournament Results
No tournament results are associated with Wakana Nagahara’s comeback announcement. Her first competitive appearance following her return has not yet been confirmed.
