> The only previous Olympic match between Japan and New Zealand came at Athens 2004, when Japan won 2-0.
> The last meeting between these teams came at the 2005 Champions Challenge: Japan - New Zealand 1-2.
> Japan qualified for the Beijing Olympics by winning a silver medal at the Asian Games.
> New Zealand qualified for Beijing 2008 as Oceania Cup champions.
> Korea's Yoo Seung-Jin is in charge of the Japanese team, making Japan one of two women's teams that are led by a foreign head coach.
> At age 37, Japan's Akemi Kato is the oldest hockey player in the women's competition at Beijing 2008.
> Misaki Ozawa celebrated her 23rd birthday two days before the match.
> Ten players on the Japanese squad were present at Athens 2004.
> Nine players on the New Zealand squad were present at Athens 2004.
> 18-year-old Gemma Flynn (NZL) and 19-year-old Chinami Kozakura (JPN) are two of nine teenagers in the Women's hockey competition at Beijing 2008.