The Spurs duo played an integral part in their nation’s success as Japan claimed the trophy for the third time in the last four editions of the tournament – with the pair featuring in all but one game, and Maika was at the heart of their memorable night in the final.
Having scored in the quarter-final and semi-final stages of the competition, the young forward stepped up when it mattered most as her stunning strike from distance proved to be the difference and sparked jubilant celebrations in Sydney.
Now, after taking some time to soak in the achievement, Toko and Maika stepped out of their comfort zone to chat to us in English about their triumph on the international stage when they returned to Hotspur Way.
“It means a lot for me and for my country,” Maika told us, before Toko followed with: “I'm very happy to win the Asian Cup. I'm against some top-level players so I'm happy to be against them.”
Maika – who was also named in the Team of the Tournament – added: “They've got like great fans there [in Australia]. It was like 70,000 or something, so it was an amazing atmosphere and it’s something I have dreamt about as a kid.”
When asked about her winning strike in the final, Maika told us: “I don't really remember. I just remember the time and I needed to focus on myself, so I don’t really remember much.”
Following their success in the prestigious tournament, Maika opened up about the messages of support from back home and Toko the recognition at Hotspur Way. “We couldn't go home, go [back to] Japan, but I received messages from Japanese fans, my friends and my family,” Toko replied with: “Spurs made sushi for when we got back.”
While the pair continue to shine for Japan, they have also excelled in their debut campaigns in Lilywhite shirt this term.
Since joining in the summer, Toko has been an integral part of our backline, making 23 appearances in total so far, while on-loan forward Maika has featured in seven of our games, scoring once, after joining us from Chelsea in January.
With the final stretch of the campaign to come, three left to play in the WSL once we return from the international break, our Japanese duo reflected on their time in north London.
“I think the girls are amazing and the coaches and staff, everyone welcoming, and I think it's just amazing support,” Maika said. “It feels amazing.”
Toko added: “I think the staff and players have been very kind. The players are very kind and [have good] communication with me, so it's good for me. I'm very comfortable to play here.”
Watch | Hamano & Koga reflect on Asian Cup success