Arsenal Ladies Japan Charity Tour 2011

Ryo and Faye White

Arsenal Ladies have been in Japan for an 11-day tour in a bid to raise funds for the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami relief effort.

Arsenal Ladies were invited by the Educational Foundation Goto Gakuen Musashigaoka College and the treble winners took part in three matches during their stay from November 25 to December 5, with all funds raised going to the appeal.

With Japan emerging victorious in last summer's Women's World Cup in Germany, the Ladies tested themselves against the very best in the game.

The first fixture, in which they faced the winners of the national Women's Football League, allowed Laura Harvey's side to do just that. Their opponents were INAC Kobe, winners of Japan's Women's Football League. The match was played on Wednesday, November 30 at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

The Ladies also played two further games during their stay. The first was a behind-closed-doors match against the Musashigaoka College on December 2. The third was against 11-time league winners NTV Beleza at the Tama City Athletic Field on December 4.

It is the first time that the Gunners, who have travelled to Africa and the USA previously, have played in East Asia in their 24-year history, and the trip follows hot on the heels of the men's hugely successful summer Asia Tour to Malaysia and China.

Arsenal Ladies Tour News: