It was March 11, 2011, and the earth started moving on Japan's Pacific coast. The most powerful earthquake ever to hit the country was spreading panic and sorrow. It lasted six minutes; the devastation was unprecedented. Almost 16,000 people lost their lives, many thousands more were left without homes.

Four months later in Wolfsburg, Germany, Japan's women's soccer team was taking the field against the hosts and favourite Germans in the quarterfinals at the 2011 Women's World Cup. There, they sent shock waves of a different kind around the globe.

Japan star Homare Sawa, holding trophy, will be playing in her sixth World Cup this summer. JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

Having managed to hold seemingly infallible Germany to a goalless draw after 90 minutes, substitute Karina Maruyama struck an extra-time winner to advance the team to its first semifinal. Japan went on to beat Sweden 3-1 in Frankfurt before lifting its first World Cup after a penalty shootout triumph over the United States. Just short of 50,000 spectators saw Nadeshiko write history, and a victory born out of the rubble of a national tragedy.

"After the terrible earthquake, 2011 was a bad year for our country," Japan and FC Bayern München forward Mana Iwabuchi told espnW. "This tragedy brought us even closer together as a team. By winning the World Cup, we provided our country with some great joy. We made our country proud and all of the bad things that had happened were, for a small moment, forgotten."

Iwabuchi was only 18 at the time, but she made a contribution to her nation's unforgettable moment of glory. "I came on as a substitute and gave the pass, which then led to the goal being set up," she recalled. "It got us into the semifinals and that was amazing. Winning the World Cup, and the whole tournament, was an absolute highlight in my career so far and it will remain unforgettable."

Few had Japan down as serious title candidates in Germany four years ago. Beaten by Australia in the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup semifinals -- a qualifying event for the World Cup -- Japan needed a 2-0 win over host China in Chengdu to make the tournament in the first place, eliminating a nation that had never before failed to reach the World Cup. After a loss to England, Japan finished second in the group stage in Germany, earning that unenviable matchup against the hosts in the last eight.

"Every game we won was something of a surprise for us," Iwabuchi explained. "We didn't expect success after success. Beating Germany in the quarters was something very special. That is when we realized that we were actually pretty good."

Not until the actual final did Japan feel it could actually win a maiden world title, Iwabuchi said. After ticking that box, the team went on to earn a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in what remains a golden era for Japanese women's soccer.

"Many more girls and women now play soccer," Iwabuchi said. "Media interest has also grown, although it has leveled off a little. Nevertheless, there are now more sponsors and backers and women's soccer has gained attractiveness since we lifted the World Cup."

With that added interest and enthusiasm comes a flip side: Japan heads to Canada this summer no longer as a nation making up the numbers, but as one of the sides expected to challenge for the title. With that comes additional pressure.

"We see the World Cup as another great challenge and opportunity to measure up to the best teams in the world and show them that we're doing a good job in Japan," Iwabuchi said.

"We want to play another good and successful tournament, but we'll just take things game by game. It's going to be a long, hard road to defending our title, but we just want to give it our best. We don't feel any particular pressure."

That good work is being led by coach Norio Sasaki, who is approaching a decade in the women's game. He started out as an assistant coach of the national team in 2006, when he was also in charge of the under-20s, before taking over the Nadeshiko in 2008. Like Iwabuchi, an infectious smile and positive outlook is one of the secrets of his success.

"He's got a great sense of humour," Iwabuchi said with a grin. "He's been coach of the national team for many years so he's got a lot of experience. He used to coach the under-20s, too, and there was a time when he was in charge of both at the same time."

Japan will rely on players such as Yuki Ogimi, who adopted a more physical style after playing in Europe. Filipe Farinha/Getty Images

That is where Iwabuchi, 21, first got to work under Sasaki, having excelled at the 2008 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, where she was named the tournament's MVP. A move to Hoffenheim in Germany's Bundesliga followed and she has been with Bayern since 2014.

"It's quite special to play here," Iwabuchi said. "I'm in a great team with great coaches and we have a high level in the team. Bayern are a very big, successful and prestigious club. I already feel I've improved here. I've got to continue working hard, but the conditions here are ideal."

She is not the only Japan international honing her talents in arguably Europe's most competitive and strongest women's soccer league. With Yuki Ogimi at UEFA Women's Champions League holders VfL Wolfsburg and Kozue Ando at 1. FFC Frankfurt, Iwabuchi is in good company in Germany while Bayern is likely to provide several of the stars of this summer's World Cup, from Dutch talent Vivianne Miedema to Switzerland captain Caroline Abbé.

The latter is expected to face Iwabuchi in Japan's first World Cup game in Vancouver on June 8. "There are some interesting games in which my teammates could play against each other," added Iwabuchi, who watched the draw together with her club colleagues. "We're not talking all that much about it yet, though."

It will become an issue this summer when Japan seeks to immortalize its golden era by defending a crown it clinched in inspirational fashion four years ago.

"Winning the World Cup again would obviously be a dream," Iwabuchi said.

For her and for a nation who have already been made proud by the Nadeshiko.