Japan national rugby union team

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Japan national rugby team" redirects here. For the national rugby league team, see Japan national rugby league team.
This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Japan women's national rugby union team.

Japan
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)
  • Cherry Blossoms
  • Brave Blossoms
  • Sakuras
Emblem
Sakura
UnionJapan Rugby Football Union
Head coachEddie Jones
CaptainMichael Leitch
Most capsHitoshi Ono (98)
Top scorerAyumu Goromaru (708)
Top try scorerDaisuke Ohata (69)
Home stadiumJapan National Stadium
Chichibunomiya Stadium
First
colours
Second
colours
World Rugby ranking
Current14 (as of 28 August 2023)
Highest7 (2019)
Lowest20 (2003, 2006)
First international
Japan 9–8 Canada 
(Osaka, Japan; 31 January 1932)
Biggest win
Japan 155–3 Chinese Taipei 
(Tokyo, Japan; 1 July 2002)
Biggest defeat
 New Zealand 145–17 Japan
(Bloemfontein, South Africa; 4 June 1995)
World Cup
Appearances9 (First in 1987)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2019)
Websiteen.rugby-japan.jp
(in English)

The Japan national rugby union team (

Pacific Nations Cup and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship. They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup
since the tournament began in 1987.

Rugby was first played in Japan's

Junior All Blacks in 1968, and a narrow 6–3 loss to England in 1971. Famous wins by Japan include a 28–24 victory over a Scotland XV in 1989 and a 23–8 victory over Wales in 2013. In 2011, Japan displayed its progress by winning the 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, played against Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Further progress was displayed in 2014 when Japan completed a string of ten consecutive test wins (a record for a tier 2 team) to rank in the world's top 10 teams.[1] This continued into 2015 where they produced the first of their three biggest upsets when, in a Rugby World Cup pool match against South Africa, they won 34–32.[2][3][4]

In the years between, Japan faced quality opposition, playing relatively well with solid results including a tie against France, and a narrow loss to Wales at Cardiff. Their second shock win was a 19–12 defeat of world number-two ranked Ireland in a 2019 Rugby World Cup pool game. Emerging undefeated from the tournament's pool stage after a 28–21 victory over Scotland, Japan made their first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance, going down 3–26 to eventual world champions South Africa.[5][6]

History

Main article: Rugby union in Japan
Rugby football game in Yokohama, 1874

The first recorded instance of a team being established and rugby being played in Japan was in 1866 with the founding of the Yokohama Foot Ball Club. Games, mainly between service personnel, were played on the

treaty ports such as Kobe between teams of long-term foreign residents and visiting ships' crews and garrisons, but they rarely involved Japanese players. The date of local Japanese participation in the sport is most frequently cited as 1899, when students at Keio University were introduced to the game by Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke and Ginnosuke Tanaka both graduates of Cambridge University
.

The formation of a national team and effectively Japan's first international match took place in Osaka on 31 January 1932 when a trade delegation from Canada to Japan supported an overseas tour by the Canada national rugby union team. The Japanese won this first match 9–8. In a second test match in Tokyo 11 days later again the Japanese side beat the Canadians 38–5.[8]

Japan beat the

Onishi Tetsunosuke) lost by just 3–6 to England in Tokyo on 29 September 1971 in the RFU's centenary year. The 1973 Japan rugby union tour of Wales, England and France was less successful with the side winning only two of their eleven matches, and losing the international matches against Wales and France. Ten years later Japan gave Wales a fright in losing by a slim five-point margin, 24–29, at Cardiff Arms Park
on 2 October 1983.

On 28 May 1989, a strong Japan coached by

RWC1991
.

Under Shogo Mukai (2001–2003)

After Hirao resigned,

Toshiba Brave Lupus coach Shogo Mukai was appointed in March 2001 to lead Japan up to the 2003 Rugby World Cup. After mixed fortunes in his first two years in charge, Japan put in some impressive performances at the tournament with good efforts against Scotland and France
, nevertheless they still left the tournament having failed to reach their target of winning some matches but still won admirers for their exciting brand of play. Mukai left his post after the tournament to spend more time with his family.

Under Mitsutake Hagimoto (2004–2005)

After Shogo Mukai left after the

Kobelco Steelers
. Under Hagimoto, Japan decided they would not select foreign born players after Mukai had been criticised for playing too many at the World Cup.

Hagimoto's first match in charge was a disappointing draw with

Korea, but his first few matches in charge after that were promising with wins over Russia and Canada to win the Super Powers Cup and pushed Italy
close losing 32–19.

However, in November 2004, Japan went on a disastrous tour to Europe where they were embarrassingly thrashed 100–8 by Scotland and 98–0 by Wales and also were comfortably defeated by Romania. Japan's performances were described as "pathetic", and the squad was called "a joke" with some key players ignored or not given permission to travel.

This disastrous tour forced a rethink from Hagimoto and foreign born players were brought back into the side in 2005, but after losing twice to Ireland in June he was sacked and with just 5 wins from 15 matches was the least successful coach for Japan in the professional era.

Under Jean-Pierre Élissalde (2005–2006)

Honjo stadium
on 4 June 2006

After Hagimoto left his post at the end of June 2005, Jean-Pierre Élissalde who had been appointed backs coach three months earlier took full charge and became the first foreigner to be the head coach for Japan. His first match in charge was a 44–29 win over Spain in November 2005.

In 2006, despite a disappointing campaign in the inaugural Pacific Nations Cup in June where Japan lost all their matches, and also lost to heavily to Italy 52–6, Élissalde was backed to lead the side to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. But Élissalde was later sacked in September after he took on a job with Bayonne without consulting the JRFU and then refused to give up his job with them.[9] Assistant coach Osamu Ota took over as caretaker coach for two Rugby World Cup qualifiers in November 2006.

Under John Kirwan (2007–2011)

Japan plays Australia A on 8 June 2008

John Kirwan was appointed head coach on in October 2006 after Elissalde was sacked. He initially worked as an advisor to caretaker coach Osamu Ota
before taking over the job completely in 2007.

After starting with large wins over the Asian opposition, Japan only won one of their remaining 10 fixtures in 2007, although in the 2007 Rugby World Cup they did gain a draw with a last minute touchline conversion from Shotaro Onishi against Canada to end a long losing streak of World Cup matches stretching back to 1991.

Results began to pick up after the 2007 World Cup and Kirwan led Japan up to a high of 13th in the IRB Rankings and to win their first ever Pacific Nations Cup title in 2011 after they beat Fiji away for the first ever time in Japan's history.

However, despite more positive results in between World Cups, Japan had a disappointing 2011 Rugby World Cup, losing 31–18 to Tonga who they had beaten four times in a row since 2008, and drawing again to Canada who they had beaten 46–8 and 27–6 in 2009, and Japan left the World Cup winless meaning they still had not won a match at the tournament since 1991. Kirwan came under pressure after the tournament and he resigned from his post after his contract came to the end at the end of the year.

The tenure of Kirwan as coach was notable for a large number of imports he selected. Players who originated from New Zealand such as James Arlidge, Bryce Robins, Shaun Webb, Ryan Nicholas, Luke Thompson or Tonga such as Alisi Tupuailei and Sione Vatuvei all featured prominently under Kirwan. The large percentage of foreigners in the national team also caused criticism for Kirwan. However, despite failing to bring Japan a World Cup win, Kirwan left his post as the most successful Japan coach of the professional era with a win rate of 58.18% from 55 matches.

Under Eddie Jones (2012–2015)

Kirwan chose not to renew his contract as head coach when it expired at the end of 2011, and the Japan Rugby Football Union announced that former Australia coach Eddie Jones would be his successor.[10] Jones stated that his intention was to take the Japanese national team into the top 10 on the international rankings, and that they must develop a style of play to allow them to win games against teams such as Scotland.

Jones made his debut as Japan head coach against

Asian Five Nations record for the most tries in a single match with a total of 6. This was also Fujita's international debut.[11]

In 2013, Jones led Japan to their sixth consecutive championship win in the

Asian Five Nations, where Japan achieved a tournament record score of 121–0 against the Philippines. In May, the nation lost their opening match of the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup to Tonga, followed by a defeat to Fiji in the second round. Following these matches, Japan faced a 2-test series against Wales
. Japan lost narrowly, 18–22, in the first test, but won the second test 23–8, and the series ended in a 1–1 draw. This was the first time that Japan had recorded a victory over the Welsh.

On 16 October 2013, Jones was hospitalised after having a suspected

2013 end-of-year rugby union tests against New Zealand, Scotland, Gloucester, Russia and Spain, and former Australia skills coach and current technical adviser for Japan Scott Wisemantel would interim coach Japan for their 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests.[14]

Jamie Joseph giving a speech at a Sunwolves match on 12 May 2018

On 19 September 2015, Japan stunned

Scotland.[16]

Under Jamie Joseph (2016–2023)

Jamie Joseph, former coach of New Zealand's Highlanders Super Rugby team and the Māori All Blacks, took over as head coach for Japan (and the Sunwolves Super Rugby team) in 2016. In the 2017 Asia Rugby Championship, Japan sealed their twelfth consecutive Asia Rugby Championship, winning all four games. They went on to defeat Romania 33–21 in the 2017 June rugby union tests, but lost to Ireland 2–0, during their first test series since 2005, losing the first test 50–22 and the second 35–13. In November 2017, Joseph led his side to a single win and a draw in four games. They started their End-of-year series with two consecutive home losses, a 27–47 loss to a World XV side and a 30–63 loss to Australia. Japan's first win came against Tonga 39–6 in Toulouse, France, before going on to draw with France 23–23, which was the first time that these two nations had drawn with one another.

During the 2018 June tests, Joseph led Japan to a 1–all series draw with Italy, winning the first test 34–17, and losing the second 25–22. The team then beat Georgia 28–0 at the Toyota Stadium.

In 2019, Japan won the

United States
, with no losses.

Japan hosted the

Typhoon Hagibis only the night before.[19]

Kits

Japan traditionally plays with white and red hooped shirts (with white collar and cuffs) with a Sakura embroidered on the chest, paired with white shorts and white socks with red splashes. Between 2003 and 2011, the shirt was predominantly red with two white parallel hoops on the chest with white accents, sometimes with black or navy socks and shorts.

Since its first test against Canada in 1930, Japan played with the traditional hooped red and white shirts, the emblem on the shirt originally depicted the Sakura as "bud, half-open and full-bloomed".[20] The current version of the emblem, depicting three full-bloomed Sakura, was dated 1952, when Japan played against Oxford University XV[21][22] at Hanazono, Higashi-Osaka, on 1 October 1952.[23]

On 4 July 2019 the Japan Rugby Football Union on Thursday unveiled the national team's jersey for this year's Rugby World Cup, the shirt featuring a samurai helmet motif representing the tradition of Japan's warrior spirit. The combination of Samurai and Sakura (Cherry Blossom) has long been linked in Japanese culture.

The away kit usually consist of a navy blue uniform, white or navy shorts and navy blue socks, sometimes with white collar or panels, or black. The kit supplier since the 1997 is Canterbury. Before that, the kits were manufactured by Japanese company Sceptre between 1987 and 1995[24][25] and in 1982, by Suzuki Sports.[26] Currently, the jersey sponsors are

Japan Telecom
.

Kit suppliers

Period Kit manufacturer
1982 Suzuki Sports
1987–1995 Sceptre
1997–present Canterbury

Home kit

1960s–2002
2003–2006
2007–2009
2011–2014
2015–2018
2019–2023
2023–present

Away kit

1960s–2002
2003–2006
2007–2009
2011–2014
2015–2018
2019–2023
2023–present

List of matches

Main articles: List of Japan national rugby union test matches § 2020s, and List of Japan national rugby union test matches

Wins against Tier 1 nations

3 June 1968[27]
Junior All Blacks
  		19–23 Japan Japan New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington  
Try: Mike O'Callaghan
??? (2)
Con: ??? (2)
Pen: ??? (2)
 Try: Yoshihiro Sakata (4)
Akira Yokoi
Tadayuki Ito
Con: Tsutomu Katsuraguchi
Pen: Tsutomu Katsuraguchi
 Attendance: 25,000
Referee: RC Fenton
28 May 1989 Japan Japan 28–24  Scotland XV Japan Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo  
15 September 1998 Japan Japan 44–29  Argentina Japan Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo  
Try:
Ken Iwabuchi
(2)
 Report Try: Corleto
Ledesma
Martín
Pfister
Con: Fuselli
Lobrauco
Drop: Fuselli
 Attendance: 20,000
Referee:
Italy
)
15 June 2013 Japan Japan 23–8  Wales Japan Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo  
14:00
UTC+9
) 		Try: Wing 49' c
Broadhurst 60' c
Con: Goromaru (2/2) 49', 61'
Pen: Goromaru (3/3) 14', 34', 76'
 Report Try: Prydie 44' m
Pen: Biggar (1/2) 21'
 Attendance: 21,062
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
21 June 2014 Japan Japan 26–23  Italy Japan Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo  
14:00
UTC+09
) 		Try: Yamada 4' c
Sa'u 59' c
Con: Goromaru (2/2) 5', 60'
Pen: Goromaru (4/5) 13', 22', 42', 48'
 Report
(In Italian)[28] 		Try: Penalty try 17' c
Barbieri 74' c
Con: Orquera (1/1) 17'
Allan (1/1) 75'
Pen: Orquera (3/3) 7', 35', 52'
 Attendance: 13,816
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
19 September 2015 South Africa  32–34  Japan England Falmer Stadium, Brighton  
16:45 Try:
Lambie (1/1) 54'
Pollard
(1/1) 73'
 Try: Leitch 30' c
Goromaru 69' c
Hesketh 80' m
Con: Goromaru (2/3) 31', 70'
Pen: Goromaru (5/6) 8', 43', 49', 53', 60'
 Attendance: 29,290
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
9 June 2018 Japan  34–17  Italy
Oita
  
14:45
UTC+09
) 		Try: Mafi 17' c
Fukuoka 27' c
Lemeki 60' c
Matsushima 65' c
Con: Tamura (4/4) 19', 29', 62', 67'
Pen: Tamura (2/3) 33', 57'
 Try: Pasquali 14' c
Steyn 35' c
Con: Allan (2/2) 16', 37'
Pen: Allan (1/1) 51'
 Attendance: 25,824
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
28 September 2019 Japan  19–12  Ireland Japan Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi  
16:15
UTC+09
) 		Try: Fukuoka 59' c
Con: Tamura (1/1) 61'
Pen: Tamura (4/6) 18', 34', 40', 72'
 Try: Ringrose 14' m
Rob Kearney 21' c
Con: Carty (1/2) 22'
 Attendance: 47,813
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
13 October 2019 Japan  28–21  Scotland Japan International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama  
16:15
UTC+09
) 		Try: Matsushima 18' c
Inagaki 26' c
Fukuoka (2) 40' c, 43' c
Con: Tamura (4/4) 20', 27', 40+2', 44'
 Report Try: Russell 7' c
Nel 50' c
Fagerson 55' c
Con: Laidlaw (2/2) 8', 51'
Russell (1/1) 56'
 Attendance: 67,666
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

Additionally, Japan tied  France 23–23 in Paris, 25 November 2017.[29]

Overall

Men's World Rugby Rankings
Top 20 as of 18 March 2024[30]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  South Africa 094.54
2 Steady  Ireland 090.69
3 Steady  New Zealand 089.80
4 Steady  France 087.92
5 Steady  England 085.75
6 Steady  Scotland 082.82
7 Steady  Argentina 080.68
8 Increase1  Italy 079.41
9 Increase1  Australia 077.48
10 Decrease2  Wales 077.26
11 Steady  Fiji 076.38
12 Steady  Japan 074.27
13 Steady  Georgia 074.02
14 Steady  Samoa 072.23
15 Increase1  Tonga 071.57
16 Decrease1  Portugal 070.28
17 Steady  
United States
 067.94
18 Steady  Uruguay 067.39
19 Steady  Spain 064.37
20 Steady  Romania 061.66
21 Steady  Canada 060.90
22 Steady  Namibia 060.56
23 Steady  Chile 060.49
24 Steady  Hong Kong 059.80
25 Steady  Russia 058.06
26 Steady   Switzerland 057.44
27 Steady  Netherlands 057.29
28 Increase1  Belgium 055.89
29 Decrease1  Brazil 055.37
30 Increase1  Korea 053.46
* Change from the previous week
Japan's historical rankings
See or edit source data.
Source: World Rugby[30]
Graph updated to 4 March 2024

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Japan national XV to 10 October 2023.[31]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
Arabian Gulf 3 3 0 0 100.0% 256 20 +236
 Argentina 7 1 6 0 16.67% 186 298 −112
 Australia 6 0 6 0 0.0% 111 315 −204
 Australia A 4 0 4 0 0.0% 51 242 −191
Australia Australian Universities 6 2 4 0 33.3% 60 90 −30
Australia Emerging Wallabies 2 1 0 1 50.0% 41 39 +2
 British & Irish Lions 1 0 1 0 0.0% 10 28 -18
 Canada 25 15 8 2 60.0% 612 581 +31
Canada British Columbia Bears 6 2 2 2 33.3% 103 82 +21
 Chile 1 1 0 0 100.0% 42 12 +30
 England 4 0 4 0 0.0% 47 181 −134
 England XV 5 0 5 0 0.0% 71 131 −60
 
England Saxons
 3 0 3 0 0.0% 35 147 −112
England England Students 1 0 1 0 0.0% 0 43 −43
England England Under-23's 2 0 2 0 0.0% 25 77 −52
England Cambridge University 4 1 3 0 25.0% 52 110 −58
England Oxford University 4 0 4 0 0.0% 28 130 −102
England Oxford and Cambridge 3 0 3 0 0.0% 30 113 −83
 Fiji 19 4 15 0 21.05% 358 523 −165
 France 7 0 6 1 0.0% 146 248 −102
 France XV 6 0 6 0 0.0% 31 272 −241
 Georgia 6 5 1 0 83.3% 150 96 +54
 Hong Kong 29 24 4 1 82.8% 1175 370 +805
 Ireland 10 1 9 0 10% 173 447 −274
 Ireland XV 2 0 2 0 0.0% 28 81 −53
Ireland Ireland Students 1 0 1 0 0.0% 12 24 −12
 Italy 9 2 7 0 22.22% 167 283 −116
 Kazakhstan 5 5 0 0 100.0% 418 23 +395
 South Korea 36 29 6 1 80.1% 1614 517 +1097
 Netherlands 1 0 1 0 0.0% 13 15 −2
 New Zealand 5 0 5 0 0.0% 92 389 −297
 New Zealand XV 2 0 2 0 0.0% 4 180 −176
 
Junior All Blacks
 8 1 7 0 12.5% 98 337 −239
 Māori 1 0 1 0 0.0% 22 65 −43
New Zealand New Zealand Universities 15 2 11 2 13.3% 221 417 −196
 Philippines 2 2 0 0 100.0% 220 10 +210
 Portugal 1 1 0 0 100.0% 38 25 +13
Australia Queensland Reds 1 0 1 0 0.0% 6 42 −36
 Romania 6 5 1 0 83.3% 152 119 +33
 Russia 7 6 1 0 83.3% 299 127 +172
 Samoa 18 6 12 0 33.33% 361 547 −186
 Scotland 9 1 8 0 11.1% 132 363 −231
 Scotland XV 4 1 3 0 25.0% 64 165 −101
 Singapore 1 1 0 0 100.0% 45 15 +30
 South Africa 3 1 2 0 33.3% 44 99 −55
 Spain 3 3 0 0 100.0% 114 43 +71
 Sri Lanka 3 3 0 0 100.0% 266 29 +237
 Thailand 1 1 0 0 100.0% 42 11 +31
 Tonga 19 10 9 0 52.63% 480 469 +11
 United Arab Emirates 3 3 0 0 100.0% 310 6 +304
 
United States
 24 10 13 1 41.7% 560 675 −115
 Uruguay 5 4 1 0 80.0% 165 54 +111
 Wales 10 1 9 0 10.0% 159 526 −367
 Wales XV 4 0 4 0 0.0% 56 229 −173
Wales Welsh Clubs 1 0 1 0 0.0% 9 63 −54
 Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 100.0% 52 8 +44
Total 375 159 205 11 42.4% 10,056 10,551 −495

Coaches

Current squad

On 15 August, Japan named their an 30-player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was announced, with 3 players remaining to be added.[34]

On 18 August 2023, James Moore was ruled out of the World Cup, after being withdrawn due to conditioning issues, and was replaced in the squad by Uwe Helu. Warner Dearns, Amanaki Saumaki, and Lappies Labuschagné were also added to the squad to complete the 33-player squad.[35]

On 29 August 2023, Uwe Helu and Shōgo Nakano were ruled out of the World Cup, after being withdrawn due to performance issues, and were replaced by Amato Fakatava and Kanji Shimokawa.[36]

Caps updated: 26 August 2023

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Shota Horie
Hooker
 (1986-01-21) 21 January 1986 (age 38) 72 Saitama Wild Knights
Kosuke Horikoshi
Hooker
 (1995-06-02) 2 June 1995 (age 28) 7 Tokyo Sungoliath
Atsushi Sakate
Hooker
 (1993-06-21) 21 June 1993 (age 30) 37 Saitama Wild Knights
Asaeli Ai Valu
Prop
 (1989-05-07) 7 May 1989 (age 34) 26 Saitama Wild Knights
Sione Halasili
Prop
 (1999-10-15) 15 October 1999 (age 24) 0 Yokohama Canon Eagles
Keita Inagaki
Prop
 (1990-06-02) 2 June 1990 (age 33) 49 Saitama Wild Knights
Koo Ji-won
Prop
 (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 29) 25 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Shinnosuke Kakinaga
Prop
 (1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 32) 12 Tokyo Sungoliath
Craig Millar
Prop
 (1990-10-29) 29 October 1990 (age 33) 13 Saitama Wild Knights
Jack Cornelsen
Lock
 (1994-10-13) 13 October 1994 (age 29) 16 Saitama Wild Knights
Warner Dearns
Lock
 (2002-04-11) 11 April 2002 (age 22) 7 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Amato Fakatava
Lock
 (1994-12-07) 7 December 1994 (age 29) 3 Black Rams Tokyo
Amanaki Saumaki
Lock
 (1997-03-08) 8 March 1997 (age 27) 1 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Shota Fukui
Back row
 (1999-09-28) 28 September 1999 (age 24) 2 Saitama Wild Knights
Ben Gunter
Back row
 (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 26) 8 Saitama Wild Knights
Kazuki Himeno
Back row
 (1994-07-27) 27 July 1994 (age 29) 29 Toyota Verblitz
Lappies Labuschagné
Back row
 (1989-01-11) 11 January 1989 (age 35) 16 Kubota Spears
Michael Leitch
Back row
 (1988-10-07) 7 October 1988 (age 35) 80 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Kanji Shimokawa
Back row
 (1999-01-17) 17 January 1999 (age 25) 2 Tokyo Sungoliath
Kenta Fukuda
Scrum-half
 (1996-12-19) 19 December 1996 (age 27) 0 Toyota Verblitz
Yutaka Nagare
Scrum-half
 (1992-09-04) 4 September 1992 (age 31) 34 Tokyo Sungoliath
Naoto Saito
Scrum-half
 (1997-08-26) 26 August 1997 (age 26) 15 Tokyo Sungoliath
Jumpei Ogura
Fly-half
 (1992-07-11) 11 July 1992 (age 31) 4 Yokohama Canon Eagles
Rikiya Matsuda
Fly-half
 (1994-05-03) 3 May 1994 (age 29) 33 Saitama Wild Knights
Lee Seung-sin
Fly-half
 (2001-01-13) 13 January 2001 (age 23) 10 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Ryoto Nakamura
Centre
 (1991-06-03) 3 June 1991 (age 32) 35 Tokyo Sungoliath
Dylan Riley
Centre
 (1997-05-02) 2 May 1997 (age 26) 14 Saitama Wild Knights
Tomoki Osada
Centre
 (1999-11-25) 25 November 1999 (age 24) 4 Saitama Wild Knights
Siosaia Fifita
Wing
 (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 25) 12 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Lomano Lemeki
Wing
 (1989-01-20) 20 January 1989 (age 35) 16 Green Rockets Tokatsu
Semisi Masirewa
Wing
 (1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 (age 31) 5 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Jone Naikabula
Wing
 (1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 30) 4 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Kotaro Matsushima
Fullback
 (1993-02-26) 26 February 1993 (age 31) 51 Tokyo Sungoliath

Notable former players

Player records (career)

Most matches

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Won Lost Draw %
1 Hitoshi Ono
Lock
 2004–2016 98 78 20 60 35 3 63
2 Michael Leitch Flanker 2008– 84 78 6 51 31 2 67
3 Hirotoki Onozawa
Wing
 2001–2013 81 73 8 41 37 3 52
4 Yukio Motoki
Centre
 1991–2005 79 73 6 31 47 1 40
5 Kensuke Hatakeyama
Prop
 2008–2016 78 57 21 50 27 1 65
6
Shota Horie
Hooker
 2009–2023 76 63 13 47 27 2 67
7 Fumiaki Tanaka
Scrum-half
 2008–2019 75 60 15 46 27 2 63
8 Luke Thompson
Lock
 2007–2019 71 59 12 44 25 2 63
9 Yu Tamura
Fly-half
 2012– 70 53 17 42 27 1 64
10 Takashi Kikutani
Number 8
 2005–2014 68 57 11 41 26 1 61

Last updated: Japan vs Argentina, 8 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[37]

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries
1 Daisuke Ohata
Wing
 1996–2006 58 55 3 345 69
2 Hirotoki Onozawa
Wing
 2001–2013 81 73 8 275 55
3 Takashi Kikutani
Number 8
 2005–2014 68 57 11 160 32
4 Terunori Masuho
Wing
 1991–2001 47 46 1 147 29
5 Yoshikazu Fujita
Wing
 2012–2017 30 20 10 130 26
6 Kenki Fukuoka
Wing
 2013–2019 38 31 7 125 25
7 Kotaro Matsushima
Fullback
 2014– 55 48 7 115 23
8 Koliniasi Holani
Number 8
 2008–2016 44 38 6 110 22
Michael Leitch Flanker 2008– 84 78 6 110 22
10 Alisi Tupuailei
Centre
 2009–2011 20 13 7 105 21

Last updated: Japan vs Argentina, 8 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[38]

Most points

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1 Ayumu Goromaru
Fullback
 2005–2015 56 708 18 162 98 0
2 Keiji Hirose
Fly-half
 1994–2005 40 422 5 77 79 2
3 Toru Kurihara
Wing
 2000–2003 28 347 20 71 35 0
4 Daisuke Ohata
Wing
 1996–2006 58 345 69 0 0 0
5 Yu Tamura
Fly-half
 2012– 70 303 5 64 50 0
6 James Arlidge
Fly-half
 2007–2011 32 286 8 78 28 2
7 Hirotoki Onozawa
Wing
 2001–2013 81 275 55 0 0 0
8 Shaun Webb
Fly-half
 2008–2011 35 198 18 45 6 0
9 Ryan Nicholas
Centre
 2008–2012 38 193 9 53 14 0
10 Takashi Kikutani
Number 8
 2005–2014 68 160 32 0 0 0

Last updated: Japan vs Argentina, 8 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[39]

Most matches as captain

# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries
1 Takuro Miuchi
Number 8
 2002–2008 45 17 27 1 38.88 30 6
2 Michael Leitch Flanker 2014– 35 22 12 1 68.18 55 11
3 Takashi Kikutani
Number 8
 2008–2013 34 21 12 1 63.23 110 22
4 Toshiaki Hirose
Wing
 2012–2013 18 13 5 0 72.22 45 9
5 Masahiro Kunda
Hooker
 1993–1998 14 5 9 0 35.71 0 0
6 Yukio Motoki
Centre
 1996–1997 12 4 8 0 33.33 5 1
7 Seiji Hirao
Centre
 1989–1991 11 5 6 0 45.45 0 0
8 Toshiyuki Hayashi
Lock
 1986–1987 10 1 8 1 15.00 0 0
Andrew McCormick
Centre
 1998–1999 10 4 6 0 40.00 5 1
Akira Yokoi
Centre
 1970–1974 10 3 6 1 35.00 0 0

Last updated: Japan vs Argentina, 8 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[40]

Player records (match)

Most points in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1 Toru Kurihara
Wing
 60 6 15 0 0  Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei Tainan 21 July 2002
2 Daisuke Ohata
Wing
 40 8 0 0 0  Chinese Taipei Japan Tokyo 21 July 2002
3 Ayumu Goromaru
Fullback
 37 1 16 0 0  Sri Lanka
Nagoya
 10/05/2014
4 Ayumu Goromaru
Fullback
 36 1 14 1 0  Philippines
Fukuoka
 20 April 2013
5 Toru Kurihara
Wing
 35 2 11 1 0  South Korea
Tokyo
 16 June 2002
6 Keiji Hirose
Fly-half
 34 1 1 9 0  Tonga Japan Tokyo 08/05/1999
7 Ayumu Goromaru
Fullback
 32 2 11 0 0  Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Almaty 28 April 2012
8 Keiji Hirose
Fly-half
 31 0 11 3 0  Hong Kong Japan Tokyo 08/05/2005
9 4 players on 30 points

Last updated: Japan vs Argentina, 8 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[41]

Most tries in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1 Daisuke Ohata
Wing
 40 8 0 0 0  Chinese Taipei Japan Tokyo 07/07/2002
2 Toru Kurihara
Wing
 60 6 15 0 0  Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei Tainan 21 July 2002
Daisuke Ohata
Wing
 30 6 0 0 0  Hong Kong Japan Tokyo 08/05/2005
Yoshikazu Fujita
Wing
 30 6 0 0 0  United Arab Emirates
Fukuoka
 05/05/2012
5 Terunori Masuho
Wing
 25 5 0 0 0  Chinese Taipei Singapore Singapore 27 October 1998
Kosuke Endo
Wing
 25 5 0 0 0  South Korea South Korea Daegu 01/05/2010
Alisi Tupuailei
Centre
 25 5 0 0 0  Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Colombo 21 May 2011
Kentaro Kodama
Wing
 25 5 0 0 0  South Korea
Kanagawa
 30 April 2016
9 10 players on 4 tries

Last updated: Japan vs Argentina, 8 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[42]

Tournament history

Rugby World Cup

Main article: Japan at the Rugby World Cup

Japan has participated in the

United States
in the same pool stage, but despite their 3–1 record failed to reach the knockout round.

They were the home team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which was held in Japan.

In the 2019 World Cup, Japan were drawn in Group A alongside Ireland, Russia, Samoa, and Scotland. After a nervy opening night win against Russia (30–10),[43] Japan went on to beat Ireland 19–12,[44] a huge upset and a result few predicted. Their third group game against Samoa ended in another win, this time 38–19, while also securing a highly important bonus point (for scoring four or more tries).[45]

In the highly anticipated final group game against Scotland, both teams needed to win to progress to the knockout stages at the expense of the other. The match went ahead despite pre-game worries that it would have to be cancelled due to the ongoing issues caused by Typhoon Hagibis. The pre-tournament rules stated that if the typhoon was sufficient enough to intervene, the game would be cancelled, and the result declared a draw. This controversial rule[46] would have allowed Japan to progress by default due to previous results.

After final safety checks, the game was allowed to commence. Japan edged out Scotland 28–21 to register their second shock win of the tournament. They also became the first Asian nation to top their group at a Rugby World Cup, and the first Asian team to progress to the knockout stages.[47]

Japan played South Africa in the quarter-finals in Tokyo on Sunday 20 October 2019, kick off 19:15 JST. They kept pace with South Africa in the first half, but two tries and three penalties in the second half for South Africa put the game out of reach and Japan lost 26–3.[48]

Rugby World Cup Qualification
Year Round Pld. W D L PF PA Squad Pos. Pld. W D L PF PA
1987 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 48 123 Squad Invited
1991 Pool Stage 3 1 0 2 77 87 Squad 2nd 3 2 0 1 65 63
1995 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 55 252 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 252 28
1999 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 36 140 Squad 1st 3 3 0 0 221 25
2003 Pool Stage 4 0 0 4 79 163 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 420 47
2007 Pool Stage 4 0 1 3 64 210 Squad 1st 6 6 0 0 379 60
2011 Pool Stage 4 0 1 3 69 184 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 326 30
2015 Pool Stage 4 3 0 1 98 100 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 316 8
2019 Quarter-finals 5 4 0 1 118 88 Squad Automatically qualified
2023 Pool Stage 4 2 0 2 109 107 Squad
2027 To be determined.
2031 To be determined. To be determined.
Total Quarter-finals 37 10 2 25 753 1,454 Squad Pos. 28 27 0 1 1,979 261
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

Pacific Nations Cup

See also:
Pacific Nations Cup
Pacific Nations Cup Match at Chichibunomiya Stadium on 17 June 2012, in which Samoa defeated Japan 27–26
Tournament Won Drawn Lost Japan finish
2006 0 0 4 5th / 5
2007 1 0 4 6th / 6
2008 1 0 4 5th / 6
2009 1 0 3 4th / 5
2010 2 0 1 3rd / 4
2011 2 0 1 1st / 4
2012 0 0 3 4th / 4
2013 2 0 2 4th / 5
2014 2 0 0 1st / 3
2015 1 0 2 4th / 6
2019 3 0 0 1st / 6
2023 1 0 2 3rd / 4
Total 16 0 26 3 titles

Asia Rugby Championship

See also: Asia Rugby Championship
Asia Rugby Championship record
Year Round P W D L PF PA
1969 Japan Champions 4 4 0 0 191 35
1970 Thailand Champions 3 3 0 0 111 39
1972 Hong Kong Champions 4 4 0 0 167 4
1974 Sri Lanka Champions 4 4 0 0 140 37
1976 Japan Champions 4 4 0 0 194 21
1978 Malaysia Champions 3 3 0 0 97 30
1980 Taiwan Champions 4 4 0 0 265 21
1982 Singapore Runner-up 4 3 0 1 112 30
1984 Japan Champions 4 4 0 0 202 23
1986 Thailand Runner-up 4 2 0 2 232 54
1988 Hong Kong Runner-up 4 3 0 1 223 43
1990 Sri Lanka Runner-up 4 3 0 1 200 34
1992 Hong Kong Champions 3 3 0 0 225 12
1994 Malaysia Champions 3 3 0 0 226 17
1996 Taiwan Champions 2 2 0 0 242 22
1998 Singapore Champions 3 3 0 0 221 25
2000 Japan Champions 3 3 0 0 164 41
2002 Thailand Runner-up 3 2 0 1 93 54
2004 Hong Kong Champions 2 2 0 0 69 12
2006–07 Hong Kong Champions 2 2 0 0 106 3
2008 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Kazakhstan United Arab Emirates Qatar Champions 4 4 0 0 310 58
2009 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Kazakhstan Singapore Champions 4 4 0 0 271 40
2010 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Kazakhstan United Arab Emirates Bahrain Champions 4 4 0 0 326 30
2011 Hong Kong Japan Sri Lanka Kazakhstan United Arab Emirates Champions 4 4 0 0 307 35
2012 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Kazakhstan United Arab Emirates Champions 4 4 0 0 312 11
2013 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Philippines United Arab Emirates Champions 4 4 0 0 316 8
2014 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Philippines Sri Lanka Champions 4 4 0 0 342 33
2015 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Champions 4 3 1 0 163 40
2016 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Champions 4 4 0 0 242 23
2017 Hong Kong Japan South Korea Champions 4 4 0 0 172 56
Total 25 titles 107 100 1 6 6286 891

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Japan pull off greatest shock in World Cup history". ESPN. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Rugby World Cup: Japan's Shocking Upset Commands Attention". The New York Times. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Japan beat South Africa". The Guardian. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Joyous fans roar Japan to thrilling win and place in the knockouts". Rugby World Cup. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Springboks 'push the right buttons' to end Japan's party". Rugby World Cup. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  7. ^ Galbraith, Mike (15 March 2014). "1866 and all that: the untold early history of rugby in Japan". The Japan Times.
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  10. ^ "Eddie Jones appointed coach of Japan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
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  16. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2015: Japan beat USA in final pool game". BBC Sport. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  17. ^ McCurry, Justin; Doward, Jamie (28 September 2019). "High fives and Guinness as Japan celebrates latest rugby shock". The Observer.
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  19. ^ Kitson, Robert (13 October 2019). "Japan hang on to reach Rugby World Cup last eight and send Scotland out". The Guardian.
  20. ^ ラグビー日本代表 初代ジャージー発見、京都で展示へ [Japan Rugby National Team's first jersey discovered, to be exhibited in Kyoto]. スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 17 August 2019.
  21. ^ Shimbun, Kyoto. ""Rugby Grandma": Designer behind Japan team's cherry blossom emblem". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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  24. ^ ラグビー日本代表 ユニフォームの歴史 1930年代〜2019年. taka - rugby TV. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via YouTube.
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  26. ^ Leitch, Michael [@g_leitch] (20 December 2021). "東芝のJack選手のお父さんがこのジャージを持ってます。1982 Japan vs NZ Uni . Peter Stratton とジャージ交換した選手の名前を知りたいです🙏 https://t.co/nVnKTRZqbG" [Toshiba's Jack player's father has this jersey. 1982 Japan vs NZ Uni. I would like to know the name of the player who exchanged jerseys with Peter Stratton🙏] (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER Volume 9, No.30". rugby-international.blogspot.ca. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
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  29. ^ France and Japan draw 23–23 in Paris
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  36. ^ "Brave Blossoms Announce Final Changes to 2023 World Cup Squad". Rugby Japan. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
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  38. ^ "Rugby Union – Japan – Most individual tries". ESPN scrum.
  39. ^ "Rugby Union – Japan – Most individual points". ESPN scrum.
  40. ^ "Rugby Union – Japan – Most matches as a captain". ESPN scrum.
  41. ^ "Rugby Union – Japan – Most individual points in a match". ESPN scrum.
  42. ^ "Rugby Union – Japan – Most individual tries in a match". ESPN scrum.
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  44. ^ "Shock Japan win 'will ignite World Cup'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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  46. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived
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  47. ^ English, Tom (13 October 2019). "Japan 28-21 Scotland: Gregor Townsend's side out of Rugby World Cup". BBC Sport.
  48. ^ Grey, Becky (20 October 2019). "South Africa 26-3 Japan: Springboks through to Rugby World Cup semi-finals". BBC Sport.

External links

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