Japan national rugby union team

Japan
Nickname(s) Cherry Blossoms/Brave Blossoms
Emblem Sakura
Union Japan Rugby Football Union
Head coach Jamie Joseph
Captain Michael Leitch
Most caps Hitoshi Ono (98)
Top scorer Ayumu Goromaru (708)
Top try scorer Daisuke Ohata (69)
Home stadium Chichibunomiya Stadium
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current 11 (as of 21 May 2018)
Highest 9 (2016)
Lowest 20 (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
Japan 17–145 New Zealand
(Bloemfontein, South Africa; 4 June 1995)
World Cup
Appearances 8 (First in 1987)
Best result Pool stage, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015
Website www.rugby-japan.jp

The Japan national rugby union team (often known as The Brave Blossoms) is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia, but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years. Rugby union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), which was founded in 1926. They compete annually in the Pacific Nations Cup and 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 treaty ports as early as 1866. Popular participation by local university teams was established in 1899 and Japan's first recorded international was a match against a Canadian team in 1932. Notable games for Japan include a victory over the 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 the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Japan drew 12–12 against Canada. 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 arguably the biggest upset in rugby history in a Rugby World Cup pool match against the Springboks, winning 34–32.[2][3][4]

History

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 Garrison Parade Ground in Yamate, Yokohama.[5] In 1874 records also illustrate British sailors staging a game in Yokohama. Other games were played at other treaty ports such as Kobe between teams of long-term foreign residents and visiting ships' crews and garrisons, but they rarely involved indigenous Japanese. 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.[6]

Japan beat the Junior All Blacks 23–19 in 1968 after losing the first four matches on a tour of New Zealand, but they won the last five. The Japanese (coached by Waseda University Professor 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 Hiroaki Shukuzawa defeated an uncapped Scotland, missing nine British Lions on tour in Australia, for the first time at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, 28–24. The Japan team included such Kobe Steel stalwarts as centre Seiji Hirao (captain), and locks Atsushi Oyagi and Toshiyuki Hayashi (38 Japan caps and a member of Oxford University's all-time best XV). Sinali Latu at No. 8 was then a fourth year student at Daito Bunka University, and speedy Yoshihito Yoshida on the wing (no. 14) was a third year at Meiji University. Scotland missed an incredible seven penalties and refused the kicking tee which was generously offered – as a surviving video of the game shows. It was almost the same Japanese team which defeated Zimbabwe in 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 2003 Rugby World Cup, the JRFU initially tried to appoint Eddie Jones from his post with Australia but were unsuccessful and instead appointed Mitsutake Hagimoto in March 2004 after he won the inaugural Top League with 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)

Japan play Tonga at 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.[7] 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 consecutive 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 hadn't 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 amount 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.[8] 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 and Wales.

Jones made his debut as Japan head coach against Kazakhstan. He had selected a total of 10 uncapped players out of the 22 selected players. They went on to win the match 87–0. They then had a big win over United Arab Emirates where young 18-year-old Yoshikazu Fujita set a new Asian Five Nations record for the most tries in a single match with a total of 6. This was also Fujita's international debut.[9]

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 stroke and was released from hospital 2 days later on 18 October 2013.[10][11] With the announcement of his release from hospital, it was announced that Jones would miss Japan's 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.[12]

On 19 September 2015, Japan stunned South Africa by a last minute try from Karne Hesketh to win 34–32 in their opening group pool game at the Rugby World Cup in Brighton, England. BBC reported the win as "arguably the biggest upset in rugby union history".[13] In 2015, Japan became the first team in World Cup history to win three pool games but still be eliminated at the group stage, due to their heavy loss to Scotland.[14]

Tournament history

Rugby World Cup

Japan has participated in the Rugby World Cup since its inception in 1987, and has made appearances in all tournaments thus far. Despite this, they experienced little success until the 2015 tournament, with just one victory over Zimbabwe in 1991, and two draws with Canada in 2007 and 2011. In 2015 they defeated South Africa with a score of 34–32, their first win since 1991 against Zimbabwe, which they followed up with victories over Samoa and USA in the same pool stage.

They will be the home team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which is to be held in Japan.

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
Year Round P W D L F A P W D L F A
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987Pool Stage300348123Automatically qualified
United KingdomRepublic of IrelandFrance 1991Pool Stage3102778732016563
South Africa 1995Pool Stage300355252440021052
Wales 1999Pool Stage300336140330022125
Australia 2003Pool Stage400479163440042047
France 2007Pool Stage401364210660037960
New Zealand 2011Pool Stage401369184440032630
England 2015Pool Stage430198100880065841
Japan 2019To be determinedQualified as hosts
France 2023To be determinedTo be determined
Total 8/8 28 4 2 22 526 1259 32 31 0 1 2279 318

Pacific Nations Cup

Asia Rugby Championship

Asia Rugby Championship record
Year Round P W D L PF PA
Japan 1969Champions440019135
Thailand 1970Champions330011139
Hong Kong 1972Champions44001674
Sri Lanka 1974Champions440014037
Japan 1976Champions440019421
Malaysia 1978Champions33009730
Taiwan 1980Champions440026521
Singapore 1982Runner-up430111230
Japan 1984Champions440020223
Thailand 1986Runner-up420223254
Hong Kong 1988Runner-up430122343
Sri Lanka 1990Runner-up430120034
Hong Kong 1992Champions330022512
Malaysia 1994Champions330022617
Taiwan 1996Champions220024222
Singapore 1998Champions330022125
Japan 2000Champions330016441
Thailand 2002Runner-up32019354
Hong Kong 2004Champions22006912
Hong Kong 2006–07Champions22001063
Hong KongJapanKazakhstanQatarSouth KoreaUnited Arab Emirates 2008Champions440031058
Hong KongJapanKazakhstanSingaporeSouth Korea 2009Champions440027140
BahrainHong KongJapanKazakhstanSouth KoreaUnited Arab Emirates 2010Champions440032630
Hong KongJapanKazakhstanSri LankaUnited Arab Emirates 2011Champions440030735
Hong KongJapanKazakhstanSouth KoreaUnited Arab Emirates 2012Champions440031211
Hong KongJapanPhilippinesSouth KoreaUnited Arab Emirates 2013Champions44003168
Hong KongJapanPhilippinesSouth KoreaSri Lanka 2014Champions440034233
Hong KongJapanSouth Korea 2015Champions431016340
Hong KongJapanSouth Korea 2016Champions440024223
Hong KongJapanSouth Korea 2017Champions440017256
Total 23 titles 107 100 1 6 6286 891

Overall

Top 30 rankings as of 8 October 2018[15]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1 Steady New Zealand092.96
2 Steady Ireland090.12
3 Steady Wales085.94
4 Steady England085.68
5 Steady South Africa083.52
6 Steady Scotland083.02
7 Steady Australia082.86
8 Steady France079.10
9 Steady Argentina078.01
10 Steady Fiji076.54
11 Steady Japan075.24
12 Steady Tonga073.84
13 Steady Georgia073.13
14 Steady Italy072.56
15 Steady United States071.66
16 Steady Samoa068.28
17 Steady Romania068.25
18 Steady Uruguay065.37
19 Steady Russia064.89
20 Steady Spain063.09
21 Steady Hong Kong060.46
22 Steady Namibia059.97
23 Steady Canada059.93
24 Steady Portugal058.30
25 Steady Belgium058.09
26 Steady Brazil056.81
27 Steady Netherlands056.52
28 Steady Kenya055.71
29 Steady Germany055.59
30 Steady Chile054.36
*Change from the previous week
Japan's historical rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 2 July 2018[15]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Japan national XV to 25 June 2018.[16]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Arabian Gulf3300100.0%25620+236
 Argentina615026.7%159259−100
 Australia50500.0%88283−195
 Australia A40400.0%51242−191
Australia Australian Universities624033.3%6090−30
Australia Emerging Wallabies210150.0%4139+2
 Canada25158260.0%612581+31
Canada British Columbia Bears622233.3%10382+21
 Chinese Taipei4400100.0%47427+447
 England10100.0%760−53
 England XV50500.0%71131−60
England England Saxons20200.0%3092−62
England England Students10100.0%043−43
England England Under-23's20200.0%2577−52
England Cambridge University413025.0%52110−58
England Oxford University40400.0%28130−102
England Oxford and Cambridge30300.0%30113−83
 Fiji17314017.7%312467−155
 France40310.0%91151−60
 France XV60600.0%31272−241
 Georgia651083.3%15096+54
 Hong Kong28244085.7%1172370+802
 Ireland70700.0%118336−218
 Ireland XV20200.0%2881−53
Ireland Ireland Students10100.0%1224−12
 Italy825025.0%146241−95
 Kazakhstan5500100.0%41823+395
 South Korea36296180.1%1614517+1097
 Netherlands10100.0%1315−2
 New Zealand30300.0%30282−252
 New Zealand XV20200.0%4180−176
New Zealand Junior All Blacks817012.5%98337−239
 Māori10100.0%2265−43
New Zealand New Zealand Universities15211213.3%221417−196
 Philippines2200100.0%22010+210
Australia Queensland Reds10100.0%642−36
 Romania651083.3%152119+33
 Russia541080.0%23790+147
 Samoa15411026.7%273482−209
 Scotland70700.0%84313−229
 Scotland XV413025.0%64165−101
 Singapore1100100.0%4515+30
 South Africa1100100.0%3432+2
 Spain3300100.0%11443+71
 Sri Lanka3300100.0%26629+237
 Thailand1100100.0%4211+31
 Tonga1789047.1%418446−28
 United Arab Emirates3300100.0%3106+304
 United States23913139.1%526655−129
 Uruguay321066.7%8832+56
 Wales1019010.0%159526−367
 Wales XV40400.0%56229−173
Wales Welsh Clubs10100.0%963−54
 Zimbabwe1100100.0%528+44
Total3441491851043.31%97229569+153

Tour

Wins against Tier 1 nations

Current squad

On 24 May, a 33-man squad was announced for Japan's June internationals campaign, a two-test series against Italy and a single test against Georgia.[19]

Caps updated: 23 June 2018

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Franchise / province
Shota Horie Hooker (1986-01-21) 21 January 1986 58 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Yusuke Niwai Hooker (1991-10-22) 22 October 1991 6 Japan Sunwolves / Canon Eagles
Atsushi Sakate Hooker (1993-06-21) 21 June 1993 10 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Takuma Asahara Prop (1987-09-07) 7 September 1987 12 Japan Sunwolves / Toshiba Brave Lupus
Keita Inagaki Prop (1990-06-02) 2 June 1990 22 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Shintaro Ishihara Prop (1990-06-17) 17 June 1990 11 Japan Sunwolves / Suntory Sungoliath
Koo Ji-won Prop (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 5 Japan Sunwolves / Honda Heat
Genki Sudo Prop (1994-01-28) 28 January 1994 2 Japan Suntory Sungoliath
Samuela Anise Lock (1986-08-30) 30 August 1986 10 Japan Canon Eagles
Uwe Helu Lock (1990-07-12) 12 July 1990 9 Japan Sunwolves / Yamaha Júbilo
Shinya Makabe Lock (1987-03-26) 26 March 1987 37 Japan Sunwolves / Suntory Sungoliath
Wimpie van der Walt Lock (1989-01-06) 6 January 1989 6 Japan Sunwolves / NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Masakatsu Nishikawa Flanker (1987-05-18) 18 May 1987 1 Japan Sunwolves / Suntory Sungoliath
Yoshitaka Tokunaga Flanker (1992-04-10) 10 April 1992 10 Japan Sunwolves / Toshiba Brave Lupus
Michael Leitch (c) Flanker (1988-10-07) 7 October 1988 56 Japan Sunwolves / Toshiba Brave Lupus
Shunsuke Nunomaki Flanker (1992-07-13) 13 July 1992 6 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Kazuki Himeno Flanker (1994-07-27) 27 July 1994 6 Japan Sunwolves / Toyota Verblitz
Amanaki Mafi Number 8 (1990-01-11) 11 January 1990 22 Australia Melbourne Rebels / Japan Shining Arcs
Yutaka Nagare Scrum-half (1992-09-04) 4 September 1992 12 Japan Sunwolves / Suntory Sungoliath
Fumiaki Tanaka Scrum-half (1985-01-03) 3 January 1985 67 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Keisuke Uchida Scrum-half (1992-02-22) 22 February 1992 22 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Rikiya Matsuda Fly-half (1994-05-03) 3 May 1994 13 Japan Panasonic Wild Knights
Yu Tamura Fly-half (1989-01-09) 9 January 1989 51 Japan Sunwolves / Canon Eagles
Timothy Lafaele Centre (1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 11 Japan Sunwolves / Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Ryoto Nakamura Centre (1991-06-03) 3 June 1991 13 Japan Sunwolves / Suntory Sungoliath
Harumichi Tatekawa Centre (1989-12-02) 2 December 1989 55 Japan Sunwolves / Kubota Spears
Will Tupou Centre (1990-07-20) 20 July 1990 3 Japan Sunwolves / Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Kenki Fukuoka Wing (1992-09-07) 7 September 1992 27 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Lomano Lemeki Wing (1989-01-20) 20 January 1989 8 Japan Sunwolves / Honda Heat
Sione Teaupa Wing (1987-06-27) 27 June 1987 3 Japan Sunwolves / Kubota Spears
Akihito Yamada Wing (1985-07-26) 26 July 1985 24 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights
Kotaro Matsushima Fullback (1993-02-26) 26 February 1993 30 Japan Sunwolves / Suntory Sungoliath
Ryuji Noguchi Fullback (1995-07-15) 15 July 1995 13 Japan Sunwolves / Panasonic Wild Knights

Notable former players

Coaches

Kit

Japan traditionally plays with white and red hooped shirts (with white collar and cuffs), 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. 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 1960s is Canterbury. Currently, the jersey sponsors are Lipovitan D (in the front) and Toshiba (in the back). Previously, between 1997 and 2000, the shirt sponsor was Epson.

1960s-2002 Home
1960s-2002 Away
2003-2006 Home
2003-2006 Away
2007-2009 Home
2007-2009 Away

Individual all-time records

Most matches

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Won Lost Draw %
1Hitoshi OnoLock2004–20169878206035362.75
2Hirotoki OnozawaWing2001–2013817384137352.46
3Yukio MotokiCentre1991–2005797363147139.87
4Kensuke HatakeyamaProp2008–20167857215027164.74
5Takashi KikutaniNumber 82005–20146857114126161.02
6Fumiaki TanakaScrum-half2008–675894124262.68
7Takeomi ItoNumber 81996–20056340232636142.06
Luke ThompsonLock2007–20176352113823261.90
9Shota HorieHooker2009–585263620263.79
Daisuke OhataWing1996–2006585532730147.41

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[21]

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries
1Daisuke OhataWing1996–20065855334569
2Hirotoki OnozawaWing2001–20138173827555
3Takashi KikutaniNumber 82005–201468571116032
4Terunori MasuhoWing1991–20014746114729
5Yoshikazu FujitaWing2012–30201013026
6Ryu Koliniasi HolaniNumber 82008–20164438611022
7Alisi TupuaileiCentre2009–20112013710521
8Toru KuriharaWing2000–20032823534720
93 players on 19 tries

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[22]

Most points

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1Ayumu GoromaruFullback2005–20155670818162980
2Keiji HiroseFly-half1994–200540422577792
3Toru KuriharaWing2000–2003283472071350
4Daisuke OhataWing1996–20065834569000
5James ArlidgeFly-half2007–201132286878282
6Hirotoki OnozawaWing2001–20138127555000
7Shaun WebbFly-half2008–201135198184560
8Ryan NicholasCentre2008–201238193953140
9Yu TamuraFly-half2012-50165528280
10Takashi KikutaniNumber 82005–20146816032000

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[23]

Most matches as captain

# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries
1Takuro MiuchiNumber 82002-2008451727138.88306
2Takashi KikutaniNumber 82008–2013342112163.2311022
3Michael LeitchFlanker2014–24176172.91255
4Toshiaki HiroseWing2012–201318135072.22459
5Masahiro KundaHooker1993–19981459035.7100
6Yukio MotokiCentre1996–19971248033.3351
7Seiji HiraoCentre1989–19911156045.4500
8Toshiyuki HayashiLock1986–19871018115.0000
Andrew McCormickCentre1998–19991046040.0051
Akira YokoiCentre1970–19741036135.0000

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[24]

Most points in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1Toru KuriharaWing6061500 Chinese TaipeiChinese Taipei Tainan21/07/2002
2Daisuke OhataWing408000 Chinese TaipeiJapan Tokyo21/07/2002
3Ayumu GoromaruFullback3711600 Sri LankaJapan Nagoya10/05/2014
4Ayumu GoromaruFullback3611410 PhilippinesJapan Fukuoka20/04/2013
5Toru KuriharaWing3521110 South KoreaJapan Tokyo16/06/2002
6Keiji HiroseFly-half341190 TongaJapan Tokyo08/05/1999
7Ayumu GoromaruFullback3221100 KazakhstanKazakhstan Almaty28/04/2012
8Keiji HiroseFly-half3101130 Hong KongJapan Tokyo08/05/2005
94 players on 30 points

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[25]

Most tries in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1Daisuke OhataWing408000 Chinese TaipeiJapan Tokyo07/07/2002
2Toru KuriharaWing6061500 Chinese TaipeiChinese Taipei Tainan21/07/2002
Daisuke OhataWing306000 Hong KongJapan Tokyo08/05/2005
Yoshikazu FujitaWing306000 United Arab EmiratesJapan Fukuoka05/05/2012
5Terunori MasuhoWing255000 Chinese TaipeiSingapore Singapore27/10/1998
Kosuke EndoWing255000 South KoreaSouth Korea Daegu01/05/2010
Alisi TupuaileiCentre255000 Sri LankaSri Lanka Colombo21/05/2011
Kentaro KodamaWing255000 South KoreaJapan Kanagawa30/04/2016
910 players on 4 tries

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[26]

Youngest players

# Player Pos Age Opposition Venue Date
1Yoshikazu FujitaWing18 years and 210 days United Arab EmiratesJapan Fukuoka05/05/2012
2Christian LoamanuWing18 years and 338 days UruguayUruguay Montevideo16/04/2005
3Ayumu Goromaru(Fullback)19 years and 46 days UruguayUruguay Montevideo16/04/2005
4Terunori MasuhoWing19 years and 95 days United StatesUnited States Chicago04/05/1991
5Faulua Makisi(Flanker)19 years and 122 days South KoreaSouth Korea Incheon21/05/2016
6Seiji HiraoCentre19 years and 129 daysNew Zealand NZ UniversitiesNew Zealand Pukekohe30/05/1982
7Dogo Maeda(Fly-half)19 years and 152 days South KoreaJapan Kanagawa30/04/2016
8Kenji Shomen(Fly-half)19 years and 165 days South KoreaSouth Korea Ulsan13/10/2002
9Masato FurukawaFlanker19 years and 167 days South KoreaSouth Korea Incheon21/05/2016
10Yoshihito YoshidaWing19 years and 226 daysEngland Oxford UniversityJapan Tokyo01/10/1988

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[27]

Oldest players

# Player Pos Age Opposition Venue Date
1Hitoshi OnoLock38 years and 50 days ScotlandJapan Tokyo 25/06/2016
2Wataru MurataScrum-half37 years and 145 days IrelandJapan Tokyo19/06/2005
3Luke ThompsonLock36 years and 69 days IrelandJapan Tokyo24/06/2017
4Craig WingCentre35 years and 289 days United StatesEngland Gloucester11/10/2015
5Hirotoki Onozawa(Wing)35 years and 71 days WalesJapan Osaka08/06/2013
6Hayden Hopgood(Lock)35 years and 30 days UruguayJapan Tokyo29/08/2015
Satoshi NakataniProp35 years and 30 days FijiFrance Vannes26/11/2016
8Ross ThompsonNumber 834 years and 341 days CanadaCanada Vancouver21/06/1998
9Glen MarshFlanker34 years and 316 daysNew Zealand Junior All BlacksJapan Tokyo 24/06/2007
10Shoji Ito(Lock)34 years and 295 days ScotlandEngland Gloucester 23/09/2015

Last updated: Japan vs Georgia, 23 June 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Brave Blossoms break into top ten". irb.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  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". New York Times. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Japan beat South Africa in greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever". Guardian. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Galbraith, Mike (15 March 2014). "1866 and all that: the untold early history of rugby in Japan". Japan Times.
  6. ↑ Young, Keith (2015). "Japan". Complete Rugby Union Compendium. Edinburgh: Arena Sport. ISBN 978-1-909715-34-9.
  7. ↑ "Elissalde sacked as Japan coach".
  8. ↑ "Eddie Jones appointed coach of Japan". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. December 26, 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  9. ↑ JRFU (May 2, 2012). "Fujita in line for historic debut". Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Eddie Jones hospitalised after Japan rugby coach suffers suspected stroke – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  11. ↑ "Eddie Jones released from intensive care after stroke but will miss Japan's Test with All Blacks". Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  12. 1 2 "Scott Wisemantel is interim coach for Japan". Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  13. ↑ "Rugby World Cup 2015: South Africa 32–34 Japan". 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  14. ↑ "Rugby World Cup 2015: Japan beat USA in final pool game". 11 October 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. 1 2 "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Test matches - Team records". ESPN scrum.
  17. ↑ "RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER Volume 9, No.30". rugby-international.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Italy lose 26–23 to Japan in Tokyo" (in Italian).
  19. ↑ Leitch to lead Japan against Italy, Georgia
  20. 1 2 "Hammett, Nakatake assigned interim coaching duties for Brave Blossoms". The Japan Times. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Most matches - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  22. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Most individual tries - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  23. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Most individual points - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  24. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Most matches as a captain - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  25. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Most individual points in a match - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  26. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Most individual tries in a match - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  27. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Youngest appearance - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  28. ↑ "Rugby Union - Japan - Oldest appearance - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
Preceded by
Kei Nishikori		 Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Winner
2015		 Succeeded by
Shohei Otani
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