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55-538: The winner of the competition's top division is recognised as the rugby champion of Asia. The top division, sometimes referred to as the Tri Nations, includes the top three Asian teams each season. Division 1 includes the next four teams and Division 2 includes the next four. Division three is further divided geographically, with each of the West, East and South Central divisions including three teams. As of 2017, Japan

110-877: 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 Pacific Nations Cup with wins against Fiji , Tonga and the United States , with no losses. Japan hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2019 , and the team repeated their feat of a shock win in Brighton at the 2015 World Cup, this time beating world No. 2-ranked Ireland 19–12 at Shizuoka Stadium in Fukuroi, Shizuoka They reached

165-420: 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. This continued into 2015 where they produced

220-520: A Rugby World Cup. The first round consisted of ten matches between 8 teams. The winner of the Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 (Round 1A), United Arab Emirates, advanced to the second round and was promoted to division 1 for 2017, while the bottom placed team in division 1 (Round 1B), Singapore, was relegated and thus eliminated from Rugby World Cup contention. On 10 April 2015, Kazakhstan who were meant to compete in

275-531: 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. After his release from hospital, it

330-518: 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

385-541: 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 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

440-446: A home and away basis, picking up 5 points for a win and 3 for a draw. 2 additional points are up for grabs through bonus points, but in order to earn them, teams need to score 4 or more tries in a match, or when losing, lose by 7 points or less. In 2016 the points awarded were changed to 4 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with bonus points the same. For all Divisions, 1 through to 3, nations will only play each other once, with one of

495-607: A lower division. The competition was revamped again for the 2015 season as the Asia Rugby Championship. Under the new format, the top three teams formed a Tri nations division. A promotion-relegation challenge was instituted whereby the Division 1 winner had to defeat the Tri nations third place-getter to gain promotion for the next season. The current format sees the competition separated into various divisions, with

550-562: 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 . After Hirao resigned, Toshiba Brave Lupus coach Shogo Mukai

605-755: 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. Japan beat the Junior All Blacks 23–19 in 1968 after losing

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660-412: 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 and in 1982, by Suzuki Sports. Currently, the jersey sponsors are Lipovitan D (in the front) and Toshiba (in the back). Previously, between 1997 and 2001,

715-550: 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. 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

770-522: A promotion and relegation format operated into each division. However, this only applies to Division 1 through 3, as the loser of the Tri Nations Division will play a play-off match against the winner of Division 1 to determine the third Tri Nations team for the following year. Where as the winners of Division 2 will automatically replace the loser of Division 1, and the two bottom placed teams in Division 2 will both be relegated down to one of

825-425: 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). 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

880-461: 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

935-568: Is the most successful team, securing 25 out of a possible 30 titles since 1969. They have not participated in the series since 2017 . The competition was formed as the Asian Rugby Football Tournament in 1969 . Chinese Taipei , Hong Kong , Japan , Korea and Thailand contested the inaugural Asian title. Japan were the champions on that occasion. The tournament was held biennially for the most of its first four decades. It wasn't until 1982 that South Korea became

990-683: Is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and has 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 (PNC) and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC). They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup (RWC) since

1045-614: The 2015 Rugby World Cup in Brighton , England. BBC reported the win as "arguably the biggest upset in rugby union history". 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 . 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

1100-707: The Pacific Nations to prepare for the World Cup. Notes: ^ Relegated to the division below. ^ Won promotion, or the right to a challenge play-off for promotion, to the division above. Japan national rugby union team The Japan national rugby union team , also known as the Cherry Blossoms , the Brave Blossoms ( Japanese : ブレイブ・ブロッサムズ , romanized :  Bureibu burossamuzu ), or simply Sakura , represents Japan in men's international rugby union . Japan

1155-445: The Rugby World Cup since the tournament's 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

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1210-479: 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

1265-508: 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), Japan went on to beat Ireland 19–12, a huge upset and

1320-509: The quarter-finals for the first time in the team's history after beating Scotland 28–21 at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama that was battered by Typhoon Hagibis only the night before. 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,

1375-555: 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

1430-490: The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 (Round 1B) withdrew from the competition and Rugby World Cup contention. Singapore were therefore promoted up to Division 1 and Thailand replaced Singapore in Division 2. The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 tournament was contested by four teams in a knockout format. The tournament was held in Tashkent , Uzbekistan . The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament

1485-666: The Rugby Championship to help determine divisional allocations for the Asian Rugby Championship. With more teams competing, a third division was added to the Rugby Championship in 2004. The dual competitions ran until 2007. In 2008, the ARFU merged the Rugby Championship and Rugby Series into the Asian Five Nations. The competition became an annual championship and a promotion-relegation format

1540-578: 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

1595-632: 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

1650-481: The division below ^ Able to be challenged by the winner of the division below to play in a promotion-relegation play-off. ^ Japan—as hosts of the 2019 Rugby World Cup–did not defend their Asia rugby Championship title in 2018 to allow the Tri ;Nations competition to form part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification process. Instead of returning to the trinations for 2019, Japan played

1705-482: 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

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1760-531: The first four matches on a tour of New Zealand, but they won the last five. The Japanese (coached by Tetsunosuke Onishi , a professor of Waseda University ) 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

1815-441: The first of their three biggest upsets when, in a Rugby World Cup pool match against South Africa , they won 34–32 . 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

1870-410: The included teams hosting all matches at home. These teams will also aim to pick points up for a win or draw, and gain bonus points. For all divisions, the team with the most table points wins their respective divisions, and if possible, earns promotion to the next division. As of 2024, the competition divisions are:   As of the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship . Notes: ^ Relegated to

1925-546: 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. 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. Jones stated that his intention

1980-417: The ongoing issues caused by Typhoon Hagibis. The pre-tournament rules stated that if the typhoon was sufficient to intervene, the game would be cancelled, and the result declared a draw. This controversial rule 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

2035-424: The second regional qualification round in 2017. While the teams that competed in Division 1, contested against each other to earn the right to remain in Division 1 for the second regional qualification round, with the team placed bottom being eliminated from Rugby World Cup contention. 2017 saw Division 1 act as the main qualification tournament, where the winner advanced to Round 3 joined Hong Kong and South Korea in

2090-511: The second team to win the title. The number of teams participating varied from year to year, with as many as 12 teams competing as other Asian teams joined the competition. From 1969 to 1996, there was a single division split into two groups. But in 1998, a second division was introduced as the game began to grow in Asia. In 2003, a second Asian competition called the Asian Rugby Series was formed. The Asian Rugby Series ran alongside

2145-1383: The shirt sponsor was Japan Telecom . Additionally, Japan tied [REDACTED]   France 23–23 in Paris, 25 November 2017. Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Japan national XV to 16 November 2024 . As of 21 September 2024 The following Japan head coaches have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001: On 15 October 2024, Japan named a 37-player squad for their 2024 end-of-year matches against New Zealand (26 October) , France (9 November) , Uruguay (16 November) and England (24 November) . Caps updated: 16 November 2024 (after game vs Uruguay) Last updated: Japan vs Italy, 21 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Last updated: Japan vs Italy, 21 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Last updated: Japan vs Italy, 21 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Last updated: Japan vs Italy, 21 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Last updated: Japan vs Italy, 21 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Last updated: Japan vs Italy, 21 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Japan has participated in

2200-470: 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". The current version of the emblem, depicting three full-bloomed Sakura,

2255-409: 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. After Hagimoto left his post at

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2310-464: The three regions in Division 3; West, East or South Central. Each of the three regions are made up three teams, and as of 2015, only the winners of the South Central and East divisions can be promoted to Division 2. This is because, the teams competing in the West region, are not considered as full members by World Rugby . In 2015 in the main Tri Nations division, each team played each other on

2365-404: The top flight division. In 2018, the winner of the 2018 Asia Rugby Championship , Round 3, advanced to the cross-regional playoff series against Oceania 4 for a repechage berth. Ten teams competed during for the 2019 Rugby World Cup – Asian qualification; teams world rankings are prior to the first Asian qualification match on 8 May 2016 and bold nations denotes teams have previously played in

2420-447: The tournament began in 1987, and hosted the event in 2019 . 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 match 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

2475-634: The tournament to spend more time with his family. 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

2530-709: 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. 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. In 1874 records also illustrate British sailors staging

2585-474: 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. 2019 Rugby World Cup %E2%80%93 Asia qualification Qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup for Asia Rugby began in May 2016 and ended in early June 2018, where the winner of the qualification process advanced to a cross-regional play-off series against

2640-517: The winner of Round 2 of the Oceania qualification process in June 2018. The Asia Rugby Championship , governed by Asia Rugby , was the regional qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup 2019, with Divisions 2, 1 and the Top 3 being involved in the process. The teams that competed in the 2016 Divisions 1 and 2 acted as Round 1 qualifiers, with the winner of Division 2 being promoted to Division 1, for

2695-463: 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. 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

2750-428: 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

2805-514: 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. Assistant coach Osamu Ota took over as caretaker coach for two Rugby World Cup qualifiers in November 2006. John Kirwan was appointed head coach on in October 2006 after Elissalde

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2860-469: Was dated 1952, when Japan played against Oxford University XV at Hanazono, Higashi-Osaka, on 1 October 1952. 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

2915-491: Was introduced. The winner of Division 2 replaced the loser of Division 1, and the winner of Division 1 replaced the loser of the Five Nations. For its inaugural years, no Division 3 took place, though several regional divisions were implemented across Asia. During the time of this competition, the main Five Nations division was dominated by Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong; the only three teams never to have been relegated to

2970-540: 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

3025-466: 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 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

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