Bokksu Snack Box
Breaking the Line: The Rise of Rugby in Japan
It’s no secret that Japanese sports teams excel at baseball, soccer, and tennis. But did you know that they also have the best rugby team in Asia? The Japan rugby squad has seen some of the best athletes to ever play the sport come and go. In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the Japanese rugby scene, exploring its history and evolution over the decades. We’ll also highlight iconic matches and star players (both past and present). Let's get started!
Introduction to Rugby in Japan
Rugby may not be the most popular sport in Japan, but the country has some of the best rugby facilities and some of the most die-hard rugby fans. Hence, Japan was able to successfully host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The first ever rugby match in Japan was played in 1866. However, the national team did not participate in an international match until 1932. Since then, the sport has grown in popularity within the country.
Under the umbrella of the Japan Rugby Football Union, the national rugby squad has enjoyed recent success, particularly against other Asian teams. They haven’t fallen lower than 19th in the official Men's World Rugby Rankings since 2006, peaking at 7th place in 2019. As of August 5, 2024, they had placed 14th in the rankings.
Within the last decade, the Japan rugby team has defeated no less than four Tier 1 nations, including Italy, Scotland, and South Africa. Following those significant international performances, the sport has enjoyed a surge in popularity.
The Evolution of the Japan Rugby Union Team
It took a while for Japan's national rugby team to become the sporting powerhouse that it is today. After the pioneering national team won their first ever international match on January 31, 1932, against the Canadians, they experienced some mixed results in the next few decades. However, the team was successful enough to participate in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup. They have never missed out on the tournament to date, but have only gotten past the pool stage once, when they reached the quarterfinals in 2019.
The team has achieved significantly more success in other international competitions. They have won the Pacific Nations Cup three times (2011, 2014, 2019) and the Asia Rugby Championship 25 times. Due to their sheer dominance in the Asian championship, a tournament in which they have never fallen below second place, the Japan squad is considered the best rugby team in Asia. Also known as the Brave Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms, or Sakura, they have become a formidable presence on the global stage.
Iconic Matches: Japan's Rugby Milestones
Japan’s rugby team has played over 376 matches with a win rate of around 42%. However, certain key matches have defined their journey over the decades. Let’s take a look at some of these crucial games and why they were so important.
-
Wales 29 – 24 Japan (October 2, 1983): Although Japan narrowly lost this match, they managed to give one of the best rugby teams in the world a scare at Cardiff Arms Park. Many believe this was the turning point in the team’s history. It showed their ability to hold their own against some of the greatest rugby players alive.
-
Japan 28 – 24 Scotland XV (May 28, 1989): In this match, Scotland were missing players who were on duty for the British Lions. However, they had such a strong lineup that fans still tipped them to win. Japan won the match by 5 points, in one of the team’s best ever performances.
-
Japan 24 – 13 Fiji (July 13, 2011): On this day, Japan won their first ever Pacific Nations Cup in the most bizarre fashion. The match saw Fiji receive two red cards and three yellow cards, reducing them to 12 players. The Japanese team scored a fourth try in the last play of the match, thereby earning the bonus point they needed to nick the trophy from the grasp of Tonga. Before 2011, Japan had previously struggled in the competition, coming 3rd or lower in the previous five iterations.
-
South Africa 32 – 34 Japan (September 19, 2015): The historic win against South Africa in 2015 is one of the greatest moments in the history of rugby world cups. It was definitely a turning point for rugby in Japan. This unexpected upset against the greatest rugby team in the world skyrocketed the Brave Blossoms’ popularity both home and abroad.
-
Japan 19 – 12 Ireland (September 28, 2019): Following their exploits in the previous Rugby World Cup, the Japanese team made their country even prouder with a run to the quarterfinals in the 2019 iteration, which Japan hosted. By beating Ireland, a team ranked second in the world, they solidified their status on the international scene. Things got even better when they defeated Scotland in the next game, on the road to their first ever RWC quarterfinals. Unfortunately, after a good first half, the team couldn’t compete with South Africa in the second half and bowed out of the competition.
The Structure of Rugby Unions in Japan
The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) is the official body that governs rugby union in Japan and manages the national men's and women's squads. It was founded in 1926. The JRFU is responsible for organizing matches for the national team, appointing coaches, and bidding for international competition hosting rights on behalf of Japan. The JRFU also sponsors several domestic and international rugby tournaments and leagues.
In 2003, the union created the semi-professional Top League, a competition that is currently the highest level of professional rugby in the country. They created this domestic league to develop the talent pool of rugby players in Japan, which would eventually lead to improvements in the national team.
Today, the Top League has been transformed into a fully professional competition called Japan Rugby League One. It consists of three divisions: 12 teams in Division 1, 6 teams in Division 2, and 5 teams in Division 3. The majority of the players in Japan’s national rugby squad play for top teams in the league, such as the Saitama Wild Knights, Tokyo Sungoliath, Green Rockets Tokatsu, Panasonic Wild Knights, and Toshiba Brave Lupus.
Profile of the Brave Blossoms: Japan's National Squad
Led by Australian coach Eddie Jones, the current Japan rugby squad consists of 40 players. Back row veteran Michael Leitch is the player with the most caps, having represented the country 87 times and counting. Although born in New Zealand, Leitch represents Japan and plays in the domestic league. He is also Japan’s captain.
Kotaro Matsushima is the active player with the most tries for the national team (23). He plays as a full back in the domestic league. Yoshitaka Yazaki is the current youngest player in the squad, at 20 years old. Playing at the university level, he is one of the brightest young talents in Japan.
Coaching Strategy: The Minds Behind the Muscle
On December 13, 2023, the JRFU announced the appointment of Eddie Jones as the new men’s team head coach. This would be his second spell with the team, after he coached them from 2012 to 2015.
According to his past matches and press conferences, Jones hopes to instill in the team a Japanese playstyle called Choushoku, which is a form of super-fast rugby. He also plans to rebuild the squad in preparation for the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and incorporate more youth players.
No doubt, Eddie Jones has big shoes to fill after taking over from Jamie Joseph, one of the best coaches the team has ever had. Joseph also employed fast-attacking tactics and relied on his players being incredibly fit. From 2016 to 2023, he led them to one Asian Rugby Championship and one Pacific Nations Cup.
Training and Development in Japanese Rugby
Besides sponsoring various youth, semi-professional, and full-time leagues, the national union has taken many other steps to develop players for international competitions. In 2015, after Japan defeated South Africa, the JRFU entered into an agreement with the owners of the international Super Rugby competition to allow the Sunwolves to represent Japan in the competition. This move and others like it have helped domestic players develop faster, and the national team is reaping the rewards.
In 2022, they announced plans to develop the Sawayaka Sports Square in Fukuoka City into a world-class training center for all age groups of the national team.
Impact Players: Key Figures in Japanese Rugby
Let’s shine the spotlight on key players who have significantly impacted the Japanese rugby scene.
-
Yoshihiro Sakata: He is the first International Rugby Board Hall of Fame inductee from Japan. Nicknamed ”Demi Sakata,” he had a successful career playing on the wing in New Zealand and made 16 appearances for Japan’s national team.
-
Ayumu Goromaru: This fullback has scored the most points for the national team (708 points in 56 matches). He spent most of his career playing for Yamaha Júbil in Japan but had brief stints in France and Australia.
-
Hitoshi Ono: From 2004 to 2016, Ono played 98 matches for the senior national team, the most by any player to date. His massive frame and rugged playstyle earned him the nickname “Iron Man.” Ono played as a lock for Toshiba Brave Lupus and Sunwolves in Japan.
-
Takuro Miuchi: Famous for his unrivaled leadership qualities on and off the field, Miuchi has captained the team more times than any other player. He wore the armband 45 times and won 17 of those games.
Rugby's Cultural Impact in Japan
The Japanese rugby squad has displayed integrity, passion, perseverance, and discipline over the years. These are core cultural values that have endeared them to the hearts of Japanese people.
The game has also helped to develop sports at the community and youth levels, as private company employees and university students are the main participants outside the professional league.
The Future of Rugby in Japan
Eddie Jones and the JRFU are making plans to turn the national team into one of the top four teams in the world. There is some speculation that they plan to implement or support the following strategies in a bid to achieve their goals:
-
Replacement of grassroots tournaments with leagues so youngsters can play more games.
-
Creation of an under-23 team to complement the already existing u21 and senior levels.
-
Incorporation of more youth players into the national teams.
-
Bringing more foreign talent into the Japanese leagues.
Conclusion
There seems to be a growing enthusiasm for rugby in Japan. This is no doubt due to recent successes and new expectations of future achievements. We hope to see the national squad advance past the quarterfinals at the 2027 World Cup. Win or lose, we have no doubt that the Brave Blossoms will carry on the mantle as a symbol of perseverance and teamwork in Japanese sports.
Share your interest in Japanese culture with your loved ones by shopping at Bokksu Boutique. We have unforgettable gift ideas they will love!
Author Bio
More from the blog
View all
