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Japan national rugby union team

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Historical background

File:Japan sakura rugby symbol.jpg

Japan (often known as "The Cherry Blossoms") is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia, with only occasional losses to Korean rivals in the region, but has enjoyed and endured mixed results over the years since this Western sport was introduced in 1899 by Edward Bramwell Clarke and Tanaka Ginnosuke.

Japan has participated as Asia's representative in every Rugby Union World Cup since the inaugural tournament held in 1987. However, it has not yet progressed beyond the pool stage to the quarter-finals, and has only recorded one victory so far, albeit a decisive one by 52 points to 8, over Zimbabwe at Belfast in the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup.

In RWC2003 held in Austalia, Japan was hailed as the best of the so-called 'minnow' nations and left a lasting and delightful impression with its speedy play and sportsmanship, gaining many new Japanese and foreign fans in the process, but unfortunately the team still failed to win any games. It is also prone to occasional major hiccups, notably a humiliating world record 17-145 loss against a typically ruthless New Zealand All Blacks side at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa in RWC1995.

Since then Japan has beaten Taiwan 155-3 in a RWC2003 qualifying game on July 5, 2002 which has helped to lay the ghost of Bloemfontein to rest, while underlining Japan's dominance in Asia and its responsibility to help other Asian nations weaker than itself. However the dreadful RWC1995 result arguably postponed the development of rugby's popularity in Japan by several years, as the Japanese general public and most of the media - quite understandably - only supports, and shows interest in, winners.

As a team sport rugby is still a distant third in popularity ratings after baseball and soccer, and this reality is unlikely to change until the national rugby team becomes consistently successful on the world stage, especially at the Rugby World Cup. At present rugby is rarely seen on the terrestrial TV channels, and is mainly restricted to CS and cable subscription channels, which hinders its growth. Sometimes the bigger games are shown on NHK TV.

There have nevertheless been one or two notable Japanese successes and very impressive results which might be termed "near misses". On May 28, 1989 a strong Japan coached by Hiroaki Shukuzawa defeated an under-strength Scotland missing nine British Lions then touring in Australia, for the first time ever at Chichibunomiya in Tokyo, 28-24. They have also come close in the past to major upset victories over England and Wales, losing by just 3-6 to the former in Tokyo on September 29, 1971 in the RFU's centenary year, and giving the latter a fright in losing by 24-29 at Cardiff Arms Park on October 2, 1983.

But on November 13, 2004 a weak and inexperienced Japan side lost 8-100 to Scotland at McDiarmid Park in Perth, a historic points record for Scotland, and then on November 26th succumbed 0-98 to Wales at the Millennium Stadium. There are doubts as to whether this was Japan's strongest possible team. For example, the tour party did not include Ruatangi Vatuvei.

The Japanese team are known for their speed and resourcefulness but are often at a disadvantage due to their relatively smaller size compared to Australian, New Zealander, and European players. This is changing, however, as the Japanese diet increasingly includes more meat at the expense of fish and resembles Western diets more closely. Training regimes and coaching are of a generally high standard, though politics sometimes interferes. The national team is also frequently reinforced at and before the World Cup by one or two foreigners who qualify under IRB regulations. Of these Andrew Miller and Andrew McCormick both from New Zealand have been among the most successful.

Japan's best results so far

versus England - Lost 3-6 (Tokyo, 1971)
versus Scotland - Won 28-24 (Tokyo, 1989)
versus Taiwan - Won 155-3 (Taipei, 2002)
versus Wales - Lost 24-29 (Cardiff, 1983)
versus Zimbabwe - Won 52-8 (Rugby World Cup, Belfast 1991)

In May 2004 Japan won the second Super Powers Cup played between four nations in Tokyo, beating Russia 29-12 (May 27) and Canada 34-21 (May 30) to do so. America beat Russia in the third-place play-off.

In the Taiwan game, fullback Toru Kurihara of Suntory scored a world record individual points tally.

Future prospects

The present national coach, Mr. Mitsutake Hagimoto (appointed in 2004) is seeking to take the "Brave Blossoms" (as they are now called) to a more consistently successful level. The present captain is Takuro Miuchi (No. 8). Despite the disastrous tour of Europe (Scotland, Rumania and Wales) in 2004, Japan should qualify for the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup without too much difficulty.

The perennial and key question, however, is whether Japan can at long last reach the quarter-finals this time, as her loyal, passionate and long-suffering fans most dearly hope and deserve. (As in several other rugby-playing countries, there are those who believe that a foreign professional coach with a relatively free hand would be the best way to achieve this.)

Rugby in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union.

Current & recent national team players

Past Players

See also

Universities:

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