Japan playing Australia at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments

The Japan national team have competed in every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987. They are so far the only team to reach the Rugby World Cup through Asian regional qualifying. They have yet to progress past the pool stage of the tournament.

Their best performance was in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Japan beat South Africa 34–32 in their first match of pool play, in what was described as "greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever".^[1][2][3] They went on to beat Samoa and the United States in pool play. They won three games out of four in pool play, the same as Scotland and South Africa, but unlike the other two, Japan did not get any bonus points, so the other two qualified for the quarter-finals.

Japan's first victory was a 52–8 win over Zimbabwe at the 1991 tournament under coach Hiroaki Shukuzawa. Their worst defeat came at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when they lost to New Zealand by 145–17, in a defeat blamed for setting the development of rugby union in Japan back by several years. Since then, in the 2003 World Cup, held in Australia, Japan coached by Shogo Mukai was hailed as the best of the so-called 'minnow' nations,^{[citation needed]} gaining many new Japanese and overseas fans in the process, though the team still failed to win any games. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Japan managed a last-minute conversion to draw with Canada, and avoided coming last in Pool B. They did not win any games however, and did not reach the knockout stage of the tournament.

Japan will host the tournament for the first time at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

By position[edit]

Year	Round	Position	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against
1987	Pool	–	3	–	–	3	48	123
1991	Pool	–	3	1	–	2	77	87
1995	Pool	–	3	–	–	3	55	252
1999	Pool	–	3	–	–	3	36	140
2003	Pool	–	4	–	–	4	79	163
2007	Pool	–	4	–	1	3	64	210
2011	Pool	–	4	–	1	3	69	184
2015	Pool	–	4	3	–	1	98	100
2019
Total	–	–	28	4	2	22	526	1259

By match[edit]

1987[edit]

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Pts
Australia	3	3	0	0	108	41	6
England	3	2	0	1	100	32	4
United States	3	1	0	2	39	99	2
Japan	3	0	0	3	48	123	0

1987-05-24

Japan	18 – 21	United States
Tries: Taumoefolau (2) Yoshinaga Pen: Yoshinaga Kutsuki		Tries: Nelson Purcell Lambert Con: Nelson (3) Pen: Nelson

Ballymore, Brisbane Referee: Guy Maurette (France)

1987-05-30

England	60 – 7	Japan
Tries: Harrison (3) Underwood (2) Salmon Richards Redman Rees Simms Con: Webb (7) Pen: Webb (2)		Try: Miyamoto Pen: Matsuo

Concord Oval, Sydney Referee: Rene Hourquet (France)

1987-06-03

Australia	42 – 23	Japan
Tries: Slack (2) Burke (2) Tuynman Grigg Hartill Campese Con: Lynagh (5)		Tries: Kutsuki (2) Fujita Con: Okidoi Pen: Okidoi (2) Drop: Okidoi

Concord Oval, Sydney Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

1991[edit]

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
Scotland	3	0	0	122	36	9
Ireland	2	0	1	102	51	7
Japan	1	0	2	77	87	5
Zimbabwe	0	0	3	31	158	3

1991-10-05

Scotland	47 – 9	Japan
Tries: S. Hastings, Stanger, Chalmers, White, Penalty Try, Tukalo, G. Hastings Con: G. Hastings (5) Pen: G. Hastings (2), Chalmers		Tries: Hosokawa Con: Hosokawa Drop: Hosokawa

Murrayfield, Edinburgh Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

1991-10-09

Ireland	32 – 16	Japan
Tries: Mannion (2), O’Hara, Staples Con: Keyes (2) Pen: Keyes (4)		Tries: Hayashi, Kajihara, Yoshida Con: Hosokawa (2)

Landsdowne Road, Dublin Referee: Laikini Colati (Fiji)

1991-10-14

Japan	52 – 8	Zimbabwe
Tries: Yoshida (2), Mashuho (2), Kutsuki (2), Horikoshi, Luaiufi, Matsuo Con: Hosokawa (2) Pen: Hosokawa (4)		Tries: Tsimba, Nguruve

Ravenhill, Belfast Referee: Rene Hourquet (France)

1995[edit]

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
New Zealand	3	0	0	225	45	9
Ireland	2	0	1	93	94	7
Wales	1	0	2	89	68	5
Japan	0	0	3	55	252	3

1995-05-27

Japan	10 – 57	Wales
Tries: Osamu Ota (2)		Tries: Gareth Thomas (3), Ieuan Evans (2), Andrew Moore, Hemi Taylor Con: Neil Jenkins (5) Pen: Neil Jenkins (4)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 12 000 Referee: Efrahim Sklar (Argentina)

1995-05-31

Ireland	50 – 28	Japan
Tries: Neil Franis, Simon Geoghegan, David Corkery, Eddie Halvey, Niall Hogan Con: Paul Burke (6) Pen: Paul Burke		Tries: Sinali-Tui Latu, Ko Izawa, Seiji Hirao, Masanori Takura Con: Yoshihito Yoshida (4)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 15 000 Referee: Stef Neethling (South Africa)

1995-06-04

Japan	17 – 145	New Zealand
Tries: Hiroyuki Kajihara (2) Con: Keiji Hirose (2) Pen: Keiji Hirose		Tries: Marc Ellis (6), Eric Rush (3), Jeff Wilson (3), Robin Brooke (2), Glen Osborne (2), Richard Loe, Simon Culhane, Paul Henderson, Craig Dowd, Alama Ieremia Con: Simon Culhane (20)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 17 000 Referee: George Gadjovic (Canada)

1999[edit]

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
Wales	2	0	1	118	71	4
Samoa	2	0	1	97	72	4
Argentina	2	0	1	83	51	4
Japan	0	0	3	36	140	0

1999-10-03

Samoa	43 – 9	Japan
Tries: Brian Lima (2), Steven So'oialo (2), Silao Leaegailesolo Con: Silao Leaegailesolo (3) Pen: Silao Leaegailesolo (4)		Pen: Keiji Hirose (3)

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

1999-10-09

Wales	64 – 15	Japan
Tries: Mark Taylor, (2) Robert Howley, Scott Gibbs, David Llewellyn, Gareth Thomas, Allan Bateman, Shane Howarth Con: Neil Jenkins (8) Con: Neil Jenkins		Tries: Patiliai Tuidraki, Daisuke Ohata Con: Keiji Hirose Pen: Keiji Hirose

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Referee: Joel Dume (France)

1999-10-16

Argentina	33 – 12	Japan
Tries: Diego Albanese, Agustín Pichot Con: Felipe Contepomi Pen: Gonzalo Quesada (7)		Pen: Keiji Hirose (4)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

2003[edit]

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
France	4	0	0	204	70	4	20
Scotland	3	0	1	102	97	2	14
Fiji	2	0	2	98	114	2	10
United States	1	0	3	86	125	2	6
Japan	0	0	4	79	163	0	0

2003-10-11

Scotland	32–11	Japan
Tries: Paterson (2), Grimes, Taylor, Danielli Con: Paterson, Townsend Pen: Paterson		Tries: Onozawa Pen: Hirose (2)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 19,170 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

2003-10-18

France	51 – 29	Japan
Tries: Michalak, Rougerie (2), Pelous, Dominici, Crenca Con: Michalak (5), Merceron Pen: Michalak (3)		Tries: Konia, Ohata Con: Kurihara (2) Pen: Kurihara (5)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 21,309 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

2003-10-23

Fiji	41 – 13	Japan
Tries: Tuilevu (2), Ligairi (2), Vunibaka Con: Little (2) Pen: Little (4)		Tries: Miller Con: Miller Pen: Miller Drop: Miller

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 17,269 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

2003-10-27

Japan	26 – 39	United States
Tries: Kurihara, Ohata Con: Kurihara (2) Pen: Kurihara (4)		Tries: Hercus, Eloff, Schubert, van Zyl, Khasigian Con: Hercus (4) Pen: Hercus (2)

Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford Attendance: 19,653 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

2007[edit]

Team	Pld	W	D	L	TF	PF	PA	+/-	BP	Pts
Australia	4	4	0	0	30	215	41	+174	4	20
Fiji	4	3	0	1	14	114	136	−22	3	15
Wales	4	2	0	2	23	168	105	+63	4	12
Japan	4	0	1	3	7	64	210	−146	1	3
Canada	4	0	1	3	6	51	120	−69	0	2

8 September 2007 15:45

Australia	91 – 3	Japan
Tries: Sharpe 18' m Elsom (3) 24' c, 34' m, 41' c Ashley-Cooper 46' c Latham (2) 53' c, 72' c Barnes (2) 57' c, 75' c Mitchell (2) 59' c, 66' c Smith 62' m Freier 80+' c Con: Mortlock (7/10) Giteau (3/3) Pen: Mortlock (2/2) 10', 16'	Report	Pen: K. Ono (1/1) 38'

Stade de Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 40,043 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

12 September 2007 18:00

Japan	31 – 35	Fiji
Tries: Thompson (2) 51' c, 78' c Soma 62' m Con: Onishi (2/3) Pen: Onishi (4/4) 18', 30', 40+', 43'	Report	Tries: Qera (2) 36' c, 49' c Rabeni 56' m Leawere 71' c Con: Little (3/4) Pen: Little (3/3) 4', 55', 74'

Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 34,500 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

20 September 2007 21:00

Wales	72 – 18	Japan
Tries: A. W. Jones 11' c Hook 24' c T. R. Thomas 31' c Morgan 40+' m Phillips 42' c S. Williams (2) 48' m, 80' m D. James 52' c Cooper 59' c M. Williams (2) 64' c, 74' c Con: S. Jones (5/7) Sweeney (2/4) Pen: S. Jones (1/1) 23'	Report	Tries: Endo 19' m Onozawa 57' c Con: Robins (1/1) Pen: Onishi (2/2) 4', 37'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 35,245 Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

25 September 2007 18:00

Canada	12 – 12	Japan
Tries: Riordan 48' m van der Merwe 65' c Con: Pritchard (1/1)	Report	Tries: Endo 12' m Taira 80+' c Con: Onishi (1/2)

Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 33,810 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

2011[edit]

Japan lost to New Zealand, Tonga and France, but managed to draw with Canada.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	TF	PF	PA	+/−	BP	Pts
New Zealand	4	4	0	0	36	240	49	+191	4	20
France	4	2	0	2	13	124	96	+28	3	11
Tonga	4	2	0	2	7	80	98	−18	1	9
Canada	4	1	1	2	9	82	168	−86	0	6
Japan	4	0	1	3	8	69	184	−115	0	2

10 September 2011

France	47 – 21	Japan
Tries: Pierre 4' c Trinh-Duc 11' c Clerc 33' m Naller 70' c Pape 76' c Parra 81' m Con: Yachvili (4/6) Pen: Yachvili (3/3) 21', 28', 66'	Report	Tries: Arlidge (2) 30' m, 48' c Con: Arlidge (1/2) Pen: Arlidge (3/4) 17', 39', 57'

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland

16 September 2011

New Zealand	83 – 7	Japan
Tries: Smith 3' c Kahui (2) 15' m, 44' c Kaino 21' m Mealamu 29' c Ellis 33' c Slade 35' c Williams (2) 50' c, 78' c Toeava 55' c Hore 59' m Nonu 61' m Thomson 76' c Con: Slade (9/13)	Report	Tries: Onozawa 57' c Con: Williams (1/1)

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

21 September 2011

Tonga	31 – 18	Japan
Tries: Ma'afu 6' m Lokotui 14' c Vainikolo 53' c Con: Morath (2/3) Pen: Morath (4/4) 29', 31', 49', 67'	Report	Tries: Hatakeyama 13' m Leitch 25' m Tupuailai 62' m Con: Arlidge (0/3) Pen: Webb (1/1) 39'

Okara Park, Whangarei

27 September 2011

Canada	23 – 23	Japan
Tries: Van Der Merwe 6' c Mackenzie 43' m Monro 74' m Con: Pritchard (1/1) Monro (0/2) Pen: Monro (2/3) 63', 78'	Report	Tries: Horie 9' c Endo 39' c Tupuailai 62' m Con: Arlidge (2/2) Pen: Arlidge (3/3) 23', 65', 72'

McLean Park, Napier

2015[edit]

Team	Pld	W	D	L	TF	PF	PA	+/−	BP	Pts
South Africa	4	3	0	1	23	176	56	+120	4	16
Scotland	4	3	0	1	14	136	93	+43	2	14
Japan	4	3	0	1	9	98	100	–2	0	12
Samoa	4	1	0	3	7	69	124	–55	2	6
United States	4	0	0	4	5	50	156	–106	0	0

19 September 2015 16:45

South Africa	32–34	Japan
Try: Louw 18' c B. Du Plessis 33' m De Jager 44' c Strauss 62' c Con: Lambie (2/3) 19', 45' Pollard (1/1) 63' Pen: Lambie (1/1) 57' Pollard (1/1) 73'	Report	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'

Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton Attendance: 29,290 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

23 September 2015 14:30

Scotland	45–10	Japan
Try: Hardie 48' m Bennett (2) 56' c, 69 c Seymour 64' c Russell 74' c Con: Laidlaw (4/5) 57', 65', 70', 75' Pen: Laidlaw (4/5) 3', 12', 18', 20'	Report	Try: Mafi 15' c Con: Goromaru (1/1) 16' Pen: Goromaru (1/3) 46'

Kingsholm, Gloucester Attendance: 14,354 Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

3 October 2015 14:30

Samoa	5–26	Japan
Try: Perez 64' m Con: T. Pisi (0/1)	Report	Try: Penalty try 24' c Yamada 40' c Con: Goromaru (2/2) 24', 40' Pen: Goromaru (4/6) 8', 34', 48', 59'

Stadium mk, Milton Keynes Attendance: 29,019 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

11 October 2015 20:00

United States	18–28	Japan
Try: Ngwenya 24' m Wyles 71' c Con: MacGinty (1/2) 72' Pen: MacGinty (2/2) 5', 55'	Report	Try: Matsushima 7' c Fujita 28' c Mafi 62' m Con: Goromaru (2/3) 9', 29' Pen: Goromaru (3/3) 33', 44', 77'

Kingsholm, Gloucester Attendance: 14,517 Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Hosting[edit]

At a special IRB meeting held in Dublin on 28 July 2009, Japan was announced as the host for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.^[4]

List of planned stadia[edit]

In addition to the nine venues located in Japan, one venue each from Singapore and Hong Kong have also been proposed to host five matches respectively.^[5]

• Nissan Stadium, Yokohama (72,000)
• Nagai Stadium, Osaka (50,000)
• Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo (27,000)
• Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai (20,000)
• Level-5 Stadium, Fukuoka (23,000)
• Toyota Stadium, Toyota (45,000)
• Sapporo Dome, Sapporo (41,000)
• Home's Stadium, Kobe (34,000)
• Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong (40,000)
• Singapore Sports Hub, Singapore (50,000)

References[edit]

• Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
• Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)