Japan national rugby union team

For the Japanese Rugby League team see Japan national rugby league team.

Japan

Union	Japan Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)	The Cherry Blossoms / Brave Blossoms
Emblem(s)	the Sakura
Coach	John Kirwan
Captain	Takuro Miuchi
Top scorer	Keiji Hirose (398)
Most tries	Daisuke Ohata (69)
Team kit
First international
Japan 9 - 8 Canada  (31 January, 1932)
Largest win
Japan 159 - 3 Chinese Taipei  (7 July, 2002)
Worst defeat
New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan  (4 June, 1995)
World Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1987)
Best result	third in pool 1991

Japan (often known as "The Cherry Blossoms" or more recently Brave Blossoms) are 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 Asian Five Nations. They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup so far. However they have only ever won one game at the tournament, against Zimbabwe in 1991.

Rugby was introduced to Japan in 1899 and Japan's first 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. Japan's most famous victory so far is a 28-24 victory over Scotland in 1989. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Japan drew 12-12 against Canada, their second best result in the tournament.

History

The first recorded instance of rugby being played in Japan was in 1874, when British sailors staged a game in Yokohama. The sport was introduced to students at Keio University in 1899 by Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke and Tanaka Ginnosuke. Japan's first international took place on 31 January 1932 when a trade delegation from Canada brought a rugby union team. The Japanese won 9 - 8.

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 September 29, 1971 in the RFU's centenary year Japan gave Wales a fright in losing by a slim five-point margin, 24-29, at Cardiff Arms Park on October 2, 1983.

On May 28, 1989 a strong Japan coached by wily tactician Hiroaki Shukuzawa defeated an under-strength Scotland missing nine British Lions on tour in Australia, for the first time ever 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.

Japan's Record in the Rugby World Cup

• Japan has participated as Asia's representative in all six Rugby World Cups since the inaugural tournament held in 1987.

• Japan coached by Hiroaki Shukuzawa recorded its only victory so far at the World Cup in 1991 with a decisive win 52 points to 8, over Zimbabwe at Belfast.

• At the 1995 Rugby World Cup a ruthless New Zealand All Blacks side thrashed Japan by a World Cup record score 145-17. This result set the development of rugby union in Japan back by several years, as the Japanese general public and most of the media only supports, and shows interest in, winners.

• Since then Japan has beaten Taiwan 155-3 in an RWC 2003 qualifying game on July 5, 2002 which has helped to lay the ghost of Bloemfontein to rest, while underlining Japan's dominance in Asia.

• In the fifth World Cup, RWC 2003 held in Australia, Japan coached by Shogo Mukai 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.

• In the 2007 World Cup Japan managed a last-minute conversion from the boot of Shotaro Onishi to draw the game with Canada.

Under John Kirwan (2007-Present)

John Kirwan was appointed head coach for two years with effect from January 1, 2007 on October 25, 2006 by the JRFU. Before taking up his appointment he worked as an adviser. He declared his intention from the outset to pursue a Japanese brand of rugby which expresses the "Samurai Spirit", and he wanted to win at least two games in RWC 2007. In the qualifying games Japan beat Hong Kong 52-3 and Korea 54-0 in November 2006 to secure its place in Pool B with ease at the RWC 2007.

On April 9, 2007 the national team was featured at their first training camp since Kirwan's appointment in the NHK national news, a sign of the growing expectation and interest in his team. He said in front of the camera: "We want to be the world's fittest team", a typically bullish pronouncement. He added that he wanted Japan to play to its strengths which he said were speed and agility, and to play rugby that "big men don't like."

In the first game under Kirwan against Korea on April 22, 2007 the Cherry Blossoms won easily, 82-0 and seven new players were introduced. James Arlidge scored two tries of the fourteen, and converted ten out of ten. However in their performance at the 2007 Rugby World Cup they failed to win a match: a second-string team lost 91-3 to Australia, although they did draw 12-12 against Canada and lose by just 4 points (31-35) to eventual quarter finalists Fiji. They also lost 74-18 Wales in Cardiff, but in the process scored a spectacular length-of-the-field try through Kosuke Endo that many regarded as the best in the tournament. They came fourth in their pool ahead of Canada and behind Wales, thanks to the bonus point earned against Fiji.

In the 2008 HSBC Asian Five Nations Japan won all four of its games to become the first Asian Five Nations champions on May 18, 2008.

Under Jean-Pierre Elissalde (2005-2006)

Elissalde was Japan's first non-Japanese head coach. Under him Japan beat the Arabian Gulf (ranked 41 in the world) 82-9 on April 16, 2006. The captain was Daisuke Ohata. A week later Japan beat Korea 50-14, again at Chichibunomiya rugby stadium. The Korean team was young and after going 33-0 up at half time, Japan had a disappointing second half.

Japan beat Georgia 32-7 on May 14, 2006. This was the day when Daisuke Ohata scored a hat trick to claim the world record for test match tries. He has now scored 65, one more than the previous record holder David Campese.

Japan play Tonga at Honjo stadium on June 4, 2006

Japan lost 16-57 to Tonga in the inaugural IRB Pacific Five Nations game on June 4, 2006 - despite a good first half which ended 15-13 to Tonga. Ohata was injured early in the first half (calf strain) and the side sorely lacked veterans such as Takuro Miuchi (injured) and fly half Keiji Hirose.

Despite a disappointing IRB Pacific Five Nations campaign in which Japan won only the wooden spoon, Jean-Pierre Elissalde was reconfirmed as head coach by the top board of the JRFU on July 14, 2006. He was then sacked in September 2006 for taking a job with a French club Aviron Bayonnais without consulting the JRFU. Osamu Ota then took over as caretaker coach. On 26 October 2006, the Japan Rugby Football Union general manager Osamu Ota announced that John Kirwan would take over as head coach from 1 January 2007.

Under Mitsutake Hagimoto (coach in 2004)

The national coach, Mitsutake Hagimoto (appointed in 2004 after winning the first Top League title with Kobe Kobelco Steelers) sought to take the "Brave Blossoms" (as they are now called) to a more consistently successful level. The captain was Takuro Miuchi (No. 8), of NEC Green Rockets. Hagimoto's first game in charge saw a disappointing 19-19 draw against Korea in Tokyo on May 16, 2004.

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) in the process. The USA beat Russia in the third-place play-off.

Japan lost to Italy 19-32 in July - this game might well have turned out differently if Daisuke Ohata had not fumbled the ball when in the clear and so butchered a certain try. (Italy's coach at that time John Kirwan acknowledged Italy's good fortune after the game, and said it could have gone either way. Ohata suffered nightmares over his mistake but has since become the world record holder for tries in international matches, surpassing David Campese.)

On Saturday November 13, 2004 a surprisingly weak Japan representative touring side lost 8-100 to the full Scotland team at McDiarmid Park in Perth in the Caledonian Scottish rugby region, a record score for Scotland.

The Japanese tour party (listed here) was weaker than it could have been. It did not include the experienced Tongan Ruatangi Vatuvei. New Zealander Adam Parker who had played in Japan's 19-32 loss to Italy on July 4, 2004 was apparently refused permission to travel by his new club, NTT Higashi Nihon. The only non-Japanese member was Feleteliki Mau of World Fighting Bull. Apparently under the mistaken impression that Japan had beaten Italy in the summer, the Scotland coach (Matt Williams) paid Japan the compliment of selecting his strongest team.

Before the game Japan's coach publicly, and some JRFU officials privately, expressed their dissatisfaction that the game was not going to be played at Murrayfield stadium. It was the policy of the Scottish Rugby Union to play some international games away from Murrayfield in autumn 2004, in order to gain new fans in the Caledonia and Glasgow regions. (Thus Australia also played once at Hampden Park, Glasgow). The Perth game was virtually a sell-out of the 10,278 capacity McDiarmid Park, a number which would have rattled around in the much larger Murrayfield Stadium.

A week later they lost to Romania 10-25 on November 20 at Steaua soccer stadium in Bucharest; and then on November 26 Japan succumbed miserably to Wales at the Millennium Stadium, 0-98. It was Wales' biggest ever winning margin, played on a Friday evening in Cardiff before a massive 56,380 crowd.

Records

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

In the Taiwan game, fullback Toru Kurihara of Suntory scored 60 points breaking the world record set by Eduardo Morgan of Argentina. He scored 6 tries and kicked 15 conversions. The world record holder for tries scored in test matches is now Daisuke Ohata.

Current squad

Squad for the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

Notable Former Players

• Toshiyuki Hayashi, legendary lock with Kobe Steel, Oxford and Japan.
• Seiji Hirao, centre, former Japan captain and coach of Japan (RWC1999).
• Kensuke Iwabuchi, the first Japanese to play professional rugby in England (for Saracens), also technical adviser to Sanix.
• Sinali Latu - now coach of Daito Bunka University RFC.
• Yuji Matsuo, fly-half (stand-off), Shin-Nittetsu Kamaishi.
• Andrew Miller, fly half for Kobe Steel and Japan.
• Wataru Murata, now finishing his career with Yamaha Jubilo.
• Daisuke Ohata, World Record test try scorer.
• Atsushi Oyagi, lock, Kobe Steel and Japan, now a TV personality (talento).
• Yoshihito Yoshida, world class Japan wing, known especially on the Sevens circuit.

Coaches

• John Kirwan, appointed January 1, 2007
• Jean-Pierre Elissalde, appointed in 2005
• Masahiro Kunda, hooker for Toshiba and Japan, coach of Toshiba Brave Lupus
• Andrew McCormick, son of All Black Fergie McCormick, centre and captain of Japan
• Shogo Mukai, full back for Toshiba and Japan, coach of Japan (RWC2003) and Coca Cola West Japan (2004-)

See also

• Rugby union in Japan

External links

• Japan RFU English pages
• Japan Times Articles by Rich Freeman - Japan Times rugby correspondent until 2005, then at the Daily Yomiuri
• 41st University Rugby Championship
• Japan RFU - in Japanese
• Japanese rugby union news from Planet Rugby