One of 12 teams that contested the inaugural tournament in Wales in 1991, Japan will make their fifth Rugby World Cup appearance in New Zealand.
The nation appeared at three of the first four Rugby World Cups but then went a decade and a half without qualifying for the showpiece tournament.
Never finishing higher than eighth, they’ll have their sights set on improving that after wins over Australia and Fiji in May 2022.
On this page, you can keep up to date with Japan’s World Cup fixtures, results and access all the latest team news and analysis.
Japan withstood a fierce second-half fightback from Italy in Parma to beat the Azzurre for the first time in the 21-year history of tests between the nations and lift them to tenth in the world rankings.
Sally Horrox believes World Rugby had a “moral and sporting responsibility” to launch its new annual global competition WXV this year
One of 12 teams that contested the inaugural tournament in Wales in 1991, Japan will make their fifth Rugby World Cup appearance in New Zealand.
The nation appeared at three of the first four Rugby World Cups but then went a decade and a half without qualifying for the showpiece tournament.
Never finishing higher than eighth, they’ll have their sights set on improving that after wins over Australia and Fiji in May 2022.
On this page, you can keep up to date with Japan’s World Cup fixtures, results and access all the latest team news and analysis.
Asuka Kuge Hooker 
Ayano Nagai Number 8 
Iroha Nagata Openside flanker 
Jennifer Nduka Lock 4 
Kotomi Taniguchi Hooker 
Masami Kawamura Lock 4 
Mei Yoshimoto Blindside Flanker 
Nijiho Nagata Hooker 
Sachiko Kato Tight head prop 
Sakurako Hatada Blindside Flanker 
Sakurako Korai Blindside Flanker 
Seina Saito Blindside flanker 
Yuka Sadaka Loose Head Prop 
Ayasa Otsuka Fly half 
Haruka Hirotsu Inside Centre 
Hinata Komaki Prop 
Kanako Kobayashi Inside Centre 
Komachi Imakugi Outside Half 
Kotono Yasuo Fullback 
Mana Furuta Centre 
Manami Mine Fullback 
Megumi Abe Scrum half 
Minori Yamamoto Fullback 
Mio Nishimura Fullback 
Misaki Matsumura Right Wing 
Moe Tsukui Fullback 
Nao Ando Fullback 
Natsuki Kashiwagi Fullback 
Otoka Yoshimura Lock 
Sora Nishimura Fullback 
Japan Women's Rugby Team 
