The Japan national rugby union team, also known as the Cherry Blossoms, the Brave Blossoms, or simply Sakura, represents Japan in men's international rugby union. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and has 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 (PNC) and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC). They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup (RWC) since the tournament began in 1987, and hosted the event in 2019.
Maeda Toshimasu, better known as Maeda Keiji or Keijirō (慶次郎), was a Japanese samurai lord of the Sengoku period through early Edo period. He was the nephew of Maeda Toshiie and Maeda Matsu. In legends and fictions, he is one of the most celebrated kabukimono of the time period who is known for his monstrous height and his peerless strength. Toshimasu's horse and companion, Matsukaze, was one of the most famous warhorses in Japan.
Daisuke Ohata is a former Japanese rugby union player. He usually played on the wing, and sometimes at centre, for the Japanese national team. He made his name internationally as a speedy ace in the World Rugby Sevens Series, and went on to become a regular member of the national team. He first played for Japan on November 9, 1996, and scored three tries that day. He is the leading rugby union test try scorer of all time. In November 2016, Ohata was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at the opening ceremony for the Hall's first physical location in Rugby, Warwickshire.
Hideki Maeda is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Urayasu D-Rocks, commonly known as the D-Rocks, or the Shining Arcs, is a rugby union team owned by NTT Communications and is part of Japan's Rugby League One competition, currently in Division 2. Given the name, the team is based in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture in the Kantō region. The team has undergone several re-brands throughout is history, most recently in 2022, rebranding from Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu in line with the newly formed Japan Rugby League One competition in 2021/22, to the Urayasu D-Rocks in 2022 onwards.
Daizen Maeda is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish Premiership side Celtic and the Japan national team.
Masanori Takura is Japanese rugby union prop.
Masami Horikoshi, is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach. He played as scrum-half. Currently he is the coach of Rissho University RFC.
Tsutomu Matsuda is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as fullback and wing.
Mitsutake Hagimoto is a former Japanese rugby player and coach. He played as scrum-half.
Koji Yasumi is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as prop. Currently, he works for the non-profit organisation Heroes.
Akira Yoshida is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as centre.
Toshiro Yoshino is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a wing or as centre.
Naoto Nakamura is a Japanese former rugby union player who played as prop. He played 20 tests for the Japan national rugby union team including two matches in 1999 Rugby World Cup. Currently he is the scrum coach for Canon Eagles.
Takafumi Hirao, also known as Tsuyoshi Hirao, is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as wing and as fullback. He is not related to the late Seiji Hirao. As of 2015 he works as teacher at Kobe Shinwa Women's University's Development and Education Faculty of Junior sports education Department, with "sports pedagogy", "kinematics" as field of specialization and "body and sports" and "sports education rooted in children's development" as research field.
The 2018 Top Challenge League was the second season of Japan's second-tier domestic rugby union competition, the Top Challenge League.
Hideki Nanba, born 14 October 1974 in Yamanashi Prefecture, is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as centre.
Doga Maeda is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Fly-half or Centre. He currently plays for NTT Communications Shining Arcs in Japan's domestic Top League.
The 2022–23 Japan Rugby League One – Division 1 season was the twentieth top flight league season played from December 2022 through to May 2023, in the newly rebranded Japan Rugby League One. The competition consisted of twelve teams, including two promoted teams from Division 2, Sagamihara Dynaboars and Hanazono Liners.
Tsuyoshi Kinoshita is a Japanese former international rugby union player.
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