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.
The Japan Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Japan. It was formed 30 November 1926, and organises matches for the Japan national team.
Katsuhiko Oku was a Japanese diplomat who played rugby for Oxford and Waseda University. In Britain he was known as "Katsu".
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro Kunda, himself a former hooker for Toshiba and Japan. They are particularly known for the strength of their mauls. Before the Top League was created, the team was called Toshiba Fuchu after their location. Their slogan for 2006 season was "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)".
Hiroaki Shukuzawa was a Japanese rugby union player and coach, who coached the Japan national rugby union team between 1989 and 1991. As a player, he was capped three times by Japan as a scrum-half, and he also advised the Japan Rugby Football Union. He also held important posts as a banker.
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, shortly after which relocating to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since.
Tokyo Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus. The team rebranded as Tokyo Sungoliath ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022.
NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. The team's captain is Ryota Asano. The previous captain was Takuro Miuchi, who was also the captain of the Japan national rugby union team. Before the semi-professional Top League was created, the team was just known as "NEC". The amateur club was founded in 1985 in the Kantō region.
Tamariba Club is a rugby union club in Tokyo, so-called because it is located near the Tama River (Tamagawa). It has been in existence since 2000, and has also been the top club side in Japan for most of that time. Most of the players are former members of Waseda University Rugby Football Club and Keio University Rugby Football Club.
Katsuyuki Kiyomiya, is a Japanese rugby union coach, formerly of Waseda University RFC (2001–06) and since 2006 of Suntory Sungoliath. Many in Japan had hoped he would someday coach the national side; however, after he criticized national team coach Eddie Jones in August 2015, support has dramatically dropped. He is the father of baseball player Kōtarō Kiyomiya.
Rugby union in Japan is a moderately popular sport. Japan has the fourth largest population of rugby union players in the world and the sport has been played there for over a century. There are 125,000 Japanese rugby players, 3,631 official rugby clubs, and the Japan national team is ranked 12th in the world.
Tetsunosuke Onishi was a professor of Waseda University, coach of the Japan national rugby union team and Waseda University Rugby Football Club. He has been described as a Japanese Carwyn James and was a coach of considerable achievements. He also served as a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee.
The 2008 The All-Japan Rugby Football Championship
The 2011 The All-Japan Rugby Football Championship starts on Feb 6th and finishes with the final on Feb 27th.
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.
Terunori Masuho is a former rugby union player who played as a wing and former Kobelco Steelers coach.
Wataru Murata is a former Japanese rugby player and coach. He played as scrum-half. He currently coaches Senshu University Rugby Football Club.
Kōtarō Kiyomiya is a Japanese baseball player who currently plays for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Pacific League as a First Baseman. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, Kotaro stands 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kg). He was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2017 draft. He is the son of Japanese rugby union coach, Katsuyuki Kiyomiya.
Toshiro Yoshino is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a wing or as centre.
Tsuji Takashi is a Japanese former rugby union player who played as scrum-half, he later became a coach, currently coaching NEC Green Rockets.
