Japan
51 tests · 1987–2026 · 25.5% won
All-time test record
Played51Won / Lost / Drawn13–36–2Points for / against1,061 / 1,966Win rate25.5%
World ranking (our Elo)
Current#12Peak (since 1947)#7 (2019-10-15)Weeks at #10
Honours
Rugby World Cup10 tournaments · 0 finals · 0 semi-finals
Japan's greatest tests
This nation's highest-rated internationals by Game Score, drawn from the all-time ranking on the hub.
1RWC
19 Sep 2015 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Brighton
34–32
2RWC
13 Oct 2019 · 2019 Rugby World Cup · Yokohama
28–21
3RWC
28 Sep 2019 · 2019 Rugby World Cup · Fukuroi
19–12
4RWC
12 Sep 2007 · 2007 Rugby World Cup · Toulouse
35–31
5RWC
27 Sep 2011 · 2011 Rugby World Cup · Napier
23–23
6RWC
8 Oct 2023 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Nantes
39–27
7RWC
28 Sep 2023 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Toulouse
28–22
8TEST
15 Nov 2025 · 2025 Autumn International · Cardiff
24–23
9RWC
24 May 1987 · 1987 Rugby World Cup · Brisbane
21–18
10RWC
25 Sep 2007 · 2007 Rugby World Cup · Bordeaux
12–12
11TEST
8 Aug 2026 · 2026 Men's Internationals · Osaka Prefecture, Higashiosaka City
35–32
| # | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RWCJapan v South Africa 19 Sep 2015 · 34–32 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Brighton Closeness 0.933 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.135 · Scoring volume 0.85 · Upset 0 · Curated floor 94: model score 66.8 | |
| 2 | 13 Oct 2019 · 28–21 · 2019 Rugby World Cup · Yokohama Closeness 0.683 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.203 · Scoring volume 0.425 · Upset 0.749 | |
| 3 | 28 Sep 2019 · 19–12 · 2019 Rugby World Cup · Fukuroi Closeness 0.562 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.365 · Scoring volume 0 · Upset 0.964 | |
| 4 | 12 Sep 2007 · 35–31 · 2007 Rugby World Cup · Toulouse Closeness 0.865 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0 · Scoring volume 0.85 · Upset 0 | |
| 5 | 27 Sep 2011 · 23–23 · 2011 Rugby World Cup · Napier Closeness 0.95 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0 · Scoring volume 0.35 · Upset 0 | |
| 6 | 8 Oct 2023 · 39–27 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Nantes Closeness 0.596 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.394 · Scoring volume 0.85 · Upset 0 | |
| 7 | 28 Sep 2023 · 28–22 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Toulouse Closeness 0.733 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.024 · Scoring volume 0.45 · Upset 0.37 | |
| 8 | 15 Nov 2025 · 24–23 · 2025 Autumn International · Cardiff Closeness 0.953 · Stakes 0.42 · Quality 0.042 · Scoring volume 0.375 · Upset 0.439 | |
| 9 | RWCUnited States v Japan 24 May 1987 · 21–18 · 1987 Rugby World Cup · Brisbane Closeness 0.829 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.167 · Scoring volume 0.175 · Upset 0 | |
| 10 | 25 Sep 2007 · 12–12 · 2007 Rugby World Cup · Bordeaux Closeness 0.95 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0 · Scoring volume 0 · Upset 0 | |
| 11 | 8 Aug 2026 · 35–32 · 2026 Men's Internationals · Osaka Prefecture, Higashiosaka City Closeness 0.9 · Stakes 0.42 · Quality 0.225 · Scoring volume 0.875 · Upset 0 | |
| 12 | 31 May 1995 · 50–28 · 1995 Rugby World Cup · Bloemfontein Closeness 0.373 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0 · Scoring volume 1 · Upset 0.467 |
Season by season
Championship and World Cup campaigns on file; W marks a title, GS a Grand Slam, TC a Triple Crown.
Rugby World Cup · D
2023Place —
Rugby World Cup · A
2019Place —QF
Rugby World Cup · B
2015Place —
Rugby World Cup · A
2011Place —
Rugby World Cup · B
2007Place —
Rugby World Cup · B
2003Place —
Rugby World Cup · D
1999Place —
Rugby World Cup · C
1995Place —
Rugby World Cup · B
1991Place —
Rugby World Cup · A
1987Place —
| Season | Competition | Place | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rugby World Cup · D | — | |
| 2019 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | QF |
| 2015 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | |
| 2011 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | |
| 2007 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | |
| 2003 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | |
| 1999 | Rugby World Cup · D | — | |
| 1995 | Rugby World Cup · C | — | |
| 1991 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | |
| 1987 | Rugby World Cup · A | — |
Head-to-head
Wales6 tests
W
1
L
5
D
0
Ireland5 tests
W
1
L
4
D
0
Australia4 tests
W
0
L
4
D
0
Scotland4 tests
W
1
L
3
D
0
Samoa4 tests
W
3
L
1
D
0
France4 tests
W
0
L
4
D
0
United States3 tests
W
1
L
2
D
0
England3 tests
W
0
L
3
D
0
Fiji3 tests
W
0
L
3
D
0
Canada3 tests
W
1
L
0
D
2
South Africa3 tests
W
1
L
2
D
0
New Zealand2 tests
W
0
L
2
D
0
| Opponent | Tests | W | L | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | tests 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Ireland | tests 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Australia | tests 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Scotland | tests 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Samoa | tests 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| France | tests 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| United States | tests 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| England | tests 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Fiji | tests 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Canada | tests 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| South Africa | tests 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| New Zealand | tests 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Argentina | tests 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Zimbabwe | tests 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tonga | tests 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Russia | tests 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chile | tests 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Italy | tests 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recent tests
Fiji2026-10-24
L 28-342026 Men's InternationalsPrince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Canada2026-09-05
W 57-122026 Men's InternationalsBig Swan Stadium, Nigata
Australia2026-08-15
L 17-562026 Men's InternationalsNorth Queensland Stadium, Townsville | Gurambilbarra
Australia2026-08-08
L 32-352026 Men's InternationalsHanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Prefecture, Higashiosaka City
France2026-07-18
L 15-422026 Nations ChampionshipNational Olympic Stadium, Tokyo
Ireland2026-07-11
L 20-362026 Nations ChampionshipNewcastle Stadium, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi
Italy2026-07-04
W 27-102026 Nations ChampionshipPrince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Wales2025-11-15
L 23-242025 Autumn InternationalMillennium Stadium, Cardiff
Ireland2025-11-08
L 10-412025 Autumn InternationalAviva Stadium, Dublin
South Africa2025-11-01
L 7-612025 Autumn InternationalWembley Stadium, London
Wales2025-07-12
L 22-312025 Wales tour of JapanNoevir Stadium, Kobe
Wales2025-07-05
W 24-192025 Wales tour of JapanMikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu
| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 | Fiji | L 28-34 | 2026 Men's Internationals | Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo |
| 2026-09-05 | Canada | W 57-12 | 2026 Men's Internationals | Big Swan Stadium, Nigata |
| 2026-08-15 | Australia | L 17-56 | 2026 Men's Internationals | North Queensland Stadium, Townsville | Gurambilbarra |
| 2026-08-08 | Australia | L 32-35 | 2026 Men's Internationals | Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Prefecture, Higashiosaka City |
| 2026-07-18 | France | L 15-42 | 2026 Nations Championship | National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo |
| 2026-07-11 | Ireland | L 20-36 | 2026 Nations Championship | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi |
| 2026-07-04 | Italy | W 27-10 | 2026 Nations Championship | Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo |
| 2025-11-15 | Wales | L 23-24 | 2025 Autumn International | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |
| 2025-11-08 | Ireland | L 10-41 | 2025 Autumn International | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
| 2025-11-01 | South Africa | L 7-61 | 2025 Autumn International | Wembley Stadium, London |
| 2025-07-12 | Wales | L 22-31 | 2025 Wales tour of Japan | Noevir Stadium, Kobe |
| 2025-07-05 | Wales | W 24-19 | 2025 Wales tour of Japan | Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu |
From the project rugby workbook (results since 1871) and our own Elo world ranking. See the methodology on the hub.