Team Guide: Japan
Background information
Japan has participated in every World Cup.
They have never gone past the pool stages.
John Kirwan coached Japan at two consecutive World Cups.
Japan had seven different captains and six different coaches at World Cups.
John Kirwan,Eddie O Sullivan and Graham Henry had all coached at Three World Cups- with two different countries.
Japan and Canada are the only teams to have drawn at two consecutive World Cups.
1987
Japan appeared in their first World Cup.
They were sent an invite to participate in the tournament.
Japan were knocked-out in the pool stages, after they ended last in there group.
Miyati Katsumi coached the side-with Toshiyuki Aayashi being captain.
The Japanese only scored four tries in the tournament.
Japan conceded (48) more points than they collected (123).
They lost all three pool games.
1991
Japan appeared in their second World Cup.
They qualified through regional qualifiers.
Japan was knocked-out in the pool stages, after ending third in their group.
Hiroaki Shukuzawa coached the side-with Seiji Hirao being captain.
Takahiro Hosokawa contributed 29 out of there 77 points in the tournament.
The Japanese conceded (77) more points than they collected (87).
Japan had only won one pool game.
1995
Japan appeared in their third World Cup.
They qualified through regional qualifiers.
Japan was knocked-out in the pool stages, after ending last in their group.
Shõ Yabu coached the side-with Masahiro Kunda being captain.
The Japanese only scored eight tries in the tournament.
Japan conceded (55) more points than they collected (252).
They lost all three pool games- with their biggest being 145-17 against the All Blacks.
1999
Japan appeared in their fourth World Cup.
They qualified through regional qualifiers.
Japan was knocked-out in the pool stages, after they ended last in their group.
Seiji Hirao coached the side-with Andrew McCormick being captain.
Keiji Hirose contributed 26 out of there 36 points in the tournament- with eight penalties and one conversion.
The Japanese conceded (140) more points than they collected (36).
They lost all three pool games.
2003
Japan appeared in their fifth World Cup.
They qualified through regional qualifiers.
Japan was knocked-out in the pool stages, after they ended last in their group.
Shogo Mukai the side-with Takuro Miuchi being captain.
The Japanese conceded (163) more points than they collected (79).
They lost all three pool games.
There were six players that scored tries in the tournament for Japan.
2007
Japan appeared in their sixth World Cup.
They qualified through regional qualifiers.
Japan was knocked-out in the pool stages, after they ended fourth in their group.
John Kirwan coached the side-with Tukuro Miuchi being captain.
The Japanese conceded (210) more points than they collected (64).
They lost three pool games and drawn one.
Japan scored seven tries in the tournament.
2011
Japan appeared in their seventh World Cup.
They qualified through regional qualifiers.
Japan was knocked-out in the pool stages, after they ended last in their group.
John Kirwan coached the side-with Takashi Kikutani being captain.
The Japanese conceded (184) more points than they collected (69).
They lost three pool games and drawn one.
Japan scored seven tries in the tournament.
