Rugby World Cup 2023 is rapidly approaching, with just under two weeks until the opening game. Rugby.com.au examines every team's chances in France, looking at Japan.
Japan heads to another World Cup looking to create some magic.
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As hosts in 2019, The Brave Blossoms took their game to another level to top their Pool before falling to eventual champions Springboks.
Since then, the sport has only grown in the region as they eye off their second straight quarter-final appearance.
In an open Pool D, head coach Jamie Joseph has built a strong roster capable of matching it with the best.
Finished first in their 2019 RWC Pool
Japan’s form leading into the World Cup can be best described as patchy.
They dropped a 2-1 series to Australia A last October before nearly upsetting the All Blacks. The Japanese finished the year with defeats to England and France.
In 2023, they went down to an All Blacks XV before a narrow loss to Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup. This was offset by a win over Tonga, only to go down comfortably to Fiji.
This form continued, going down to Italt in their final World Cup warm up
Talismanic former captain Michael Leitch and hooker Shota Horie will travel to their fourth Rugby World Cup after being named in a Japan squad which also contains several players with Australian connections.
Loose forward Leitch, who captained Japan to the quarter-finals on home soil in 2019, and 37-year-old rake Horie were included in an initial 30-man party, to which Joseph will add three more players before the deadline.
The three additional players are likely to include at least a couple of locks, with Australian-born James Moore and Jack Cornelsen the only specialist second-row forwards in the squad named on Tuesday.
Backs: Naoto Saito, Yutaka Nagare, Kenta Fukuda, Lee Seung-sin, Rikiya Matsuda, Jumpei Ogura, Ryoto Nakamura, Tomoki Osada, Shogo Nakano, Dylan Riley, Siosaia Fifita, Semisi Masirewa, Jone Naikabula, Lomano Lemeki, Kotaro Matsushima.
Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Craig Millar, Sione Halasili, Koo Ji-won, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Asaeli Ai Valu, Shota Horie, Atsushi Sakate, Kosuke Horikoshi, James Moore, Jack Cornelsen, Shota Fukui, Kazuki Himeno, Michael Leitch, Ben Gunter
Michael Leitch is heading to an incredible fourth World Cup and is out to end on a bang.
Leitch has become synonymous with the rise of Japanese Rugby ever since his debut in 2008.
The 34-year-old was back to his back in the Pacific Nations Cup, only to receive a red card against Samoa.
This will have him primed to perform at the World Cup, sitting out of their friendly against Italy.
Dylan Riley is one of several Australian-bred players that have made a career for themselves in Japan.
The centre made the move over and has starred for Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japan Top League (Now Rugby League One).
This earned him a call-up to the national side after receiving citizenship as one of 21 uncapped players for the British and Irish Lions tour in 2021.
Since then, he has been a regular under Joseph and the former Junior Wallaby will be looking to light up the tournament after 19 tries in the past two years for the Wild Knights.
Played: 33
Wins: 8
Losses: 23
Draw: 2
Best Finish: Quarter-Finals (2019)
2019: Quarter Finals
2015: Group Stages
2011: Group Stages
2007: Group Stages
2003: Group Stages
Japan’s knockout hopes might rest on their final game against Argentina if they can’t find a way to upset England.
Their first tier one win came against the Pumas in 1998 and they have continued to collect scalps since.
The Brave Blossoms have found a way to spring upsets on the biggest stage of them all and there could be no better than beating Argentina to book their spot in the quarter-finals.
If they can, a spot in the final four could be open for the taking given the form of the teams in Pool C.
Sun Sep 10 (9:00 PM): Japan v Chile, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Mon Sep 18 (5:00 AM): England v Japan, Stade de Nice, Nice
Fri Sep 29 (5:00 AM): Japan v Samoa, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sun Oct 8 (10:00 PM): Japan v Argentina, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
