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Meet Team Japan
Ready to defend the title!
One of the strongest wheelchair rugby teams of the past decade. Japan were the victors at the 2023 Asia/Oceania Championships and enter this year’s Canada Cup as defending champions.
Few if any teams in the international game boast as much depth as Japan. They rotate lines a lot and grind teams down with play that’s both clinical and explosive.
Captain Yukinobu Ike is one of the sport’s most imposing presences and 22-year-old Katsuya Hashimoto is one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
Team Highlights
1st – 2023 Asia/Ocenia Zonal Championships – Chiba, Japan
3rd – 2022 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships – Vejle, Denmark
3rd – 2020 Paralympic Games – Tokyo, Japan
2nd – 2019 Asia/Oceania Championships – Gangneung, South Korea
1st – 2018 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships – Sydney, Australia
3rd – 2016 Paralympic Games – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1st – 2015 Asia/Oceania Championships – Chiba, Japan
4th – 2014 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships – Odense, Denmark
4th – 2012 Paralympic Games – London, Great Britain
3rd – 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships – Richmond, Canada
Roster
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Yuki Hasegawa
- Age:
- 31
- Class:
- 0.5
- Hometown:
- Tokyo
- On National Team Since:
- 2017
- Club Team:
- BLITZ
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Kae Kurahashi
- Age:
- 33
- Class:
- 0.5
- Hometown:
- Saitama
- On National Team Since:
- 2017
- Club Team:
- AXE
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Fun games and trip at the Women’s Cup
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Hitoshi Ogawa
- Age:
- 30
- Class:
- 1.0
- Hometown:
- Tokyo
- On National Team Since:
- 2018
- Club Team:
- BLITZ
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Tokyo Paralympic Games
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Ryuji Kusaba
- Age:
- 23
- Class:
- 1.0
- Hometown:
- Fukuoka
- On National Team Since:
- 2022
- Club Team:
- Fukuoka Dandelion
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- My first international competiton in overseas, IWRC Paris2023
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Hidefumi Wakayama
- Age:
- 39
- Class:
- 1.0
- Hometown:
- Shizuoka
- On National Team Since:
- 2011
- Club Team:
- Okinawa Hurricanes
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Participated in the Tokyo Paralympic Games
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Seiya Norimatsu
- Age:
- 34
- Class:
- 1.5
- Hometown:
- Kumamoto
- On National Team Since:
- 2014
- Club Team:
- Fukuoka Dandelion
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Winning the Bronze medal at the Rio Paralympic Games
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Masayuki Haga
- Age:
- 39
- Class:
- 2.0
- Hometown:
- Chiba
- On National Team Since:
- 2010
- Club Team:
- AXE
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Playing abroad in New Zealand
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Shunya Nakamachi
- Age:
- 29
- Class:
- 2.0
- Hometown:
- Saitama
- On National Team Since:
- 2017
- Club Team:
- Tohoku Stormers
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Seeing wheelchair rugby players playing wheelchair rugby for the first time and being so inspired
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Yukinobu Ike
- Age:
- 43
- Class:
- 3.0
- Hometown:
- Kochi
- On National Team Since:
- 2013
- Club Team:
- Freedom
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Winning the Gold medal at the Sydney World Championships
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Daisuke Ikezaki
- Age:
- 46
- Class:
- 3.0
- Hometown:
- Chiba
- On National Team Since:
- 2010
- Club Team:
- BLITZ
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- 2023WWR Asia Oceania Championship
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Shinichi Shimakawa
- Age:
- 49
- Class:
- 3.0
- Hometown:
- Saitama
- On National Team Since:
- 2002
- Club Team:
- BLITZ
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Winning the Gold medal at the Sydney World Championships
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Katsuya Hashimoto
- Age:
- 22
- Class:
- 3.5
- Hometown:
- Fukushima
- On National Team Since:
- 2019
- Club Team:
- Tohoku Stormers
- Favourite Rugby Memory:
- Awarded as the Best in Class at the 2023WWR Asia Oceania Championship
Staff and Support
Kotaro Kishi: Head Coach
Takahide Yoshimori: Assistant Coach
Yuri Nakao: Team Manager
Noriyuki Higuchi: Team Staff – Medical
Atsushi Kawasaki: Team Staff – Support
Natsumi Nakamura: Team Staff – Support
Keito Nitta: Team Staff – Support
Hiroshi Tsuchiya: Team Staff – Support
Relevant Statistics
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3
WWR Ranking
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2
Paralympic Bronze Medals (2016, 2021)
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7
Canada Cup Appearances