• 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

  • Yuki Hasegawa

    Age:
    31
    Class:
    0.5
    Hometown:
    Tokyo
    On National Team Since:
    2017
    Club Team:
    BLITZ
  • 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
  • Hitoshi Ogawa

    Age:
    30
    Class:
    1.0
    Hometown:
    Tokyo
    On National Team Since:
    2018
    Club Team:
    BLITZ
    Favourite Rugby Memory:
    Tokyo Paralympic Games
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Daisuke Ikezaki

    Age:
    46
    Class:
    3.0
    Hometown:
    Chiba
    On National Team Since:
    2010
    Club Team:
    BLITZ
    Favourite Rugby Memory:
    2023WWR Asia Oceania Championship
  • 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
  • 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

  • 3

    WWR Ranking

  • 2

    Paralympic Bronze Medals (2016, 2021)

  • 7

    Canada Cup Appearances

Stay Tuned for Upcoming Games