• Meet Team Japan

  • Time to Turn Silver into Gold?

     

    After finishing in 2nd at the last Canada Cup, the defending World Champions are aiming to top the podium in 2022 with an experienced and explosive squad.

    With talented stars like Daisuke Ikezaki, Yukinobu Ike and Shinichi Shimikawa in the squad, Japan have plenty of attacking talent who combine brilliantly with defensive standouts like Seiya Norimatsu, Tomo Imai, and Kae Kurahashi. Japan will be one of the favorites in Richmond as they gear up to defend their World Championship!

     

     

  • Team Highlights

    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

  • Kae Kurahashi

    Age:
    31
    Class:
    0.5
    Hometown:
    Saitama
    On National Team Since:
    2017
    Club Team:
    AXE

  • Yuki Hasegawa

    Age:
    29
    Class:
    0.5
    Hometown:
    Tokyo
    On National Team Since:
    2017
    Club Team:
    BLITZ
    Favourite Rugby Memory:
    Tokyo 2020

  • Hitoshi Ogawa

    Age:
    28
    Class:
    1.0
    Hometown:
    Tokyo
    On National Team Since:
    2018
    Club Team:
    BLITZ

  • Tomoaki Imai

    Age:
    39
    Class:
    1.0
    Hometown:
    Chiba
    On National Team Since:
    2013
    Club Team:
    RIZE CHIBA
    Favourite Rugby Memory:
    Games at WWRC 2019 in Tokyo Gymnasium with lots of spectators

  • Seiya Norimatsu

    Age:
    32
    Class:
    1.5
    Hometown:
    Kumamoto
    On National Team Since:
    2014
    Club Team:
    Fukoka Dandelion

  • Tomoshige Kabetani

    Age:
    34
    Class:
    2.0
    Hometown:
    Tokyo
    On National Team Since:
    2019
    Club Team:
    Okinawa Hurricanes

  • Motoki Sugano

    Age:
    30
    Class:
    2.0
    Hometown:
    Kanagawa
    On National Team Since:
    2021
    Club Team:
    BLITZ

  • Fuya Shirakawa

    Age:
    23
    Class:
    2.5
    Hometown:
    Hokkaido
    On National Team Since:
    2019
    Club Team:
    Freedom
    Favourite Rugby Memory:

  • Shinichi Shimakawa

    Age:
    47
    Class:
    3.0
    Hometown:
    Saitama
    On National Team Since:
    2002
    Club Team:
    BLITZ

  • Daisuke Ikezaki

    Age:
    44
    Class:
    3.0
    Hometown:
    Chiba
    On National Team Since:
    2010
    Club Team:
    Tokyo Suns

  • Yukinobu Ike

    Age:
    41
    Class:
    3.0
    Hometown:
    Kochi
    On National Team Since:
    2013
    Club Team:
    Freedom

  • Katsuya Hashimoto

    Age:
    20
    Class:
    3.5
    Hometown:
    Fukushima
    On National Team Since:
    2019
    Club Team:
    Tohoku Stormers

Staff and Support

  • Kevin Orr

    Entraîneur en chef

  • Takahide Yoshimori

    Assistant Coach

  • Akiyo Fujikawa

    Team Manager

  • Hideki Nakatani

    Support

  • Makiko Harada

    Support

  • Yoshihide Kawasaki

    Equipment

  • Noriyuki Higuchi

    Medical

  • Keito Nitta

    Support

  • Natsumi Nakamura

    Support

  • Kazutoshi Isa

    Support

Relevant Statistics

  • 2

    WWR Ranking

  • 2

    Paralympic Bronze Medals (2016, 2021)

  • 6

    Canada Cup Appearances

Stay Tuned for Upcoming Games

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