Japan U23 Squad Named for Three-Match Tour to Australia
The Japan Rugby Football Union have announced the 35-player, Japan U23 squad for the team’s upcoming three-match tour to Australia. Running from April 2 – 16, the tour will see the team play against the Australian Barbarians, Australia U20 and historic Sydney club side, Randwick. It will be the first time in 19 years for Japan’s U23 side to tour internationally, having last toured New Zealand back in 2006.
Drawn from players in the 2025 Japan Talent Squad (JTS), the touring party features 20 forwards and 15 backs and will be coached by Brave Blossom’s Head Coach, Eddie Jones. While all three matches will provide an excellent opportunity for the players to face different styles of high-quality opposition, the match against Randwick will hold significant relevance for Jones and his team.
Known affectionately as the Galloping Greens, Randwick holds a rich history in Sydney’s elite Shute Shield club rugby competition, producing Wallaby legends such as the Ella brothers, David Campese, Matt Giteau and George Gregan. It was also the club where Eddie Jones started both his playing and coaching careers.
Commenting on the announcement, Jones said: “I’m delighted to announce the 35-member squad who will be going to Australia. This tour will be an opportunity for Japan U23 to add to the foundation they have built within the Japan Talent Squad, and it will be a great chance for the players to test themselves against three high quality teams. The players have so far had six training camps within the JTS, as well as practice matches against League One teams. They have shown the attitude needed to become world class and we look forward to bringing through this next generation of players destined for higher honours.”
Japan U23 2025 Australian Tour Squad
Forwards (20)
| Position | Name |
Club Team | Height (cm) | Weight (Kg) | DOB |
| PR1 | Sojiro OTSUKA | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 178 | 110 | 2004/7/5 |
| PR1 | Airo SUGIMOTO | Waseda Univ. | 178 | 106 | 2004/9/23 |
| PR1 | Tomoki YUMBE | Kindai Univ. | 173 | 100 | 2003/7/4 |
| HO | Kenshin SHIMIZU | Waseda Univ. | 178 | 105 | 2004/12/27 |
| HO | Kyoya TANAKA | Ritsumeikan Univ. | 175 | 95 | 2005/9/14 |
| HO | Hampei NISHINO | Meiji Univ. | 176 | 104 | 2003/5/22 |
| PR3 | Kosuke SUGIURA | Tokai Univ. | 177 | 110 | 2003/12/22 |
| PR3 | Yuta HATTA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 185 | 115 | 2004/4/5 |
| PR3 | Takumi YAMAGUCHI | Meiji Univ. | 180 | 120 | 2005/3/29 |
| LO | Chuka ISHIBASHI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 190 | 102 | 2004/4/10 |
| LO | Daichi KURIHARA | Toyo Univ. | 192 | 102 | 2003/9/29 |
| LO | Ryotaro NOSE | Kindai Univ. | 197 | 108 | 2003/7/28 |
| LO | Yotaro MONOBE | Meiji Univ. | 192 | 116 | 2004/9/28 |
| FL/LO | Shuntaro ISOBE | Tsukuba Univ. | 190 | 108 | 2004/7/14 |
| FL | Shusui KAMEI | Meiji Univ. | 191 | 90 | 2004/10/27 |
| FL | Sou KINOSHITA | Tenri Univ. | 181 | 98 | 2003/8/4 |
| FL | Manato NAKAMORI | Tsukuba Univ. | 190 | 93 | 2005/12/24 |
| FL | Miuaustin MORIYAMA | Toyo univ. | 183 | 102 | 2003/9/23 |
| NO8 | Tenta KOBAYASHI | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 185 | 105 | 2003/11/27 |
| NO8 | Koki MIYASHITA | Hosei Univ. | 185 | 100 | 2003/12/22 |
Backs (15)
| Position | Name | Club Team | Height (cm) | Weight (Kg) | DOB |
| SH | Joji TAKAKI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 168 | 71 | 2004/9/11 |
| SH | Yutaro TAKAHASHI | Tsukuba Univ. | 172 | 78 | 2003/11/18 |
| SH | Yamato MURATA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 168 | 73 | 2004/10/15 |
| SO | Ryunosuke ITO | Meiji Univ. | 172 | 77 | 2004/11/20 |
| SO | Shunsuke UENOBO | Tenri Univ. | 183 | 86 | 2003/9/29 |
| CTB | Shota TAIRA | Meiji Univ. | 178 | 94 | 2003/11/18 |
| CTB | Kengo NONAKA | Waseda Univ. | 180 | 93 | 2003/4/29 |
| CTB | Shuho FUKUSHIMA | Waseda Univ. | 183 | 90 | 2003/5/22 |
| CTB | Chisu LEE | Korea Univ. | 180 | 82 | 2004/11/6 |
|
CTB/ WTB | Mirai KISHI | Kindai Univ. | 180 | 85 | 2004/12/8 |
| WTB | Eito SHIRAI | Meiji Univ. | 178 | 83 | 2005/10/22 |
| WTB | Kenzo TANAKA | Waseda Univ. | 172 | 75 | 2005/8/7 |
| WTB | Kosho MUTO | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 174 | 83 | 2004/3/23 |
| FB | Jingo TAKENOSHITA | Meiji Univ. | 180 | 86 | 2004/6/11 |
| FB | Tasuku MASUYAMA | Tsukuba Univ. | 177 | 80 | 2004/4/14 |
Japan U23 2025 Australian Tour
Saturday 5 April
Australian Barbarians vs Japan U23
19:00 Kick-off (17:00 Japan Time)
Coffs Harbour
Friday 11 April
Australian U20 vs Japan U23
17:30 Kick-off (16:30 Japan Time)
Coffs Harbour
Tuesday 15 April
Randwick vs Japan U23
14:00 Kick-off (13:00 Japan Time)
Randwick Rugby Club, Sydney
The Australian Barbarians and Australia U20 fixtures will be streamed live on NSWRugbyTV.com.au. Broadcast details for the Randwick match will be announced at a later date.