Brave Blossoms See Off Wales in First Test
The Brave Blossoms have defeated Wales 24-19 in the first of their two-test, Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025 series in Kitakyushu over the weekend. The victory is Japan’s second against the Welsh across the 15 test matches they’ve played since 1973. Japan first tasted victory over the Welsh in Tokyo back in 2013, during Eddie Jone’s first stint as Japan Head Coach.
Played in hot and humid conditions in front of a packed Mikuni World Stadium on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, the victory was a welcome start to the 2025 test season for the Brave Blossoms. As predicted by Jones, the result of the match came down to which team could handle the conditions better and this proved to be the case.
After trailing 7-19 at the halftime break, Japan scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to finish the stronger of the two sides. While their three try performance against their visitors two will no doubt please Jones, he will be looking for a much faster start next Saturday in Kobe.
Commenting after the match, Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones said:
“From a young team’s perspective, it was a very good win. In the first half we were being beaten in territory and possession. We had a lot of nerves and frequently gave the ball back early in phase count. As a result, at halftime we were being beaten fair and square. But I sensed at halftime the players knew what to do, and under Michael Leitch’s leadership in the second half, they played a really good 40 minutes of rugby.
“For Wales, to come from the Northern Hemisphere into these conditions was difficult. But like every Welsh team, they were tough to beat. They’re a proud rugby nation that produces tough, good players. We’re really happy with the win and we will enjoy it tonight, but we will focus now on Kobe where we want to play much better than we did today.”
The two sides will line up again next Saturday, July 12 at Kobe’s Noevir Stadium in the second Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025 fixture. With Wales having fallen to an unprecedented 18-test losing streak, they will be desperate to put in a winning performance. However, with conditions likely to be similar to those experienced in Kitakyushu, the visitors will need to acclimatise quickly to the hot and humid realities of the Japanese summer.
Japan v Wales Historic Match Results
15 matches, 2 wins and 13 losses
5 July 2025: 24-19 (W) Kitakyushu
19 November 2016: 33-30 (L) Cardiff, Wales
15 June 2013: 23-8 (W) Tokyo
8 June 2013: 18-22 (L) Osaka
20 September 2007: 72-18 (L) Cardiff, Wales
26 November 2004: 98-0 (L) Cardiff, Wales
17 June 2001: 30-53 (L) Tokyo
10 June 2001: 10-64 (L) Osaka
9 October 1999: 64-15 (L) Cardiff, Wales (RWC)
27 May 1995: 10-57 (L) Bloemfontein, South Africa (RWC)
16 Oct 1993: 55-5 (L) Cardiff, Wales
22 Oct 1983: 29-24 (L) Cardiff, Wales
24 September 1975: 6-82 (L) Tokyo
21 September 1975: 12-56 (L) Osaka
6 October 1973: 62-14 (L) Cardiff, Wales
Brave Blossoms 2025 Match Schedule
Saturday 5 July
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu
Saturday 12 July
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Noevir Stadium, Kobe
Saturday 30 August
Japan vs Canada
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (Pool B)
Yurtec Stadium, Sendai
Saturday 6 September
USA vs Japan
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (Pool B)
Heart Health Park, Sacramento
Saturday 25 October
Japan vs Australia
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
National Stadium, Tokyo
Lipovitan D Tour 2025.
Saturday 8 November
Ireland vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Dublin
Saturday 15 November
Wales vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Cardiff
Saturday 22 November
Georgia vs Japan
Venue TBC