Japan Talent Squad Programme Returns for Second Year
The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce that the Japan Talent Squad, a programme aimed at identifying and developing potential future national team players, will return for its second year. This follows the success of last years’ inaugural programme which saw the fast-tracked introduction of 15 high-potential university players into an elite, high-performance training environment.
The programme brings together players who demonstrate the physical, mental, and attitudinal characteristics suited to Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Eddie Jones’ vision of chosoku or ‘super-fast’ rugby. This year’s programme will increase to a total of 50 players, comprising 27 forwards and 23 backs. The other major change will see two high school students join the programme.
The 50-strong group will be broken into smaller, 35-member sub-groups for seven separate training camps to be held in the Kanto area, in and around Tokyo, across February and March. The first session took place from February 5 – 8 under the guidance of Coaching Coordinator, Ippei Asada. Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Eddie Jones then joined the group from February 12 – 14.
Commenting after his first two days with the 2025 intake, Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Eddie Jones said: “Until now, Japan haven’t had an elite development programme for 19 to 22 year olds. We now have a platform from which Japan can identify and grow a core group of world class players. Aside from their physical attributes and core skillsets, we’re looking to identify players who have the mindset to be world class and are hungry to improve and learn.”
The programme will operate primarily outside of the university rugby season. It will focus on providing regular skills sessions with Japan National Team coaches, including Head Coach Eddie Jones. Strength and conditioning will also play a key role, along with nutritional guidance and advice from coaching staff within the Japan national team setup.
Following the conclusion of the six training camps, the 35-member U23 Japan National Team Squad will be announced on March 25. The squad will depart for a three-match tour of Australia where they will face a variety of high-level opponents, including a match against famous Sydney club, Randwick. Known affectionately as the Galloping Greens, Randwick was the club where Eddie Jones played and where he first started his coaching career.
Japan Talent Squad Player List:
Forwards (27)
| No. | Name | Club Team | Height(cm) | Weight(Kg) | DOB |
| 1 | Chuka ISHIBASHI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 190 | 102 | 2004/4/10 |
| 2 | Shuntaro ISOBE | Tsukuba Univ. | 190 | 108 | 2004/7/14 |
| 3 | Shuki USUDA | Tokai Univ. | 180 | 97 | 2003/4/10 |
| 4 | Sojiro OTSUKA | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 178 | 110 | 2004/7/5 |
| 5 | Shusui KAMEI | Meiji Univ. | 191 | 90 | 2004/10/27 |
| 6 | Bunsuke KURITA | Waseda Univ. | 184 | 105 | 2003/12/18 |
| 7 | Daichi KURIHARA | Toyo Univ. | 192 | 102 | 2003/9/29 |
| 8 | Tenta KOBAYASHI | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 185 | 105 | 2003/11/27 |
| 9 | Kenshin SHIMIZU | Waseda Univ. | 178 | 105 | 2004/12/27 |
| 10 | Airo SUGIMOTO | Waseda Univ. | 178 | 106 | 2003/9/23 |
| 11 | Yoshiaki TAIAN | Tenri Univ. | 176 | 96 | 2004/4/2 |
| 12 | Kyosuke TAKAHIRA | Meiji Univ. | 176 | 103 | 2005/8/16 |
| 13 | Kyoya TANAKA | Ritsumeikan Univ. | 175 | 95 | 2005/9/14 |
| 14 | Toki TOSHIKAWA | Meiji Univ. | 181 | 103 | 2003/8/2 |
| 15 | Akihiro TSUBONE | Teikyo Univ. | 184 | 102 | 2006/3/14 |
| 16 | Manato NAKAMORI | Tsukuba Univ. | 190 | 93 | 2005/12/24 |
| 17 | Hampei NISHINO | Meiji Univ. | 176 | 104 | 2003/5/22 |
| 18 | Ryotaro NOSE | Kindai Univ. | 197 | 108 | 2003/7/28 |
| 19 | Yuta HATTA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 185 | 115 | 2004/4/5 |
| 20 | Sosuke HIYAMA | Meiji Univ. | 176 | 108 | 2004/7/26 |
| 21 | Koki MIYASHITA | Hosei Univ. | 185 | 100 | 2003/12/22 |
| 22 | Keitatsu MOTOYAMA | Nagasaki Nanzan H.S. | 188 | 115 | 2006/12/26 |
| 23 | Yotaro MONOBE | Meiji Univ. | 192 | 116 | 2004/9/28 |
| 24 | Tsubasa MORIYAMA | Teikyo Univ. | 180 | 111 | 2004/4/7 |
| 25 | Miuaustin MORIYAMA | Toyo Univ. | 183 | 102 | 2003/9/23 |
| 26 | Takumi YAMAGUCHI | Meiji Univ. | 180 | 120 | 2005/3/29 |
| 27 | Tomoki YUMBE | Kindai Univ. | 173 | 100 | 2003/7/4 |
Backs (23)
| No. | Name | Club Team | Height(cm) | Weight(Kg) | DOB |
| 1 | Shinnosuke ISHIGAKI | Keio Univ. | 175 | 80 | 2004/1/4 |
| 2 | Ryunosuke ITO | Meiji Univ. | 172 | 77 | 2004/11/20 |
| 3 | Ryohei IMANO | Keio Univ. | 183 | 90 | 2003/11/17 |
| 4 | Yamato UEDA | Teikyo Univ. | 180 | 87 | 2005/3/8 |
| 5 | Shunsuke UENOBO | Tenri Univ. | 183 | 86 | 2003/9/29 |
| 6 | Kohaku EBISAWA | Meiji Univ. | 173 | 81 | 2004/10/27 |
| 7 | Yuki KOBAYASHI | Keio H.S. | 168 | 74 | 2007/2/19 |
| 8 | Eito SHIRAI | Meiji Univ. | 178 | 83 | 2005/10/22 |
| 9 | Shota TAIRA | Meiji Univ. | 178 | 94 | 2003/11/18 |
| 10 | Joji TAKAKI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 168 | 71 | 2004/9/11 |
| 11 | Yutaro TAKAHASHI | Tsukuba Univ. | 172 | 78 | 2003/11/18 |
| 12 | Jingo TAKENOSHITA | Meiji Univ. | 180 | 86 | 2004/6/11 |
| 13 | Kenzo TANAKA | Waseda Univ. | 172 | 75 | 2005/8/7 |
| 14 | Riku TOKITO | Fukuoka Kougyo Univ. | 184 | 82 | 2003/7/10 |
| 15 | Kengo NONAKA | Waseda Univ. | 180 | 93 | 2003/4/29 |
| 16 | Ryota HATTORI | Waseda Univ. | 178 | 80 | 2005/12/9 |
| 17 | Shuho FUKUSHIMA | Waseda Univ. | 183 | 90 | 2003/5/22 |
| 18 | Tasuku MASUYAMA | Tsukuba Univ. | 177 | 80 | 2004/4/14 |
| 19 | Kosho MUTO | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 174 | 83 | 2004/3/23 |
| 20 | Yamato MURATA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 168 | 73 | 2004/10/15 |
| 21 | Takaya MOTOHASHI | Teikyo Univ. | 182 | 87 | 2004/5/19 |
| 22 | Yoshitaka YAZAKI | Waseda Univ. | 180 | 86 | 2004/5/12 |
| 23 | Jisu LEE | Korea Univ. | 180 | 82 | 2004/11/6 |