Japan U23 Squad Named for Four-Match Tour Downunder
The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to confirm the 34-player Japan U23 squad for the team’s upcoming four-match tour to Australia, scheduled to take place from April 1–15. During the tour, the team will face Fiji U20, Australia Stockmen, Australia U20, and historic Sydney club side, Randwick.
Selected from the 2026 Japan Talent Squad, the touring group includes 19 forwards and 15 backs, with Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones overseeing the campaign. Each fixture presents a valuable opportunity for the squad to test themselves against varied, high-quality opposition, with the clash against Randwick carrying particular significance for Jones and his players.
Known as the Galloping Greens, Randwick boasts a proud history in Sydney’s premier Shute Shield competition and has produced a host of Wallaby greats, including the Ella brothers, David Campese, Matt Giteau and George Gregan. The club also holds personal significance for Jones, who began both his playing and coaching career at Randwick.
The tour is the team’s second visit to Australia in as many years, following their three-match tour in April 2025. While they won just the one match last year, they returned home with their heads held high after putting in solid performances throughout. Having tasted victory in their opening fixture against the Australian Barbarians 31-43, they suffered defeats in their following two matches. They went down 54-26 against Australia U20 and 36-31 against Randwick in their final match.
The results in 2025 need to be taken in the context that all three fixtures were classified as exhibition matches. As a result, the opposition teams all opted for extended reserves benches and rolling substitutions, while Japan stuck with a conventional matchday squad of 23 players. The impact of playing a second half against what was essentially a brand-new forward pack was particularly evident in their fixture against Australia U20, a match they were leading 14-19 at half time, but went on to lose 54-26.
Commenting on the announcement, Jones said:
“It’s a great opportunity for these university students to benchmark themselves against the best young players from Fiji and Australia. We’ve had good preparation and we’re indebted to the JRFU for investing in the younger players of Japan. All the players have worked really hard and we’re looking forward to putting in some good performances in Australia.”
Japan U23 2026 Australian Tour Squad
Forwards (19)
| Pos. | Name | Club Team |
Graduate | Height cm | Weight kg | DOB |
| LHP | Sojiro OTSUKA | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | Kwansei Gakuin Senior HS. | 178 | 110 | 2004/7/5 |
| LHP | Daisuke TASHIRO | Meiji Univ. | Oita Maizuru HS. | 180 | 109 | 2004/11/27 |
| LHP | Motonari YAMASHITA | Toyo Univ. | Kumamoto Kogyo HS. | 175 | 105 | 2006/3/18 |
| HO | Shun ARAKAWA | Doshisha Univ. | Tokai Univ. Osaka Gyosei HS. | 176 | 102 | 2004/10/1 |
| HO | Kyoya TANAKA | Ritsumeikan Univ. | Higashi Fukuoka HS. | 175 | 100 | 2005/9/14 |
| HO | Shun MARUO | Kanto Gakuin Univ. | Kurashiki HS. | 173 | 96 | 2004/4/13 |
| THP | Yoshikazu OKADA | Toyo Univ. | Wakimachi HS. | 182 | 110 | 2005/10/18 |
| THP | Fuuga SANAKI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Kansai University Hokuyo HS. | 183 | 115 | 2005/12/24 |
| THP | Yuta HATTA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Joto HS. | 185 | 115 | 2004/4/5 |
| LO | Shuntaro ISOBE | Tsukuba Univ. | Kokugakuin Kugayama HS. | 190 | 108 | 2004/7/14 |
| LO | Kaoru OKADA | Kansai Univ. | Higashi Fukuoka HS. | 185 | 100 | 2004/7/26 |
| LO | Taiga KURAKAKE | Meiji Univ. | Higashi Fukuoka HS. | 190 | 100 | 2005/9/29 |
| LO | Kota YAMAUCHI | Hosei Univ. | Shohei HS. | 191 | 108 | 2004/11/2 |
| FL | Chuka ISHIBASHI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Hotoku Gakuen HS. | 190 | 105 | 2004/4/10 |
| FL | Manato NAKAMORI | Tsukuba Univ. | Toin Gakuen HS. | 190 | 93 | 2005/12/24 |
| FL | Tensei MATSUZAKI | Aoyama Gakuin Univ. | Higashi Fukuoka HS. | 175 | 104 | 2005/12/4 |
| FL | Kanta MIURA | Hosei Univ. | Akita Chuo HS. | 184 | 91 | 2004/7/17 |
| NO 8 | Rikuto NAKAYA (C) | Doshisha Univ. | Osaka Toin HS. | 182 | 105 | 2005/4/15 |
| NO 8 | Ryoku MASUO | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS |
Rissho Univ. (Current Student) Higashi Fukuoka HS. | 186 | 109 | 2004/10/19 |
(C) Captain
Backs (15)
| Pos. | Name | Club Team | Graduate | Height cm | Weight kg | DOB |
| SH | Akira IKUTA | Toyo Univ. | Kokugakuin Univ. Tochigi HS. | 164 | 72 | 2006/1/21 |
| SH | Kanta HIROSE | Fukuoka Institute of Technology | Higashi Fukuoka HS. | 182 | 77 | 2004/5/7 |
| SH | Haruto WATANABE | Kindai Univ. | Hotoku Gakuen HS. | 171 | 76 | 2004/12/10 |
| SO | Ryunosuke ITO | Meiji Univ. | Kokugakuin Univ. Tochigi HS. | 172 | 77 | 2004/11/20 |
| SO | Joe OHTSURU | Kyoto Univ. | Nada HS. | 176 | 90 | 2004/6/5 |
| SO | Daiki WATANABE | Rissho Univ. | Kiryu Daiichi HS. | 182 | 87 | 2005/9/11 |
| CTB | Futo SATO | Teikyo Univ. | Onomichi HS. | 178 | 88 | 2005/11/8 |
| CTB | Sakuya NAKAO | Fukuoka Institute of Technology | Omura Technical HS. | 182 | 90 | 2004/9/16 |
| CTB | Seita YAMADA | Tenri Univ. | Josho Gakuen HS. | 178 | 85 | 2006/1/2 |
| CTB | Chisu LEE | Korea Univ. | Osaka Chosen HS. | 180 | 82 | 2004/11/6 |
| WTB | Keishu OTA | Kindai Univ. | Hotoku Gakuen HS. | 182 | 80 | 2005/5/14 |
| WTB | Mirai KISHI | Kindai Univ. | Kindai University Wakayama HS. | 180 | 88 | 2004/12/8 |
| WTB | Eito SHIRAI | Meiji Univ. | Toin Gakuen HS. | 178 | 83 | 2005/10/22 |
| FB | Jingo TAKENOSHITA | Meiji Univ. | Hotoku Gakuen HS. | 180 | 86 | 2004/6/11 |
| FB/ WTB | Tasuku MASUYAMA | Tsukuba Univ. | Tokai Univ. Osaka Gyosei HS. | 177 | 82 | 2004/4/14 |
Japan U23 2026 Australian Tour
Saturday 4 April
Fiji U20 vs Japan U23
15:00 Kick-off (13:00 Japan Time)
Grafton
Wednesday 8 April
Stockman, Australia vs Japan U23
15:00 Kick-off (14:00 Japan Time)
Kempsey
Saturday 11 April
Australia U20 vs Japan U23
19:00 Kick-off (18:00 Japan Time)
Coffs Harbour
Tuesday 14 April
Randwick vs Japan U23
14:00 Kick-off (13:00 Japan Time)
Randwick Rugby Club, Sydney
Broadcast details for all four matches will be announced shortly.