OSAKA (April 24) Michael Leitch will lead a Japan XV against the Asia Pacific Dragons on Saturday as Eddie Jones’ team warm up for the Asian 5 Nations.

TOKYO (March 23) – Japan produced one of the best displays of sevens they have ever produced on Day 2 of the Tokyo 7s, beating Samoa 42-12 in the quarterfinals of the Bowl.

TOKYO (March 22) – Japan finished Day 1 of Round 6 of the HSBC Sevens World Series with one draw and two losses to their name, but it was so almost two wins as they produced arguably their best rugby ever at the Tokyo Sevens.

TOKYO (March 12) – Japan Rugby Top League Rookies of the Year Keita Inagaki and Kyosuke Horie were among the seven uncapped players named Wednesday in a 40-man squad for the Asian 5 Nations.

TOKYO (March 9) – Panasonic Wild Knights added the Japan National Championship to the Japan Rugby Top League title they won earlier this season as the Japanese domestic rugby season came to a close.

TOKYO (March 1) – The finale of the Japan domestic rugby season will see Panasonic Wild Knights take on Toshiba Brave Lupus for the Japan National Championship following Saturday’s two semifinals in Tokyo and Osaka.

TOKYO (Feb. 23) – Kobe Kobelco Steelers and Toshiba Brave Lupus advanced to the last four of the Japan National Championship on Sunday on a day the Emperor and Empress of Japan graced the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

TOKYO (FEB. 22 ) – The 2013-14 Japan Rugby Top League season formally came to an end Saturday with NTT Communications Shining Arcs winning the final promotion/relegation playoff game of the season.

TOKYO (Feb.16) – Kobe Kobelco Steelers were the day’s biggest winners as the Japan National Championship got underway Sunday with four first-round games in Tokyo and Osaka.

OSAKA (Feb. 15) – NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes beat Honda Heat 41-29 Saturday in a promotion/relegation playoff game to ensure they remain in the Japan Rugby Top League.