A selection of Japan's best team of the 2010s, a very memorable decade for the Cherry Blossoms and a particularly fun one to follow as they rose dramatically in popularity both at home and abroad after surprising the world with two amazing RWC campaigns in 2015 and 2019.
1. Keita Inagaki
Inagaki came into the side in 2014 fitting in seamlessly to Marc Dal Maso's scrum, and barely missed in the 5 years since. Whilst the scrum success (which included pushing South Africa about in the final play of their historic upset) faded, he still remained a highly valuable part of the team under Jamie Joseph as a mobile loosehead.
2. Shota Horie
At hooker Horie was first choice for pretty much the entire decade only missing one match of the last three RWCs, surpassing Masahiro Kunda as Japan's most capped and greatest hooker of all time. His career did feature some dips in form and bad injuries, but timed his skilful best form for both of the RWC campaigns of 2015 and 2019.
3. Kensuke Hatakeyama
Hatakeyama was first choice over the first half of the decade and became Japan's most ever capped prop and a cornerstone of their strongest ever scrum as part of the remarkable turnaround under Marc dal Maso from 2013 to 2015. Strangely at just 31 totally fell of the radar for both club and country shortly afterwards.
4. Hitoshi Ono
A tough old fashioned lock from a dairy farm who started at rock bottom for Japanese rugby in 2004, and was the only survivor of that hellish November tour to survive through to the high of RWC 2015 and play under 7 different coaches to finish his career the Cherry Blossoms all time most capped player with 98 caps.
5. Luke Thompson
Another tough lock from farming stock who kept on playing at international level to age 38. Thompson was a key player under both Kirwan and Jones, and then finally after coming out of retirement under Joseph to become the first Japan player to play four RWCs and cement his place as the Cherry Blossoms best lock of all time.
6. Kazuki Himeno
An immediate revelation when he entered the team in 2017, Himeno has been consistently huge for Japan ever since, and finally at the RWC won the attention of the world press. An unusually aggressive forward for a player born in Japan, the 25 year old is on course to be a leading star of this team for many years to come.
7. Michael Leitch
In terms of performance across the entire decade, Leitch is arguably the player of the decade of any Tier 2 nation, and has been an iconic and inspiring figure for Japan as their captain in the past two RWCs. Not only an obvious pick for a Japan team of the decade, but also an obvious pick for a best Japan team of all time.
8. Amanaki Mafi
Mafi burst onto the scene to make an immediate impact in 2014, and despite some truly mad off field controversies, and being frequently bandaged up and battling injury, he has been without a doubt one of the best ever players to play for Japan, and for two seasons in Super Rugby was one of the best number 8s in the competition.
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
The diminutive scrum half Tanaka was a colourful character and mainstay of the Japan team for virtually the entire decade from start to finish only losing the starting spot definitively to Yutaka Nagare late on when he was age 34. Also became the only Japanese born player so far who had played overseas for more than simply a season or two.
10. Yu Tamura
After Kosei Ono took time off following RWC 2015 success, Tamura moved from mainly being used at 12 to become the first choice 10 throughout the last 4 year cycle. Although he had some lows (one of which cost a win vs France), improved towards the end of the decade with his deft chip kicks and cross kicks being his speciality.
11. Kenki Fukuoka
At the start of the decade Hirotoki Onozawa was still around scoring tries into his mid 30s. After his retirement followed Kenki Fukuoka, who gifted with electric pace grew into a legend of Japanese rugby, the record try scorer of a Tier 2 nation vs Tier 1, and even an ankle injury not stopping him making a big impact at the RWC.
12. Harumichi Tatekawa
Japan have had solid 12s throughout the 2010s. Ryan Nicholas was one of the strongest players of the John Kirwan era, and was followed in the Eddie Jones era by Harumichi Tatekawa, a classy distributor at either 12 or 10 for 6 years up until being axed a year short of the RWC, where the more powerful Ryoto Nakamura took over.
13. Tim Lafaele
Under Eddie Jones the 13 was Male Sa'u, a ferociously strong player in attack and defence albeit with slightly dodgy hands. Whilst under Jamie Joseph it was Tim Lafaele, less explosive as a carrier but full of sublime skilful touches, who fitted well into a side eager to use width and played a key role in Japan's improvement of the past 2 years.
14. Akihito Yamada
It took until age 28 for Yamada to make his debut for Japan, and for a while showed his finishing prowess at a high level, including that memorable spin finish vs Samoa at RWC 2015, and also with a great first season with the Sunwolves. Unfortunately though injuries and Joseph's preference for bigger wingers saw him miss out in 2019.
15. Kotaro Matsushima
Matsushima was the full back for the first part of the Jamie Joseph era from 2016 up to June 2018, and it was in this position along with Mafi he was Japan's best player over a tricky first couple of rebuilding years post RWC 2015, before he was moved back to wing for RWC 2019 where he was on superb form throughout.
An all time Japan XV?
One thing when drawing up this Japan team of the 2010s is it also very close to their probable all time XV. The obvious player from the amateur era who could fit in would be the late Seiji Hirao, but there is so little footage of this very different era which was so different the comparison is almost pointless.
Keeping just to the professional era though the only player from the previous 15 years who would be pretty sure to make this team would be Daisuke Ohata on the right wing.
1. Keita InagakiInagaki came into the side in 2014 fitting in seamlessly to Marc Dal Maso's scrum, and barely missed in the 5 years since. Whilst the scrum success (which included pushing South Africa about in the final play of their historic upset) faded, he still remained a highly valuable part of the team under Jamie Joseph as a mobile loosehead.
2. Shota Horie
At hooker Horie was first choice for pretty much the entire decade only missing one match of the last three RWCs, surpassing Masahiro Kunda as Japan's most capped and greatest hooker of all time. His career did feature some dips in form and bad injuries, but timed his skilful best form for both of the RWC campaigns of 2015 and 2019.
3. Kensuke Hatakeyama
Hatakeyama was first choice over the first half of the decade and became Japan's most ever capped prop and a cornerstone of their strongest ever scrum as part of the remarkable turnaround under Marc dal Maso from 2013 to 2015. Strangely at just 31 totally fell of the radar for both club and country shortly afterwards.
4. Hitoshi OnoA tough old fashioned lock from a dairy farm who started at rock bottom for Japanese rugby in 2004, and was the only survivor of that hellish November tour to survive through to the high of RWC 2015 and play under 7 different coaches to finish his career the Cherry Blossoms all time most capped player with 98 caps.
5. Luke Thompson
Another tough lock from farming stock who kept on playing at international level to age 38. Thompson was a key player under both Kirwan and Jones, and then finally after coming out of retirement under Joseph to become the first Japan player to play four RWCs and cement his place as the Cherry Blossoms best lock of all time.
6. Kazuki Himeno
An immediate revelation when he entered the team in 2017, Himeno has been consistently huge for Japan ever since, and finally at the RWC won the attention of the world press. An unusually aggressive forward for a player born in Japan, the 25 year old is on course to be a leading star of this team for many years to come.
7. Michael Leitch
In terms of performance across the entire decade, Leitch is arguably the player of the decade of any Tier 2 nation, and has been an iconic and inspiring figure for Japan as their captain in the past two RWCs. Not only an obvious pick for a Japan team of the decade, but also an obvious pick for a best Japan team of all time.
8. Amanaki Mafi
Mafi burst onto the scene to make an immediate impact in 2014, and despite some truly mad off field controversies, and being frequently bandaged up and battling injury, he has been without a doubt one of the best ever players to play for Japan, and for two seasons in Super Rugby was one of the best number 8s in the competition.
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
The diminutive scrum half Tanaka was a colourful character and mainstay of the Japan team for virtually the entire decade from start to finish only losing the starting spot definitively to Yutaka Nagare late on when he was age 34. Also became the only Japanese born player so far who had played overseas for more than simply a season or two.
10. Yu Tamura
After Kosei Ono took time off following RWC 2015 success, Tamura moved from mainly being used at 12 to become the first choice 10 throughout the last 4 year cycle. Although he had some lows (one of which cost a win vs France), improved towards the end of the decade with his deft chip kicks and cross kicks being his speciality.
11. Kenki Fukuoka
At the start of the decade Hirotoki Onozawa was still around scoring tries into his mid 30s. After his retirement followed Kenki Fukuoka, who gifted with electric pace grew into a legend of Japanese rugby, the record try scorer of a Tier 2 nation vs Tier 1, and even an ankle injury not stopping him making a big impact at the RWC.
12. Harumichi Tatekawa
Japan have had solid 12s throughout the 2010s. Ryan Nicholas was one of the strongest players of the John Kirwan era, and was followed in the Eddie Jones era by Harumichi Tatekawa, a classy distributor at either 12 or 10 for 6 years up until being axed a year short of the RWC, where the more powerful Ryoto Nakamura took over.
13. Tim Lafaele
Under Eddie Jones the 13 was Male Sa'u, a ferociously strong player in attack and defence albeit with slightly dodgy hands. Whilst under Jamie Joseph it was Tim Lafaele, less explosive as a carrier but full of sublime skilful touches, who fitted well into a side eager to use width and played a key role in Japan's improvement of the past 2 years.
14. Akihito YamadaIt took until age 28 for Yamada to make his debut for Japan, and for a while showed his finishing prowess at a high level, including that memorable spin finish vs Samoa at RWC 2015, and also with a great first season with the Sunwolves. Unfortunately though injuries and Joseph's preference for bigger wingers saw him miss out in 2019.
15. Kotaro Matsushima
Matsushima was the full back for the first part of the Jamie Joseph era from 2016 up to June 2018, and it was in this position along with Mafi he was Japan's best player over a tricky first couple of rebuilding years post RWC 2015, before he was moved back to wing for RWC 2019 where he was on superb form throughout.
An all time Japan XV?
One thing when drawing up this Japan team of the 2010s is it also very close to their probable all time XV. The obvious player from the amateur era who could fit in would be the late Seiji Hirao, but there is so little footage of this very different era which was so different the comparison is almost pointless.
Keeping just to the professional era though the only player from the previous 15 years who would be pretty sure to make this team would be Daisuke Ohata on the right wing.
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