These are the 32 players to represent Japan at the 2025 RWC:
Forwards
SACHIKO KATO
WAKO KITANO
HINATA KOMAKI
NIJIHO NAGATA
MIHARU MACHIDA
MANAMI MINE
ASUKA KUGE
AYUMU KOKAJI
KOTOMI TANIGUCHI
AYANO SAKURAI
YUNA SATO
OTOKA YOSHIMURA
MASAMI KAWAMURA
SAKURAKO KORAI
SEINA SAITO
IROHA NAGATA (captain)
JENNIFER NDUKA
KYOKO HOSOKAWA
(18)
Backs
MEGUMI ABE
MOE TSUKUI
AYASHA OTSUKA
MINORI YAMAMOTO
NAO ANDO
KANAKO KOBAYASHI
SAKURAKO HATADA
MANA FURUTA
HARUKA HIROTSU
KOMACHI IMAKUGI
MELE KAGAWA
MISAKI MATSUMURA
RINKA MATSUDA
SORA NISHIMURA
The Sakura are riding high at the moment, having won five games on the trot in 2025, including a first ever against the USA Eagles.
But they are well aware of the challenges they face. Their pool opponents are Ireland, Spain and New Zealand.
On their way to England they will stop off at Calvisano to play Italy on 9 August. That will give them and us a better idea of how they stand. The Azzurre are currently ranked 8th, three places above their guests.
As the sole representatives of the vast continent of Asia (no Hong Kong this time), it’s important they make their mark. Their long-time head coach, Lesley McKenzie (Canada) has built on their natural strengths: speed of thought and action, discipline, fierceness in combat and accuracy.
Will those attributes prove enough to get them to the quarters? Spain may be for the taking, but Ireland? And the Black Ferns? No!
