The love for rugby in Japan has enjoyed a massive rise across the past decade and, as such, the national team have improved drastically.
Even though they remain one of the nations to have played in every single World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1987, the previous two tournaments in particular have really showcased Japan as an up-and-coming heavyweight in the sport.
From their shock win versus South Africa back in 2015 to their hosting of the tournament in 2019, the Brave Blossoms seem primed to cause more upsets this time around.
They face a difficult challenge to emerge from a tough pool, but there is real hope that 2023 could be the year they make a concerted run through the knockout stages. Can they mix it with the very best in France?
The Sporting News is on hand to bring you the latest results from Japan's 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign.
MORE: Japan squad for Rugby World Cup 2023: Full list of players
Japan Rugby World Cup fixtures, results
| DATE/TIME (BST/ET) | GAME | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sept 10 (12 p.m. / 7 a.m.) | Japan vs Chile | 42-12 |
| Sun, Sept 17 (8 p.m. / 3 p.m.) | Japan vs England | 12-34 |
| Thur, Sept 28 (8 p.m. / 3 p.m.) | Japan vs Samoa | 28-22 |
| Sun, Oct 8 (12 p.m. / 7 a.m.) | Japan vs Argentina | 27-39 |
Pool D Rugby World Cup 2023 standings
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | PF | PA | PD | T | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 18 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 39 | +111 | 17 | 2 |
| Argentina | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 127 | 69 | +58 | 15 | 2 |
| Japan | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 109 | 107 | +2 | 12 | 1 |
| Samoa | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 75 | +17 | 11 | 3 |
| Chile | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 215 | -188 | 4 | 0 |
MORE: Who will win the Rugby World Cup? Predictions, best bets
Who could Japan play in Rugby World Cup quarterfinals?
To qualify from their Pool at this year's tournament, Japan either have to finish first or second in Pool D.
If they win their pool, they would then face the runners-up of Pool C in Marseille on Sunday, October 15.
If they finish as runners-up in Pool D, they would instead face the winner of Pool C in Marseille a day earlier on Saturday, October 14.
Rugby World Cup 2023 Quarterfinals
| Date | Match | City |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 14 | QF1: Pool C winner vs Pool D runner-up | Marseille |
| Sat, Oct 14 | QF2: Pool B winner vs Pool A runner-up | Saint-Denis |
| Sun, Oct 15 | QF3: Pool D winner vs Pool C runner-up | Marseille |
| Sun, Oct 15 | QF4: Pool A winner vs Pool B runner-up | Saint-Denis |
Complete Rugby World Cup 2023 schedule, fixtures
- Group stage: September 8 — October 8
- Quarterfinals: October 14-15
- Semifinals: October 20-21
- Bronze final: October 27
- Final: October 28
