Ryohei Yamanaka (山中 亮平, Yamanaka Ryohei; born 22 June 1988 in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who…
Ryohei Yamanaka (山中 亮平, Yamanaka Ryohei; born 22 June 1988 in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or centre.He currently plays for Japanese club Kobelco Steelers. In 2011, Yamanaka received a 2 year ban from the IRB for rubbing a cream on his upper lip - in an attempt to promote moustache growth - which contained a banned steroid, either methyltestosterone or methandriol. In his home country he plays for the Kobelco Steelers whom he joined in 2013. He was also named in the first ever Sunwolves squad which will compete in Super Rugby from the 2016 season. Yamanaka is a Japanese international who debuted against the Arabian Gulf in 2010, but did not make the squad for either the 2011 or 2015 Rugby World Cups. On 19 September 2023, Yamanaka was called up to Japan's Rugby World Cup squad as an injury replacement for Semisi Masirewa.
Famous Japanese People: Rugby
Rugby: 289 people
Masataka Mikami (三上 正貴, Mikami Masataka; born 4 June 1988 in Aomori, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was…
Masataka Mikami (三上 正貴, Mikami Masataka; born 4 June 1988 in Aomori, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Daishi Murata (村田 大志, Murata Daishi; born 29 May 1988) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a…
Daishi Murata (村田 大志, Murata Daishi; born 29 May 1988) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a Centre. He currently plays for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's domestic Top League.
Futoshi Mori (森太志, Mori Futoshi; born 25 April 1988) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the…
Futoshi Mori (森太志, Mori Futoshi; born 25 April 1988) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the hooker position. He currently plays for the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League.
Chiharu Nakamura (中村 知春, Nakamura Chiharu; born April 25, 1988) is a Japanese rugby sevens player.
Atsushi Kashimoto (born 19 February 1988) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in…
Atsushi Kashimoto (born 19 February 1988) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in the Japan Rugby League One.
Lote Tuqiri (born 12 November 1987 in Namatakula, Fiji) is a Japan international rugby union sevens player. He is a…
Lote Tuqiri (born 12 November 1987 in Namatakula, Fiji) is a Japan international rugby union sevens player. He is a cousin of his dual-international namesake.
Andrew Durutalo (born October 25, 1987) is a Fijian-raised American-born professional rugby player who plays for the…
Andrew Durutalo (born October 25, 1987) is a Fijian-raised American-born professional rugby player who plays for the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby (MLR). He has been capped by the U.S. national sevens team and the United States national rugby union team.
Kyosuke Kajikawa (梶川喬介, Kajikawa Kyōsuke; born 5 September 1987) is a Japanese international rugby union player who…
Kyosuke Kajikawa (梶川喬介, Kajikawa Kyōsuke; born 5 September 1987) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a lock or flanker. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League.
Taiyo Ando (安藤 泰洋, Andō Taiyō; born 22 August 1987) is a Japanese rugby union player and former Japan international who…
Taiyo Ando (安藤 泰洋, Andō Taiyō; born 22 August 1987) is a Japanese rugby union player and former Japan international who played as a loose forward position. He played for Toyota Verblitz from 2010 until 2018 before joining Shimizu Blue Sharks. He left Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks at the end of February 2023. He also played seven matched for the Sunwolves during 2016 Super rugby season and earned two caps for Japan in 2016.
Yoshiya Hosoda (細田佳也, Hosoda Yoshiya; born 5 August 1987, in Nagano Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who…
Yoshiya Hosoda (細田佳也, Hosoda Yoshiya; born 5 August 1987, in Nagano Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a back row forward. In his home country he plays for the NEC Green Rockets whom he joined in 2011. He was also named in the first ever Sunwolves squad which will compete in Super Rugby from the 2016 season.
Mifiposeti Paea (born 6 July 1988) is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer who plays as a centre. Paea…
Mifiposeti Paea (born 6 July 1988) is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer who plays as a centre. Paea currently plays for the Osaka-based NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes having joined them in 2011. He was named in the first ever Sunwolves squad which will compete in Super Rugby from the 2016 season. He moved to Fukaya in 2004 and enjoyed the game through Shochi Fukaya High School and Saitama Institute of Technology. After that he acquired Japanese citizenship.
Masakatsu Nishikawa (まさかつ にしかわ, Nishikawa Masakatsu; born 18 May 1987) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a…
Masakatsu Nishikawa (まさかつ にしかわ, Nishikawa Masakatsu; born 18 May 1987) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Flanker. He currently plays for Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's domestic Top League.
Shinya Makabe (真壁 伸弥, Makabe Shin'ya; born 26 March 1987) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's…
Shinya Makabe (真壁 伸弥, Makabe Shin'ya; born 26 March 1987) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Aya Nakajima (née Takeuchi; born 5 August 1986) is a former Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She was a member of…
Aya Nakajima (née Takeuchi; born 5 August 1986) is a former Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She was a member of the Japanese sevens team that won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games. She also represented Japan at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She competed for Japan at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Kotaro Yatabe (谷田部 洸太郎, Yatabe Kōtarō; born 29 July 1986) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a…
Kotaro Yatabe (谷田部 洸太郎, Yatabe Kōtarō; born 29 July 1986) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a lock or loose forward. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan's domestic Top League.
Christian Loamanu (born 13 May 1986 in Tatakamotonga, Tonga) is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union player who plays at…
Christian Loamanu (born 13 May 1986 in Tatakamotonga, Tonga) is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union player who plays at wing but can also play centre and fullback. Loamanu's grandfather Tevita Sitanilei played scrum half for the Tongan national rugby union team, whilst his brother Sitani has played for the Tongan national rugby league team. Loamanu left his native Tonga at the age of 15 to move to Japan on a scholarship. He made his debut for the Japan national rugby union team against Uruguay in April 2005 aged 18 years and 338 days old and became the youngest player of all time to play for Japan (a record since broken by Yoshikazu Fujita). A few days after his second cap against Hong Kong, Loamanu was banned for a year from the Japan team after getting embroiled in a fight involving female professional wrestler Mika Akino in Tokyo's Roppongi nightspot district. He was recalled in 2007 and scored a hat trick on his return to the side against Korea and he played at the Rugby World Cup later that year. He joined Toshiba Brave Lupus in 2008 and won the Top League with them, but in February 2009 Loamanu tested positive for marijuana and was banned for life from playing rugby in Japan by the JRFU whilst his club Toshiba Brave Lupus withdrew from the All Japan Championship after the incident. In 2011 Japan coach John Kirwan appealed for the ban to be withdrawn before the Rugby World Cup but the request was turned down by the JRFU who said Loamanu "was not suitable to represent Japan". After being exiled from Japanese rugby, Loamanu moved to Toulon for the 2009/10 season and spent three seasons there. He was released in 2012, and he joined Benetton Treviso after his former coach John Kirwan suggested the move. In May 2014, Loamanu has signed for English club Leicester Tigers where he will compete in the Aviva Premiership from the 2014–15 season. The Japanese Rugby Union decided to lift his indefinite ban in November 2014. On 22 June 2016, Loamanu returned to France as he signed for Provence, competing in the Pro D2 from the 2016–17 season. As of February 2019, he plays for and coaches an amateur team in Taiwan.
Ayumu Goromaru (五郎丸 歩, Gorōmaru Ayumu; born 1 March 1986) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played at…
Ayumu Goromaru (五郎丸 歩, Gorōmaru Ayumu; born 1 March 1986) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played at fullback for Yamaha Júbilo as well as the Japan national rugby union team.
Shōta Horie (堀江 翔太, Horie Shōta; born 21 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player who played…
Shōta Horie (堀江 翔太, Horie Shōta; born 21 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player who played as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights and the Japan national team.
Hiroshi Yamashita (born 1 January 1986) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015…
Hiroshi Yamashita (born 1 January 1986) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Chiefs in Super Rugby from 2016.
Takehisa Usuzuki (宇薄岳央, Usuzuki Takehisa) is a Japanese rugby union player. Usuzuki has played seven tests for the…
Takehisa Usuzuki (宇薄岳央, Usuzuki Takehisa) is a Japanese rugby union player. Usuzuki has played seven tests for the Japan national rugby union team. Usuzuki was a member of the Japan national rugby union team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Kensuke Hatakeyama (畠山健介, Hatakeyama Kensuke) (born 2 August 1985 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese…
Kensuke Hatakeyama (畠山健介, Hatakeyama Kensuke) (born 2 August 1985 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played for the New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby (MLR). Hatakeyama has played 78 matches for the Japan national rugby union team.
Akihito Yamada (山田章仁, Yamada Akihito; born 26 July 1985 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union…
Akihito Yamada (山田章仁, Yamada Akihito; born 26 July 1985 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a winger. He also plays for Top League side the Panasonic Wild Knights in his home country.
Deryck Denys Thomas (born 8 April 1985) is a Fijian former professional rugby union player.
Yasuo Yamaji (山路泰生, Yamaji Yasuo; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a…
Yasuo Yamaji (山路泰生, Yamaji Yasuo; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League.
Yuki Yatomi (矢富 勇毅, Yatomi Yūki; born 16 February 1985 in Kyoto) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a…
Yuki Yatomi (矢富 勇毅, Yatomi Yūki; born 16 February 1985 in Kyoto) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half. Yatomi is currently a player for Yamaha Jubilo, from Iwata. He has 15 caps for Japan, with 2 tries scored, 10 points in aggregate, since 2006. His debut was at a 50-14 win over South Korea, in Tokyo, in a 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifier, where he played as a substitute. He was present at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, playing two games.
Hidefumi Wakayama (若山 英史, Wakayama Hidefumi; born January 3, 1985 in Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese wheelchair…
Hidefumi Wakayama (若山 英史, Wakayama Hidefumi; born January 3, 1985 in Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese wheelchair rugby player who currently plays for Shizuoka Bank/CENTERPOLE and the Japanese national team.
Fumiaki Tanaka (田中 史朗, born 3 January 1985) is a Japanese retired rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half for…
Fumiaki Tanaka (田中 史朗, born 3 January 1985) is a Japanese retired rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half for Japan on international level and for the NEC Green Rockets and the Sunwolves at domestic level.
Masayuki Haga (羽賀 理之, Haga Masayuki; born November 12, 1984) is a Japanese wheelchair rugby player who currently plays…
Masayuki Haga (羽賀 理之, Haga Masayuki; born November 12, 1984) is a Japanese wheelchair rugby player who currently plays for PeptiDream/AXE and the Japanese national team.
Yuta Imamura (今村雄太, Imamura Yūta) (born 31 October 1984 in Mie, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Imamura has…
Yuta Imamura (今村雄太, Imamura Yūta) (born 31 October 1984 in Mie, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Imamura has played 38 international matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Imamura was a member of the Japan team at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Nozomu Fujita (藤田望, Fujita Nozomu) (born 2 October 1984 in Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Fujita has…
Nozomu Fujita (藤田望, Fujita Nozomu) (born 2 October 1984 in Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Fujita has played 14 matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Fujita was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where he played four matches. Fujita currently plays for Top League team Honda Heat.
Itaru Taniguchi (谷口到, Taniguchi Itaru) (born 1 October 1984 in Ibaraki, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player.…
Itaru Taniguchi (谷口到, Taniguchi Itaru) (born 1 October 1984 in Ibaraki, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Taniguchi has played ten international matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Taniguchi was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup where he played three matches for the Brave Blossoms. Taniguchi currently plays for Top League team Kobelco Steelers.
Kyohei Morita (森田恭平) (born 6 February 1984) is a Japanese rugby union footballer who made his international debut as a…
Kyohei Morita (森田恭平) (born 6 February 1984) is a Japanese rugby union footballer who made his international debut as a fly half with the Japan national rugby union team in 2004. He graduated from Hosei University and joined Kobelco Steelers in 2006.
Kim Chul-won (Korean: 김철원, Japanese: キム・チョルウォン; born January 22, 1984) is a South Korean international rugby union…
Kim Chul-won (Korean: 김철원, Japanese: キム・チョルウォン; born January 22, 1984) is a South Korean international rugby union player from Seoul. He plays as a scrum-half. He plays for Kintetsu Liners in Japan's Top League. Kim was drafted into the Japan squad for Rugby World Cup 2007, playing two games, as a substitute, with Wales, in the 72-18 loss, and in the 12-12 drew with Canada. He is absent from his National Team since then.
Hiroki Yuhara (湯原祐希, Yuhara Hiroki) (21 January 1984 – 28 September 2020) was a Japanese rugby union player. Yuhara…
Hiroki Yuhara (湯原祐希, Yuhara Hiroki) (21 January 1984 – 28 September 2020) was a Japanese rugby union player. Yuhara played 13 international matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Yuhara was born in Chiba, and was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing one match against eventual winners the All Blacks. Yuhara played for the Top League team Toshiba Brave Lupus.
Go Aruga (有賀剛, Aruga Gō; born March 29, 1978 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) plays rugby union at fullback (and…
Go Aruga (有賀剛, Aruga Gō; born March 29, 1978 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) plays rugby union at fullback (and sometimes centre) for Suntory Sungoliath in the Top League. He also plays at fullback for the Japan national rugby union team. He was selected for the Japanese 2007 Rugby World Cup squad and made 2 appearances. Aruga attended Kanto Gakuin University. He has scored 9 tries and 11 conversions for Japan.
Takamichi Sasaki (佐々木隆道, Sasaki takamichi; born 30 October 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as…
Takamichi Sasaki (佐々木隆道, Sasaki takamichi; born 30 October 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a flanker. He played for both Suntory Sungoliath and Hino Red Dolphins in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 100 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 1 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 12 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring four tries.
Takahiro Sugiura (杉浦敬宏, Sugiura Takahiro; born 4 October 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a…
Takahiro Sugiura (杉浦敬宏, Sugiura Takahiro; born 4 October 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a prop. He spent his whole career playing for Munakata Sanix Blues in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 70 times. He was named as a backup player for Japan for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He did though make one appearance for Japan.
Tomoki Kitagawa (北川智規, Kitagawa tomoki; born 25 July 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a…
Tomoki Kitagawa (北川智規, Kitagawa tomoki; born 25 July 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a wing. He spent his whole career playing for Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 80 times. He was named as a replacement in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 1 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 2 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring two tries.
Yusuke Aoki (青木佑輔, Aoki Yūsuke) (born 19 June 1983 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Aoki has played…
Yusuke Aoki (青木佑輔, Aoki Yūsuke) (born 19 June 1983 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Aoki has played 28 matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Aoki was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where he played one match. Aoki currently plays for Top League team Suntory Sungoliath. He started with the club in 2006.
Sione Talikavili Vatuvei (born 14 March 1983), also known by his middle name Talikavili or Kavili, is a Tongan-born…
Sione Talikavili Vatuvei (born 14 March 1983), also known by his middle name Talikavili or Kavili, is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer. He represented Japan at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. His preferred position is blindside flanker. He plays in the Top League for Toyota Industries Shuttles in Kariya Aichi where he currently resides. Vatuvei was educated at Nelson College in New Zealand between 1999 and 2001. He is the youngest brother of former Japanese Rugby union footballer Luatangi Vatuvei. He is also the cousin of former Tongan-New Zealand Rugby league player Manu Vatuvei.
Hisateru Hirashima (平島 久照, Hirashima Hisateru; born 15 January 1983 in Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union…
Hisateru Hirashima (平島 久照, Hirashima Hisateru; born 15 January 1983 in Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays for the Kobe Kobelco Steelers in Japan's Top League, and the Japanese rugby team. He has earned 18 caps for his country. Hirashima was born in Kumamoto, Southern Japan and graduated from Kumamoto Nishi High School and Fukuoka University. He is currently the captain for the Kobe Steelers, and has made 62 first team appearances as a prop.
Shota Goto (後藤翔太, Goto Shota; born 7 January 1983) is a Japanese politician and former rugby union player serving as a…
Shota Goto (後藤翔太, Goto Shota; born 7 January 1983) is a Japanese politician and former rugby union player serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. From 2005 to 2006, he played for the Japan national rugby union team.
Taku Inokuchi (猪口拓, Inokuchi Taku; born 5 October 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a hooker.…
Taku Inokuchi (猪口拓, Inokuchi Taku; born 5 October 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a hooker. He spent his whole career playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 10 times. He was named as a backup player for Japan for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making two appearances in the tournament. He made a further 5 appearances for Japan, scoring a try.
Tomoaki Taniguchi (谷口 智昭 Taniguchi Tomoaki; born August 26, 1982, in Hyogo prefecture) is a Japanese rugby player who…
Tomoaki Taniguchi (谷口 智昭 Taniguchi Tomoaki; born August 26, 1982, in Hyogo prefecture) is a Japanese rugby player who plays at lock for Toyota Verblitz and Japan. He scored two tries after coming on in the second half for Japan against Australia A on June 8, 2008 (2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup Round One). He graduated from Ritsumeikan University.
Yuka Kanematsu (兼松 由香, Kanematsu Yuka; born June 17, 1982) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She competed in the 2016…
Yuka Kanematsu (兼松 由香, Kanematsu Yuka; born June 17, 1982) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics for the Japanese women's rugby sevens team. She was also part of the squad that won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Eiji Ando (安藤英次, Andō Eiji; born 14 May 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fly-half. He was…
Eiji Ando (安藤英次, Andō Eiji; born 14 May 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fly-half. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but didn't make an appearance at the tournament. He did though make 13 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring 55 points.
Yuta Inose (猪瀬優太, Inose Yūta; born 15 March 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a prop. He…
Yuta Inose (猪瀬優太, Inose Yūta; born 15 March 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a prop. He spent his whole career playing for NEC Green Rockets in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 65 times. He was named as a backup player for Japan for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He did though make six appearances for Japan.
Tomoki Yoshida (吉田朋生, Yoshida Tomoki; born 22 February 1982 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He…
Tomoki Yoshida (吉田朋生, Yoshida Tomoki; born 22 February 1982 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays as a scrum-half. He plays for the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's Top League. He had 25 caps for Japan, from 2007 to 2011, scoring 2 tries, 10 points on aggregate. He was called for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, playing in three games but without scoring. He played again for his country at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, in a single game, once again remaining scoreless.
Satoshi Nakatani (仲谷聖史, Nakatani Satoshi; born 27 October 1981) is a Japanese international rugby union player who…
Satoshi Nakatani (仲谷聖史, Nakatani Satoshi; born 27 October 1981) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for Yamaha Júbilo in Japan's domestic Top League.