Japan.
The numbers behind the national jersey.
Men’s capped Tests · 2026
Descriptive comparisons. Different opponents and schedules.
The kicking picture.
Through 20 October · 8 Tests20.9kicks per Test
9.6%own kicks retained
27.8mrecorded metres per kick
167total kicks in play
Possession retained includes regathers and recovered tap backs. Recorded metres are not net territory. Latest included Test: 2026-09-19.
The wider style.
Through 16 October · 8 Tests120.6carries per Test
3.6metres per carry
4.2breaks per 100 carries
84.1%tackle success
This earlier style snapshot excludes matches after 16 October. A rate describes recorded events, not an opponent-adjusted rating.
The match ledger.
| Date | Opponent | Score | Kicks | Metres | Retained | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-04 | Italy | 27–10 | 35 | 961 | 5 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-07-11 | Ireland | 20–36 | 21 | 601 | 1 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-07-18 | France | 15–42 | 24 | 582 | 2 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-08-08 | Australia | 32–35 | 17 | 412 | 3 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-08-15 | Australia | 17–56 | 20 | 695 | 2 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-09-05 | Canada | 57–12 | 17 | 513 | 1 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-09-12 | USA | 63–14 | 19 | 523 | 2 | Match ↗ |
| 2026-09-19 | Fiji | 20–15 | 14 | 357 | 0 | Match ↗ |
Metric definitions & coverage
All averages use summed events divided by the relevant denominator. Kicking and broader style editions have separate cutoffs. Click “Match” in each row for the source record.
Our methods