Japan National Australian Rules Football Team - History

History

The Samurai's first international opposition was in 1995 when the team competed in the Arafura Games. They have since competed in the games in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

In 2001, Troy Beard became coach of the Samurais.

Japan's Samurais competed in the inaugural Australian Football International Cup in 2002 finishing in 10th place.

2004 saw a vastly improved Samurai touring Australia and Singapore, playing six matches and winning four. One of these games was again against New Zealand, but this time an Auckland club rather than the national team, which Japan lost by just two points.

In 2005, the Samurai took home the Silver medal in the Arafura Games. Later that year, the team again competed in the International Cup, lifting its international ranking to 9th and included its first International Cup win, by 71 points against Spain.

In 2006, the Samurai again toured Australia with a young squad playing 4 games finishing with a 2 point win against Box Hill North Football Club, but losses to the Howlong Football Club, Box Hill North Superules and Melbourne Vietnam Australian Football Club.

In 2007, the Samurai toured Australia, finishing 6-9 (45) in its game against the newly formed Melbourne based Vietnamese side, the Elgar Park Dragons 13-7 (85). Against Box Hill they registered a 30 point win.

In the lead up to the 2008 International Cup, Japan once again competed against its sister club Box Hill, this time easily accounting for its Australian rivals, winning by 56 points. This increased expectations for the Japanese side. During the cup, they had a breakthrough win against Samoa, following it with a thrashing of India which helped them to climb to 8th in the overall tournament ranking.