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[JRFU] The JRFU changed the Japan Rugby Championship system, where the university champion and the company champion had a match, into a tournament system in which the top university teams challenge the top company teams.
* The JRFU approved the Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation (chairperson: Noriko Kishida), which was founded on 3 November 1988 and had developed separately, as a related organization at the board meeting on November 24.
[Rules] A new revision defined that “halftime must be within 10 minutes” (previously, 5 min.). A sin-bin system that gives “temporal ejection for 10 minutes” was adopted as a special rule in Japan. “Strategic substitution of up to five players” was also admitted.
[Japan] The JRFU took their start toward the 3rd RWC by appointing Seiji Hirao as the Japan national head coach. In the 2nd Pacific Rim Championship, the Japan team had one win against Canada by a very narrow margin of 32-31 but lost all the other matches and finished at the bottom.
* The Japan A team toured Fiji and Australia. The result was quite poor, one win and five losses, but this tour highlighted the growth of younger players.
[Japan Rugby Championship] Powered by the concept “From PK to Go!” proposed by head coach Shogo Mukai, Toshiba Fuchu claimed consecutive titles by persevering their fast-break speedy rugby style without focusing on a PG. In the final of the 35th Japan Rugby Championship with the new system, they beat TOYOTA 35−11 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[University] In the 34th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, a newcomer Kanto Gakuin beat Kyoto Sangyo by leaps and bounds in the semi-final and beat Meiji 30−17 in the final claiming their long-cherished first title by winning against those traditional schools. In the 68th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Meiji won all their seven matches claiming their 25th tournament title for two years in a row. In the 31st Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their third title for two years in a row. In the 69th Kansai University Rugby League, Kyoto Sangyo won all their seven matches with great performance by captain Daisuke Ohata, claiming their third league title and for the first time in three years. In the 5th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka won all their seven matches claiming their consecutive titles.
[Company] In the final of the 50th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Toshiba Fuchu won against Suntory 14−6 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[Sevens Rugby] In April, the 5th Japan Sevens Tournament was held as an international championship.
[International] In April, the New Zealand University team (NZU) came to Japan for the seventh time, and overwhelmed Japan teams by winning all five matches they played. In June, the Kanto team toured Canada with two wins, one draw, and two losses. In December, the 3rd U19 Asia Rugby Championship was held, Japan and South Korea tied 7-7, and both claimed the title. In February, ACT from Australia came to Japan for the second time with two wins and one loss.
In March, the Japan national team squad toured Australia for training and came back with one win, one draw, and one loss. In March 1998, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 23rd time to France with two wins, one draw, and three losses.
[JRFU] The JRFU changed the Japan Rugby Championship system, where the university champion and the company champion had a match, into a tournament system in which the top university teams challenge the top company teams.
* The JRFU approved the Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation (chairperson: Noriko Kishida), which was founded on 3 November 1988 and had developed separately, as a related organization at the board meeting on November 24.
[Rules] A new revision defined that “halftime must be within 10 minutes” (previously, 5 min.). A sin-bin system that gives “temporal ejection for 10 minutes” was adopted as a special rule in Japan. “Strategic substitution of up to five players” was also admitted.
[Japan] The JRFU took their start toward the 3rd RWC by appointing Seiji Hirao as the Japan national head coach. In the 2nd Pacific Rim Championship, the Japan team had one win against Canada by a very narrow margin of 32-31 but lost all the other matches and finished at the bottom.
* The Japan A team toured Fiji and Australia. The result was quite poor, one win and five losses, but this tour highlighted the growth of younger players.
[Japan Rugby Championship] Powered by the concept “From PK to Go!” proposed by head coach Shogo Mukai, Toshiba Fuchu claimed consecutive titles by persevering their fast-break speedy rugby style without focusing on a PG. In the final of the 35th Japan Rugby Championship with the new system, they beat TOYOTA 35−11 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[University] In the 34th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, a newcomer Kanto Gakuin beat Kyoto Sangyo by leaps and bounds in the semi-final and beat Meiji 30−17 in the final claiming their long-cherished first title by winning against those traditional schools. In the 68th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Meiji won all their seven matches claiming their 25th tournament title for two years in a row. In the 31st Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their third title for two years in a row. In the 69th Kansai University Rugby League, Kyoto Sangyo won all their seven matches with great performance by captain Daisuke Ohata, claiming their third league title and for the first time in three years. In the 5th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka won all their seven matches claiming their consecutive titles.
[Company] In the final of the 50th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Toshiba Fuchu won against Suntory 14−6 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[Sevens Rugby] In April, the 5th Japan Sevens Tournament was held as an international championship.
[International] In April, the New Zealand University team (NZU) came to Japan for the seventh time, and overwhelmed Japan teams by winning all five matches they played. In June, the Kanto team toured Canada with two wins, one draw, and two losses. In December, the 3rd U19 Asia Rugby Championship was held, Japan and South Korea tied 7-7, and both claimed the title. In February, ACT from Australia came to Japan for the second time with two wins and one loss.
In March, the Japan national team squad toured Australia for training and came back with one win, one draw, and one loss. In March 1998, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 23rd time to France with two wins, one draw, and three losses.