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[Rules] The item in Article 4 “Player Uniform (2) f” incorporated the item which would apply only to women about the usage of “breast pads of soft and thin material which are embedded in clothing” for the first time. This item became the first letter in the competition rules that refer to women's play. Additionally, the rules were revised so that “up to seven players could be substituted during the game”.
[Japan]
* The Japan national team led by head coach Seiji Hirao had two wins and four losses in the 3rd Pacific Rim Championship. The Japan national team won a match against each of Hong Kong and the United States to get exactly the same result as the 1st championship.
* South America's strong team Argentina came, and the Japan national team won against them for the first time in the test match by a score of 44−29. The Argentina team is recognized as one of the world's top 10 teams; therefore, having a close match against them could mean that Japan stepped closer to the world's strong teams. Argentina beat the Japan selection team by a score of 51−28.
* In the 16th Asia Rugby Championship which was also the final qualifying round for the 4th Rugby World Cup, the Japan national team won all of their matches claiming their four consecutive titles and at the same time got qualified for the RWC four times in a row.
* Rugby was adopted as an event in the Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. The Japan national team, which participated for the first time, was expected to get the gold medal. However, they were defeated by South Korea 21-17 in the final match, finishing with a silver. In Rugby Sevens, Japan was also defeated by South Korea 29-14 resulting in 2nd place.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 36th Japan Rugby Championship, Toshiba Fuchu met Kobe Steel in the final and won 24-13, claiming their third championship title for three years in a row.
[University] In the 35th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Kanto Gakuin and Meiji fought each other in the final match two years in a row. Kanto Gakuin achieved consecutive titles by a score of 47−28. In the 69th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Meiji won all their six matches claiming their 26th tournament title for three years in a row. In the 32nd Kanto University Rugby League, Hosei had six wins and one loss claiming their 12th league title and for the first time in five years. In the 70th Kansai University Rugby League, Kyoto Sangyo won all their seven matches claiming their fourth league title for two years in a row. In the 6th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka had six wins and one loss achieving their three consecutive titles. Co-hosting with Yomiuri Shimbun, the JRFU decided to have the UK-Japan University Matches continuously by inviting the Oxford and Cambridge University teams, expecting to improve the level of Japanese university teams. In the 1st UK-Japan University Matches, Oxford University had matches against All-Waseda and All-Doshisha, Cambridge University had matches against All-Kanto Gakuin and All-Meiji, and the United Kingdom teams won all the matches.
[Company] In the final of the 51st Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, TOYOTA beat Suntory by a one-point difference 28−27 and claimed their fifth championship title and for the first time in 12 years.
[Sevens Rugby] In the 23rd Hong Kong Sevens Tournament on March 26-28, the Japan national sevens team beat Scotland 33-31 in the plate final with a dramatic come-from-behind try made by Daisuke Ohata.
[International] In the 1st UK-Japan University Matches in April, the Oxford and Cambridge University teams came to Japan together, and the UK teams won all matches with Oxford 59−12 All-Waseda and 43−17 All-Doshisha, and Cambridge 43−23 All-Kanto Gakuin and 38−26 All Meiji.
In June, the Stellenbosch University team came to Fukuoka from South Africa with two wins. In June, the Japan national A team toured New Zealand with one win and four losses. In the 4th University RWC held in Italy from August 2-13, the Japan national student team was knocked out in the quarterfinal with one win and three losses. In September, the Oxford University team came to Japan with two wins and one loss. The Australian and New Zealand national teams came to Japan: On October 28th, the Australian national team 64-13 President (Chichibunomiya), and on 3 November, the New Zealand national team 50-10 Pacific Barbarians (Chichibunomiya). In the 31st U19 World Championship on March 26 April 4 1999 (France), the Japan U19 national team placed 13th. In March 1999, the Japan selection team toured Australia with one win and three losses. Overseas tour of the Japan U18 national team: In July, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 24th time to New Zealand. In September, the Japan women's national team toured the United States with one win and two losses, having no test matches. In April 1999, the Hong Kong women's national team came to Japan with two wins.
[Rules] The item in Article 4 “Player Uniform (2) f” incorporated the item which would apply only to women about the usage of “breast pads of soft and thin material which are embedded in clothing” for the first time. This item became the first letter in the competition rules that refer to women's play. Additionally, the rules were revised so that “up to seven players could be substituted during the game”.
[Japan]
* The Japan national team led by head coach Seiji Hirao had two wins and four losses in the 3rd Pacific Rim Championship. The Japan national team won a match against each of Hong Kong and the United States to get exactly the same result as the 1st championship.
* South America's strong team Argentina came, and the Japan national team won against them for the first time in the test match by a score of 44−29. The Argentina team is recognized as one of the world's top 10 teams; therefore, having a close match against them could mean that Japan stepped closer to the world's strong teams. Argentina beat the Japan selection team by a score of 51−28.
* In the 16th Asia Rugby Championship which was also the final qualifying round for the 4th Rugby World Cup, the Japan national team won all of their matches claiming their four consecutive titles and at the same time got qualified for the RWC four times in a row.
* Rugby was adopted as an event in the Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. The Japan national team, which participated for the first time, was expected to get the gold medal. However, they were defeated by South Korea 21-17 in the final match, finishing with a silver. In Rugby Sevens, Japan was also defeated by South Korea 29-14 resulting in 2nd place.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 36th Japan Rugby Championship, Toshiba Fuchu met Kobe Steel in the final and won 24-13, claiming their third championship title for three years in a row.
[University] In the 35th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Kanto Gakuin and Meiji fought each other in the final match two years in a row. Kanto Gakuin achieved consecutive titles by a score of 47−28. In the 69th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Meiji won all their six matches claiming their 26th tournament title for three years in a row. In the 32nd Kanto University Rugby League, Hosei had six wins and one loss claiming their 12th league title and for the first time in five years. In the 70th Kansai University Rugby League, Kyoto Sangyo won all their seven matches claiming their fourth league title for two years in a row. In the 6th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka had six wins and one loss achieving their three consecutive titles. Co-hosting with Yomiuri Shimbun, the JRFU decided to have the UK-Japan University Matches continuously by inviting the Oxford and Cambridge University teams, expecting to improve the level of Japanese university teams. In the 1st UK-Japan University Matches, Oxford University had matches against All-Waseda and All-Doshisha, Cambridge University had matches against All-Kanto Gakuin and All-Meiji, and the United Kingdom teams won all the matches.
[Company] In the final of the 51st Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, TOYOTA beat Suntory by a one-point difference 28−27 and claimed their fifth championship title and for the first time in 12 years.
[Sevens Rugby] In the 23rd Hong Kong Sevens Tournament on March 26-28, the Japan national sevens team beat Scotland 33-31 in the plate final with a dramatic come-from-behind try made by Daisuke Ohata.
[International] In the 1st UK-Japan University Matches in April, the Oxford and Cambridge University teams came to Japan together, and the UK teams won all matches with Oxford 59−12 All-Waseda and 43−17 All-Doshisha, and Cambridge 43−23 All-Kanto Gakuin and 38−26 All Meiji.
In June, the Stellenbosch University team came to Fukuoka from South Africa with two wins. In June, the Japan national A team toured New Zealand with one win and four losses. In the 4th University RWC held in Italy from August 2-13, the Japan national student team was knocked out in the quarterfinal with one win and three losses. In September, the Oxford University team came to Japan with two wins and one loss. The Australian and New Zealand national teams came to Japan: On October 28th, the Australian national team 64-13 President (Chichibunomiya), and on 3 November, the New Zealand national team 50-10 Pacific Barbarians (Chichibunomiya). In the 31st U19 World Championship on March 26 April 4 1999 (France), the Japan U19 national team placed 13th. In March 1999, the Japan selection team toured Australia with one win and three losses. Overseas tour of the Japan U18 national team: In July, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 24th time to New Zealand. In September, the Japan women's national team toured the United States with one win and two losses, having no test matches. In April 1999, the Hong Kong women's national team came to Japan with two wins.