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[JRFU] The JRFU launched the Japanese Rugby Restructuring Project. Restructuring started to prepare for opening to amateurs and professionals with the following four parties: the organizing committee head (Tetsuro Machii), the strengthening committee head (Hiroaki Shukuzawa), the marketing committee head (Megumi Horikoshi), and the popularization committee head (Noboru Mashimo).
* Head coach Seiji Hirao resigned, and Shogo Mukai assumed the post as head coach. The JRFU announced the resignation of Seiji Hirao and the appointment of Shogo Mukai as head coach of the Japan national team on December 24. At the board meeting in January 2001, the JRFU decided to develop and strengthen Japanese rugby, by opening up to both amateurs and professionals, following the world's trend.
[Rules] A special rule in Japan was adopted, “a scrum or line-out must not be formed within 5 meters in front of the goal”, and was also adopted as an international rule.
[Japan]
* The national team members were reconsidered looking forward to the Rugby World Cup four years later. However, this attempt ended in failure as the Japan national team suffered five consecutive losses and finished at the bottom in the Pacific Rim Championship.
* In the 17th Asia Rugby Championship held in Aomori Japan, the Japan national team won against South Korea by a narrow margin of 34−29 and claimed their fifth consecutive title.
* The Japan national team performed well in the match against the France A team 40-23. However, they lost in the match against the national U25 team and a test match by a big margin of 83-13 and 78-9 respectively in Ireland, drawing criticism from the Irish Rugby Football Union and fans. They indicated that they should have played with the best members in test matches and these poor results with new national members would probably bring disrespect for opponent nations.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 38th Japan Rugby Championship, Kobe Steel and Suntory did not give over to each other and tied 27−27, resulting in sharing the championship title. Kobe Steel became the champion for the ninth time and for two years in a row, while Suntory claimed their second championship title and for the first time in five years.
[University] In the 37th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Kanto Gakuin beat Hosei 42−15 claiming their third championship title and for the first time in two years. In the 71st Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Keio won all their seven matches claiming their ninth tournament title for two consecutive years. In the 34th Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their firth league title for two years in a row. In the 72nd Kansai University Rugby League, Doshisha won all their seven matches claiming their 42nd league title and for the first time in two years. In the 8th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka Institute of Technology had six wins and one loss getting their league title back.
[Company] In the 53rd Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Kobe Steel won against TOYOTA 29−26 claiming their ninth championship title for two years in a row.
[Sevens Rugby] The 3rd Rugby World Cup Sevens was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on January 21-23. The Japan national sevens team had three wins and two losses in the qualifying round and were eliminated in the first match in the plate round after being defeated by Wales 21-7.
[Women's Rugby] In July, the Japan women's national team toured Samoa and New Zealand, achieving great results by beating Samoa 12−10. In December, in the 4th Asia qualifying tournament for the Rugby World Cup, Japan beat Hong Kong 62−0.
[International] The Australian and New Zealand national teams came to Japan for charity matches. They pleased Japanese rugby fans through these matches: The Australia Wallabies 64-13 President on October 28, and New Zealand All Black 50-10 Pacific Barbarians on November 3. In April, in the 32nd U19RWC (France), the Japan U19 national team had two wins and two losses. In July, the Kanto team toured Australia with three wins and one loss, the Kanto selection team toured Australia with two wins and one loss, and the Kansai company selection team toured Australia with one win and one loss. In August, the 4th University RWC was held with one win and three losses. In the 3rd UK-Japan University Matches, Oxford University had two wins and one loss: Oxford 49−19 Keio, Oxford 27−７Doshisha, Kanto Gakuin 20-19 Oxford in September. In March 2001, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 26th time to Scotland with three wins and two losses.
[JRFU] The JRFU launched the Japanese Rugby Restructuring Project. Restructuring started to prepare for opening to amateurs and professionals with the following four parties: the organizing committee head (Tetsuro Machii), the strengthening committee head (Hiroaki Shukuzawa), the marketing committee head (Megumi Horikoshi), and the popularization committee head (Noboru Mashimo).
* Head coach Seiji Hirao resigned, and Shogo Mukai assumed the post as head coach. The JRFU announced the resignation of Seiji Hirao and the appointment of Shogo Mukai as head coach of the Japan national team on December 24. At the board meeting in January 2001, the JRFU decided to develop and strengthen Japanese rugby, by opening up to both amateurs and professionals, following the world's trend.
[Rules] A special rule in Japan was adopted, “a scrum or line-out must not be formed within 5 meters in front of the goal”, and was also adopted as an international rule.
[Japan]
* The national team members were reconsidered looking forward to the Rugby World Cup four years later. However, this attempt ended in failure as the Japan national team suffered five consecutive losses and finished at the bottom in the Pacific Rim Championship.
* In the 17th Asia Rugby Championship held in Aomori Japan, the Japan national team won against South Korea by a narrow margin of 34−29 and claimed their fifth consecutive title.
* The Japan national team performed well in the match against the France A team 40-23. However, they lost in the match against the national U25 team and a test match by a big margin of 83-13 and 78-9 respectively in Ireland, drawing criticism from the Irish Rugby Football Union and fans. They indicated that they should have played with the best members in test matches and these poor results with new national members would probably bring disrespect for opponent nations.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 38th Japan Rugby Championship, Kobe Steel and Suntory did not give over to each other and tied 27−27, resulting in sharing the championship title. Kobe Steel became the champion for the ninth time and for two years in a row, while Suntory claimed their second championship title and for the first time in five years.
[University] In the 37th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Kanto Gakuin beat Hosei 42−15 claiming their third championship title and for the first time in two years. In the 71st Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Keio won all their seven matches claiming their ninth tournament title for two consecutive years. In the 34th Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their firth league title for two years in a row. In the 72nd Kansai University Rugby League, Doshisha won all their seven matches claiming their 42nd league title and for the first time in two years. In the 8th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka Institute of Technology had six wins and one loss getting their league title back.
[Company] In the 53rd Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Kobe Steel won against TOYOTA 29−26 claiming their ninth championship title for two years in a row.
[Sevens Rugby] The 3rd Rugby World Cup Sevens was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on January 21-23. The Japan national sevens team had three wins and two losses in the qualifying round and were eliminated in the first match in the plate round after being defeated by Wales 21-7.
[Women's Rugby] In July, the Japan women's national team toured Samoa and New Zealand, achieving great results by beating Samoa 12−10. In December, in the 4th Asia qualifying tournament for the Rugby World Cup, Japan beat Hong Kong 62−0.
[International] The Australian and New Zealand national teams came to Japan for charity matches. They pleased Japanese rugby fans through these matches: The Australia Wallabies 64-13 President on October 28, and New Zealand All Black 50-10 Pacific Barbarians on November 3. In April, in the 32nd U19RWC (France), the Japan U19 national team had two wins and two losses. In July, the Kanto team toured Australia with three wins and one loss, the Kanto selection team toured Australia with two wins and one loss, and the Kansai company selection team toured Australia with one win and one loss. In August, the 4th University RWC was held with one win and three losses. In the 3rd UK-Japan University Matches, Oxford University had two wins and one loss: Oxford 49−19 Keio, Oxford 27−７Doshisha, Kanto Gakuin 20-19 Oxford in September. In March 2001, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 26th time to Scotland with three wins and two losses.