2018: 120th Season

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[JRFU]
* The JRFU created a business plan for 2018, the year prior to the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019. For the JRFU, 2018 became an important year to determine the direction that Japanese rugby should take after 2019. As the World Cup tickets sales have started, the JRFU established a system to implement specific measures for the RWC in cooperation with branches and local governments including host cities and camp sites.
* Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. became an official supporter for the Japan National Rugby Union Team from July 2018 until March 2019.
* The Japan men's and women's national teams were qualified for the Summer Olympics Tokyo 2020.
* The schedule (July - August 2019) and pools for the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019 were determined. Japan was placed in Pool B with Canada and Samoa.
* The Japan national team will meet South Africa on 6 September 2019. (Site: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium)
* Chairperson Emeritus Yoshiro Mori received the World Rugby Vernon Pugh Award. This award is given to those individuals, associations, and organizations to praise their excellent achievements and contributions made to the internationalization of rugby union.
* The Bledisloe Cup (NZ vs. Australia) was held in Japan (International Stadium Yokohama) on October 27 for the first time in nine years with 46,000 spectators filling the stadium.
* The revised coaching qualification system became effective on 1 April 2019. New changes were made related to the qualification title and provisions for coaches.
* P&G Japan became an official supporter for the Japan National Rugby Union Team.
* Waseda University held the centenary ceremony for its rugby club on November 25.
[Japan]
* Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2018
  June 9 (Oita) - 1st match: Japan 34-17 Italy
  June 16 (Kobe) - 2nd match: Italy 25-22 Japan
  June 23 (Toyota) - 3rd match: Japan 28-0 Georgia - Japan finished with more wins than losses with two wins and one loss.
* Japan Rugby Challenge Match 2018
  October 26 (Hanazono): World selection 31-28 Japan selection
* Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2018
  November 3 (Ajinomoto Stadium): New Zealand 69-31 Japan
  November 17 (Twickenham) - 1st match: England 35-15 Japan
  November 24 (Kingsholm) - 2nd match: Japan 32-27 Russia
[Rules]
* In May 2018, the IRB regularized the experimental rules that would be implemented on a global scale. The regularized items included 17 items, such as the definition of keeping the ball, uncontested scrums, and touch kicks that end each half.
[Sunwolves]
  Marking the third year of playing in Super Rugby, this year showed their great growth in the world.
* March - June 2018 (Round 4-17): The Sunwolves defeated the Reds in the 13th section 69-28, while sweeping   
the Stormers and the Bulls later to gain the third win.
* February - March 2019 (Round 1-3)
  In the fourth year, the Sunwolves came close to the Waratahs (31-30) and gained their first win away from home against the Chiefs (30-15).
[Japan Rugby Championship]
  Kobe Steel won the 56th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship that was combined with the Top League consolation tournament for the first time in 18 seasons.
* Overwhelming the defending champion, Suntory Sungoliath, early in the game, Kobe Steel took the lead with a try scored by WTB Fraser Anderson in the 3rd minute, finishing the first half 22-5. Kobe Steel picked up even more in the second half, holding Sungoliath scoreless. Finally, Kobe Steel won the game 55-5 and became the champion, snapping Sungoliath's streak. Dan Carter was selected as the season MVP.
[Top League Cup]
  Divided into two groups, the Red Conference and the White Conference, the participating teams went head-to-head. The end of the 7th section determined their ranks. This was followed by the consolation tournaments with 1st to 8th, and 9th to 13th.
  In this cup, the overall consolation tournament was held from January 13 to 19, where TOYOTA, 1st in Pool D, defeated Suntory, 1st in Pool A, by a score of 43-34, and became the first cup champion.
[University]
  In the semi-finals of the 55th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Tenri defeated Teikyo 29-7 and Meiji defeated Waseda 31-27, advancing to the final. In the final, Meiji defeated Tenri 22-17, reclaiming the title to become the champion for the 13th time. In the Kanto University Rugby League, Teikyo shared the title with Waseda with six wins and one loss. Tokai won the Kanto University Rugby League with six wins and one loss. Tenri became the Kansai university champion, while Kyushu Kyoritsu University became the Kyushu champion. In the 69th Regional Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Tokyo Gakugei University defeated Nagoya Gakuin University by a slim margin 30-29, claiming their first-ever tournament title.
[Rugby Sevens]
* April 6 and 8 - The 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Men’s Sevens Series, the core team qualifying tournament: Japan claimed the title and was promoted to a core team for the next season.
* April 15 and 16 - The 2017-2018 HSBC World Rugby Men’s Sevens Series, 8th round in Singapore: 13th place
* April 21 and 22 - The 2017-2018 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, 3rd round in Kitakyushu: 12th place
* May 12 and 13 - The 2017-2018 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, 4th round in Canada: 9th place
* June 8 to 10 - The 2017-2018 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, 5th round in France: 11th place
* July 20 to 22 - The 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco: 15th place by defeating Kenya (men); 10th place (women) which was their best performance
* August 30 to September 1 - The 2015 Asian Games (Jakarta): 2nd place (men); Champion (women)
* September 14 and 15 - The Asia Rugby Sevens Series, 1st round in Hong Kong: Both men and women national teams became the champions
* September 29 and 30 - The Asia Rugby Sevens Series, 2nd round in South Korea: Both men and women national teams became the champions
* October 6-18 - The Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games: 3rd place (men)
* November 30 and December 1 - The 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 1st round in Dubai: 13th place (men)
* December 8 and 9 - The 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 2nd round in Cape Town: 15th place
* January 26 and 27, 2019 - The 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 3rd round in Hamilton: 15th place
* February 2 and 3 - The 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 4th round in Australia: 10th place
* March 1 to 3 - The 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 5th round in the U.S.: 15th place
[Women's Rugby]
* March 18, 4th National Women's Rugby Tournament: Champion: NSSU women's rugby club; 2nd: PEARLS Neyagawa
* East-West Women's Rugby Tournament 2017 (Odawara Shiroyama Stadium): East 41-12 West
[International]
  The Japan U18 national team toured Wales from March 17 to 23 and played against various teams including the Wales U19 national team, ending their tour with three wins and three losses.
[Regional]
  In the 98th National High School Rugby Tournament, Osaka Toin High School claimed their first-ever tournament title by defeating Toin Gakuen High School 26-24. In the 73rd National Athletic Festival in Fukui, Fukui Prefecture won the adult class, Nara Prefecture won the juvenile class, and Osaka Prefecture won the women's class. Nara City College of Technology won the 49th All-Japan College Rugby Tournament, claiming their 2nd tournament title for the first time in nine years. The Hokkaido Barbarians won the 26th All-Japan Club Rugby Football Championship, claiming their second consecutive title. In the 20th National High School Rugby Invitational Tournament held in April 2019, Toin High School defeated Gose Jitsugyo High School and claimed their third consecutive title.