After 1955, international exchanges became popular. These exchanges began with the all-Australian student team coming to Japan in 1956, and powerful teams came almost every year. These teams included the British force team stationing in Malay and Singapore in 1957, the NZ All Blacks Colts in 1958, Canada BC state team and the Oxford and Cambridge combined team in 1959, Canada Cats in 1961, French PUC in 1962, and NZ Canterbury in 1964. The performance of the Japan National Rugby Union Team was actually less than ideal. However, a number of players from many dominant rugby teams were able to capture opportunities for accumulating rugby skills and experience. This led Japanese rugby to make a great leap forward into the next era.
Yahata Steel Works got a head start on going out overseas. Starting with a tour in Hong Kong in 1975, the Yahata Steel Works team toured to Canada in 1960, and to Australia as well as New Zealand in 1962. Through this tour, they strengthened their team and promoted international exchanges. The Japan National Rugby Union Team toured Canada in 1963 for the first time since the end of the war. Japanese rugby set successful sail on the international rugby stage.