Japanese women's rugby began in 1983. The Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation (with 15 teams) was launched mainly by the players of Setagaya Ladies, Noriko Kishida, Keiko Kawaguchi, Sakae Oshima, and Fumiko Masuoka (present Kamijo). This federation developed positive activities, for example, participation in the first Women's RWC held in Wales in 1991. In April 1993, the JRFU approved the Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation as an affiliated organization, requesting that the federation join the JRFU at the opportune time. The Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation then officially became a member of the JRFU.