Japan national wheelchair rugby team
| Japan JPN | |
|---|---|
| IWRF Ranking | 3 |
| Joined IWRF | 1997 |
| IWRF Zone | IWRF Asia-Oceania |
| National Federation | Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation |
| Paralympic Games | |
| Appearances | 4 |
| Medals |
 Bronze: 2016
|
| World Championships | |
| Appearances | 4 |
| Medals |
Bronze: 2010
|
| IWRF Asia-Oceania Championship | |
| Appearances | 9 |
| Medals |
 Gold: 2015 Silver: 2011, 2013 Bronze: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, |
The Japan national wheelchair rugby team (日本全国車椅子ラグビーチーム) represents Japan in international wheelchair rugby. Japan is the third most successful team in the Asia-Oceania region, finishing outside the medal places only once in eight appearances at the IWRF Asia-Oceania Championship. Japan have won the tournament once, in 2015 and are also the 2014 Asian Para Games champions. They have reached four Summer Paralympics, with their best finish being 4th in the 2012 Games in London.
The Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation (formerly the Japan Quad Rugby Federation) was established in April 1997, in response to the introduction of wheelchair rugby at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta. A wheelchair rugby club structure was already in existence and a national team was quickly formed, with a tour to Australia undertaken by the end of the year. In 2001 Japan sent their national team to the inaugural IWRF Asia-Oceania Championship and have been a constant fixture at the event ever since. In the first five Asia-Oceania Games, Japan was normally the third placed team, behind the dominance of Australia and New Zealand.
In 2004 Japan qualified for their first Summer Paralympics. Although initially unsuccessful, with only two wins over China in the first 11 games of their first two Paralympics, the team showed improvement in the buildup to the 2012 Games in London. The team's first breakthrough came at the 2011 IWRF Asia-Oceania Championship, where they finished second for the first time, beating New Zealand into third place. They followed this by finishing second in their group at the 2012 Paralympics by beating both Britain and France. Japan finished fourth at the Games just outside the medal positions. Wheelchair rugby was introduced at the 2014 Asian Para Games, which Japan won, beating South Korea in the final. The next year Japan won their first IWRF Asia-Oceania Championship, beating Australia 56-51 in the gold medal play off, finishing the year ranked as the 3rd best team in the world.
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