Japan national cricket team

History

Main article: Cricket in Japan

Cricket was introduced to Japan in the 1860s, by the British, but did not become organised until the 1980s, when the Japan Cricket Association was formed. They became an affiliate member of the ICC in 1989, and the national team first played in the 1996 ACC Trophy, losing all their games including a 380 run defeat by Fiji. They continued without success in the 1998 tournament and the 2000 tournament.

After the 2000 ACC Trophy, they left the Asian Cricket Council and became part of the ICC's East Asia/Pacific region. They played in the East Asia Eights tournament in Australia in February 2002, finishing as runners-up to an Australian indigenous team. Indonesia and South Korea were the other teams in the tournament. In 2004, they hosted the East Asia Pacific Cricket Challenge tournament as part of qualification for the 2007 World Cup, finishing third after beating Indonesia in a play-off.

In June 2005, Japan were promoted to associate membership of the ICC and that year they played in the 2005 ICC EAP Cricket Cup in Vanuatu, winning the tournament after beating the Cook Islands in the final. The following year they played in the 2006 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Brisbane finishing last in the three team tournament that also involved Fiji and the Cook Islands.

In December 2007 Japan took part in the 2007 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, playing against the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. Japan won the tournament and qualified for Division Five of the World Cricket League where they finished in tenth place out of the twelve countries represented in Jersey.

On 22 March 2016, it was announced that Sano, Tochigi, would be home to the Sano International Cricket Ground, which will become Japan's first dedicated purpose-built cricketing venue which no longer had to compete with other sports for usage.

On 9 October 2022, Japan played their first ever T20 international match against Indonesia. In January 2023 it was announced that Japan and Indonesia would be included in Asian Cricket Council (ACC) pathway events, while remaining in the ICC East Asia-Pacific development region. Japan was formally readmitted to ACC membership in January 2024, with Indonesia also joining as a member.

Japan will be participating at 2022 Asian Games cricket tournament. They were placed in a group along with Cambodia and Hong Kong. This will be the Japan national cricket team's first appearance at the Asian Games.

In recent years, the Japan Cricket Association has been actively promoting the game in Japan by conducting many professional ODI and T20 leagues, such as the Japan Cricket League and Japan Cup. The JCA has also designed a cricket blast programme to teach 8-12-year-old school children. Cricket in Japan is also being bolstered by immigrants from India, Pakistan, Australia, Britain, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

Tournament history

T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Regional Final

T20 World Cup Asia–EAP Regional Final

• A – Advanced to Global Qualifier.
• Q – Qualified for T20 World Cup.

Asian Games

Twenty20 East Asia Cup

Other tournaments

Current squad

Updated as of 12 May 2024

This lists all the players who have played for Japan in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad.

Records

International Match Summary — Japan

Last updated 17 October 2025

Twenty20 International

• Highest team total: 258/0 v. China on 15 February 2024 at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok.
• Highest individual score: 134*, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake v. China on 15 February 2024 at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok.
• Best individual bowling figures: 6/26, Reo Sakurano-Thomas v. Thailand on 2 February 2024 at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok.

Most T20I runs for Japan

Most T20I wickets for Japan

T20I record versus other nations

Records complete to T20I #3525. Last updated 17 October 2025.

Other matches

For a list of selected international matches played by Japan, see Cricket Archive.

Notes

References

References

1. "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council.
2. [http://www.ichiharasharks.com/japancricket.html Article about Japanese cricket] {{webarchive. link. (19 June 2009)
3. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Countries/64.html Japan] at CricketArchive
4. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1996/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 1996 ACC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (13 January 2010 at CricketEurope)
5. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1998/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 1998 ACC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (11 January 2010 at CricketEurope)
6. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2000/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 2000 ACC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (22 August 2010 at CricketEurope)
7. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/118/118338.html Scorecard] of Australia Cricket Board Indigenous v Japan, 1 March 2002 at CricketArchive
8. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/AUS/2001-02_AUS_East_Asia_Eights_2001-02.html 2002 East Asia Eights] {{Webarchive. link. (7 September 2008 at CricketArchive)
9. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/101/101799.html Scorecard] of Japan v Indonesia, 29 May 2004 at CricketArchive
10. "A unique festival to popularise cricket in Japan". International Cricket Council.
11. [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/east-asia-pacific/tournaments/eap_cricket_cup_2005/ 2005 EAP Cricket Cup] {{webarchive. link. (1 January 2006 , ICC official website)
12. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/WCLEAP1/about.shtml 2006 EAP Cricket Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (11 May 2008 at CricketEurope)
13. [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/east-asia-pacific/newsletter/OCTOBER_2007.pdf ICC EAP newsletter]{{Dead link. (January 2020)
14. "ICC - Development".
15. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/TOURNAMENTS/GLOBAL/WCL/structure0609.pdf World Cricket League structure], 2006–2009
16. (23 March 2016). "International Cricket Ground to be built in Japan". [[Japan Cricket Association]].
17. (2022-09-30). "Japan Cricket to host Indonesia Men's team for T20I series before ICC Qualifier – Czarsportz".
18. (4 February 2023). "Decision on Asia Cup venue postponed to March 2023".
19. (31 January 2024). "ACC AGM held in Bali on 31 January 2024". Asian Cricket Council.
20. [https://japancricketblast.com/en/ CricketBlast Japan - Introduction]
21. "Volunteers in Japan draw on sports to help foreign laborers integrate".
22. (19 February 2016). "East Asia Cup Tournament organised between China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea". [[Japan Cricket Association]].
23. "History of the Games". [[Cricket Hong Kong]].
24. "EAST ASIA MEN'S T-20 CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2015/16". ESPNcricinfo.
25. (7 November 2016). "Korea beats Japan to clinch East Asia Cup title". [[International Cricket Council]].
26. (6 November 2016). "Japan vs South Korea Final East Asia Cup 2016". ESPNcricinfo.
27. (8 November 2016). "South Korea edge Japan to win East Asia Cup cricket tournament". Inside the games.
28. (24 November 2016). "Korea's national cricket team taste first international success". [[Arirang News]].
29. "East Asia Cup 2018 – Fixtures & Results". ESPNcricinfo.
30. "Records / Japan / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo.
31. "Records / Japan / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo.
32. "Records / Japan / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo.
33. "Records / Japan / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo.
34. "Records / Japan / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
35. "Records / Japan / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". [[ESPNcricinfo]].