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Japan have announced their men’s and women’s entrants to the 2016 Olympic 7s in Rio. Following suit with other nations, they have kept the faith with the players who ran out during their respective HSBC Sevens Series outings.
The women finished 11th overall in a somewhat disappointing season that saw them fade after a promising start in Dubai. Despite the results coach Keiko Asami has not messed about, changing only three to her squad that participated in Clermont-Ferrand. Added are youngsters Mifuyu Koide and Yume Okuroda and vastly experienced Yuka Kanematsu. Left out are Maki Takano, Keiko Kato, and Aya Takeuchi. The latter two have been named as traveling reserves in case of injury.
A virtually identical team to the one that emerged victorious in Hong Kong to qualify for 2016-17 core status will travel for the men. The only change sees one blazing-fast winger replace another, with Brave Blossoms star Kenki Fukuoka selected over Chihito Matsui. Fukuoka is the only XVs standout included, with Yoshikazu Fujita and Akihito Yamada notable exclusions after taking part in the trials.
Pool C will be the home of the women, who compete with Brazil, Canada, and Great Britain. The men are also in Pool C, grouped with New Zealand, Kenya, and Great Britain.
JAPAN WOMEN’s 7s
Yuka Kanematsu, Mifuyu Koide, Ano Kuwai, Kana Mitsugi, Chiharu Nakamura (capt.), Yume Okuroda, Ayaka Suzuki, Noriko Taniguchi, Makiko Tomita, Marie Yamaguchi, Mio Yamanaka, Chisato Yoko
JAPAN MEN’s 7s
Kenki Fukuoka, Teruya Goto, Kazuhiro Goya, Kazushi Hano, Masakatsu Hikosaka, Yusaku Kuwazuru (capt.), Lomano Lemeki, Katsuyuki Sakai, Kameli Soejima, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Shohei Toyoshima, Lote Tuqiri
