Japan - Italy in Tokyo: a fast home side against the most dangerous Italian generation in recent years
Japan and Italy open their Nations Championship campaign at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, a stadium large enough for a true test-rugby spectacle, yet compact enough for spectators to stay close to the contact, the kicks and every ball from the ruck. This is not just another summer test. The format of the new competition adds extra weight to every round, because points are collected through the July and November series, while the final weekend in London determines the final ranking.
For Japan, this is a home examination against a European national team that, over the last two seasons, has stopped being an opponent automatically marked down as a win. For Italy, it is the start of a tough tour: after Tokyo come away matches against New Zealand in Wellington and Australia in Perth. That is why the first round matters both mentally and in terms of points. A defeat in Tokyo would immediately create pressure before the toughest matches on the schedule.
Tickets for this match are in demand among fans because it is Japan's first appearance in the new format and a match that brings together two teams with very different styles.
What is at stake in the first round
The Nations Championship brings six matches per national team, three in July and three in November. Japan is in the southern group with giants from the southern hemisphere and with Fiji, while Italy comes from the northern block. In such a schedule, matches like Japan - Italy have extra value: both sides know that later they will face opponents with higher rankings, deeper squads and greater experience in major series.
Japan enter the match with Eddie Jones's clear task: play quickly, stretch the field and force Italy to defend multiple phases at a high tempo. Jones stressed ahead of the competition that Japan want to be a team the public will want to watch, but also that work off the ball will decide the match against Italy. That is an important sentence, because Italy under Gonzalo Quesada are no longer just a combative and emotional team. The Azzurri are increasingly controlling space, closing transitions more quickly and becoming dangerous when Paolo Garbisi or Tommaso Menoncello get an extra second to make a decision.
Before the first round, everyone starts from zero, but the match in Tokyo can set the tone for the whole of July. After Italy, Japan face Ireland in Newcastle, Australia, then host France at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Italy have New Zealand and Australia after Japan. That means both national teams can hardly rely on "easier" points later in the series.
Japan: a young group, Eddie Jones and a return to speed
Japan announced 35 players for this competition, with 19 forwards and 16 backs. The age and experience structure is particularly striking: ten players are uncapped, and another 13 have ten or fewer caps. That is a risk, but also a clear signal of the direction toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
In such a group, several names provide balance. Michael Leitch remains a leader whose experience is difficult to replace, Warner Dearns brings height and lineout work, Naoto Saito sets the tempo at scrum-half, and Dylan Riley is one of the most important players when Japan want to attack through the middle and not only move the ball wide toward the touchline. Jack Cornelsen and Ben Gunter provide firmness in the back row, which will be crucial against an Italian pack that knows how to slow the ball down and force the game to be played by its own rules.
Japanese details worth following
- Japan had 35 players in the announced squad, of whom 19 were forwards and 16 were backs.
- Michael Leitch is in the squad with 92 caps and remains the most experienced figure in the team.
- Warner Dearns comes in as an important jumper and physical pillar in the second row.
- Naoto Saito brings experience from Stade Toulousain and distribution speed that suits Jones's plan.
- Ten players from the wider squad were without a senior appearance for Japan at the time the list was announced.
Japan's form through the end of 2025 showed two sides of the same story. The team could be very dangerous against mid-ranked opponents, but against the most physical teams it struggled to maintain intensity. In October 2025, Japan lost 15-19 to Australia in Tokyo, then suffered heavy defeats against South Africa and Ireland. Still, in Cardiff, Wales won only 24-23 after a finish in which Japan had a real chance for a historic victory away from home. The last full test in 2025 brought a 25-23 win over Georgia in Tbilisi.
That is the context that explains why the match against Italy carries weight. Japan do not have to prove they can play quickly - they already know that. They must prove they can play quickly and precisely enough when the opponent slows the ruck, wins a lineout close to the 22 metres and turns the match into a battle for territory.
Italy: Quesada's system and a team that no longer comes only to survive
Italy have made progress in the latest editions of the Six Nations that can no longer be called accidental. In 2026, they finished fourth, with wins against Scotland and England, and with a narrow 20-13 defeat away to Ireland. The 31-17 defeat to Wales in the final round spoiled the impression at the end of the tournament, but it did not erase the fact that Italy had already shown earlier that they can win matches against national teams that had kept them under pressure for years.
Gonzalo Quesada has 33 players for the July series, with three debutants: Giulio Marini, Alessandro Ortombina and Malik Faissal. Michele Lamaro, Federico Ruzza, Paolo Garbisi, Tommaso Allan, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane and Louis Lynagh are in the team, which means Italy have both work rate in the pack and enough creativity in the back line. Paolo Garbisi remains the central figure when choosing between the kicking game, attacking through the first gap and sending the ball toward the centres.
The biggest absence is Ange Capuozzo. Quesada did not include him in the squad because he remained tied to the Top 14 run-in and would have missed the preparation camp. For the same reason, he did not count on Giacomo Nicotera. The list of injured and unavailable players also included several experienced names, among them Simone Ferrari, Sebastian Negri, Martin Page-Relo, Giosuè Zilocchi, Manuel Zuliani and Edoardo Todaro.
The Italian squad in focus
- Paolo Garbisi is the main playmaker and one of the players who can change the rhythm of the match with one kick or cross-field pass.
- Michele Lamaro brings energy in defence and work at the breakdown, especially when Italy want to stop quick ball.
- Tommaso Menoncello is dangerous in contact and important for gaining metres after the first tackle.
- Federico Ruzza provides experience in the second row and value in the lineout.
- Ange Capuozzo and Giacomo Nicotera were not in the squad for the July series because of commitments in the Top 14 run-in.
In Tokyo, Italy will probably look for a match in which Japan must constantly come back from deep. That means kicking pressure, a precise chase and discipline in zones where penalties must not be gifted. If Italy allow Japan quick ball after the second or third ruck, the home side will open the width more easily. If, however, Quesada's team force Japan into static attacks and long phases without progress, the advantage shifts to the Azzurri.
Head-to-head record: history is on Italy's side, but Tokyo remembers a Japanese victory
Japan and Italy had played ten head-to-head matches before this meeting. Italy lead 8-2, while Japan won in 2014 in Tokyo and in 2018 in Oita. That is exactly why this match is not only about the standings in the new competition, but also a chance for Japan to reduce the gap against an opponent that has often been a measure of its progress.
The last five head-to-head matches
- 21 July 2024 - Japan 14-42 Italy, Hokkaido
- 26 August 2023 - Italy 42-21 Japan, Treviso
- 16 June 2018 - Japan 22-25 Italy, Kobe
- 9 June 2018 - Japan 34-17 Italy, Oita
- 21 June 2014 - Japan 26-23 Italy, Tokyo
A look at those results shows two things. Italy won convincingly in the last two meetings, but Japan have proof that they can find a way on home soil. The difference is that today's Italy are tactically more mature than before, while Japan are in the process of rejuvenation. That does not mean the home side have no chance. It means they will have to hit the right tempo from the first minute, because against Italy it is no longer enough to play only one strong half.
Tactical picture: Japan's speed against Italian control of contact
The most important part of the match will be the speed of the ball after contact. Japan want a ruck that lasts briefly, a scrum-half who immediately lifts the ball and an attack that does not allow the defence to set itself. Italy will try to do the opposite: slow the first clean possession, force Japan to commit an extra cleaner to the ruck and then attack the next phase with an aggressive line speed.
In the scrum and lineout, Italy have enough experience to seek stability and territory. Ruzza, Cannone, Riccioni and Lamaro are player profiles who can push the match toward a "northern" rhythm - less open running, more positional battle, more decisions from penalties and touch. Japan will then have to stay calm. Too many risky passes inside their own half would open up easier points for Italy.
On the other hand, the Italian defence must not allow Naoto Saito to dictate the tempo without pressure. If Japan get three quick phases in a row, Riley and the outside players can attack the space between the Italian centres and wings. That is where the match can open up. In that scenario, the stadium becomes louder, the tempo faster, and every Italian penalty more costly.
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium: a compact stage in Aoyama
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, also known as Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, is located at 2-8-35 Kita-Aoyama in Minato City. The stadium is one of Japan's key rugby venues, situated in the Meiji Jingu Gaien area, near Aoyama, Omotesando and Tokyo's main transport links. Capacity in available guides is listed at around 27,000 seats, and the stands are close to the pitch, which suits rugby especially well: contact can be heard, kicks can be followed without a large gap, and spectators can better see the defensive shape.
The stadium was built as a rugby stage, not as a multipurpose venue with distant athletics tracks. That changes the experience. When Japan accelerate through the middle or Italy drive a maul toward the line, the crowd is practically next to the action. For visiting fans, it is also a good opportunity for a different view of Tokyo: the match is not played on the edge of the city, but in a densely connected zone with restaurants, hotels and districts that are easy to reach by metro.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when the home national team and a European opponent with a strong squad meet, so it is worth securing tickets in time.
Getting to the stadium
- The nearest and most practical option is the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Gaienmae Station, from where the stadium is about a five-minute walk away.
- The stadium address is 2-8-35 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0061.
- Aoyama-itchome is a useful alternative station if the journey involves transferring to other lines.
- Parking in the surrounding area should be planned carefully because this is a central Tokyo area with heavy traffic pressure on event days.
- The opening time of the entrances is best checked with the event organiser immediately before the match, because it may differ according to the security plan and ticket category.
Tokyo as host: practical, fast and demanding for planning
Tokyo is easy to move around if planned in advance, but it can be tiring for fans who count on last-minute improvisation. Chichibunomiya is positioned so that public transport has an advantage over cars. The Ginza Line connects Gaienmae with major hubs, while the Shibuya, Omotesando and Aoyama areas offer enough options for a meal before or after the match. For those arriving from other parts of Japan or from abroad, the most important thing is not to underestimate the crowds in the hours before kick-off.
According to the current schedule of the Japanese union, kick-off is listed for 17:40 local time in Tokyo. That means fans have the day to arrive, but also that movement toward the stadium overlaps with weekend traffic in a popular urban area. The safest plan is to arrive in the district earlier, walk to the stadium, and then leave enough time for security checks and entry.
What kind of atmosphere to expect
Japan's matches in Tokyo often have a different sound from classic European away fixtures. The crowd follows the game carefully, reacts to quick ball movement and especially values discipline and defensive fight. Chichibunomiya adds a feeling of closeness to that. If Japan start quickly and force Italy into a series of defensive runs, the stands will quickly feel that the match can turn on energy.
Italian fans, on the other hand, have more and more reasons to believe in this generation. Wins over Scotland and England in 2026 changed the image of the team. Italy no longer travel only for a respectable defeat. They travel for a result. That is the best basis for a proper test match: a home side that wants to prove that speed can bring down a higher-ranked opponent and a visitor that believes it has enough structure, muscle and creativity to win.
Ticket sales for this match are under way, and the interest is understandable: rarely can two different directions of modern rugby be seen so clearly in one match. Japan will seek rhythm and width. Italy will seek control of contact, territory and a cool head in the closing stages.
What to pay special attention to during the match
The first signal will be the scrum. If Japan withstand the first Italian pressure without penalties, they can more easily build their game from possession. If Italy gain an early advantage in the scrum, Garbisi and Allan can move the match into the corners and force Japan to defend from lineouts. The second signal will be Japan's reaction after a lost ball. Jones's team want to be dangerous in transition, but against Italy a lost ball without defensive cover can quickly become seven points at the other end.
The third detail is discipline in the final 20 minutes. In 2025, Japan had matches in which they were close to a major result, then lost it in the closing stages. Italy showed in the Six Nations that they can win tight matches, as against Scotland 18-15 and England 23-18, but also that they can fall out of rhythm when they lose control early, as in Cardiff against Wales.
Three key duels within the match
- Naoto Saito against Italian pressure around the ruck - if he gets quick ball, Japan can open the width.
- Warner Dearns and the Japanese lineout against Federico Ruzza and the Italian second row - possession from touch can decide territory.
- Paolo Garbisi against the Japanese back three - his kicking game can force Japan to constantly start from their own half.
This is a match for spectators who love tempo, but also for those who follow details. Every slowed ruck, every penalty in midfield and every lineout inside the 22 metres can change the direction of the meeting. Japan have home field and speed. Italy have the better head-to-head record, growing confidence and a team that has already brought down serious opponents in 2026. That is precisely why Chichibunomiya is not only the opening station in a new competition, but a place where both national teams can send a message to the rest of the tournament.
Sources:
- Japan Rugby Football Union - Nations Championship schedule, Japanese squad, Eddie Jones's statements, history of head-to-head meetings and stadium information.
- World Rugby - Nations Championship format, competition calendar and explanation of the importance of points through the July and November series.
- RugbyPass - Italian squad for the Nations Championship, absences of Ange Capuozzo and Giacomo Nicotera, list of injured players and key players.
- Sport-Histoire - Six Nations 2026 results and standings, including Italian wins against Scotland and England.
- Ultimate Rugby - Japan's recent results in test matches and the end of the 2025 season.
- Japan Sport Council, StadiumDB and NAVITIME Japan Travel - address, capacity, stadium access and traffic context around Gaienmae and Aoyama.