In 1999, the year of the last Rugby World Cup, Japan won the Pacific Rim Championship, recording a 37-34 victory over Samoa along the way. At the time many thought the victory marked the re-birth of Japanese rugby, and there was talk of Japan reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Sadly, that was not to be as the Cherry Blossoms lost all three games in Wales, including a rematch against Samoa. Much of the blame was put on the veteran foreigners that then-coach Seiji Hirao had introduced to the team -- the same foreigners who had helped to orchestrate that famous win at Hanazono.
Consequently, there was an apparent change in tactics and last year a young, predominantly native Japanese team was picked. The result, a whitewash as Japan lost all five games, eventually led to Hirao quitting.
With the continued ongoing dispute between the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) and the company teams that believe their interests come before the needs of the country, it seemed as if Japanese rugby was on a never-ending downward spiral. A huge defeat against Ireland in November (Hirao's last game in charge), two defeats against Wales and a big loss to Samoa did not bode well. But suddenly there is light at the end of the tunnel and a genuine feeling that Japan might just be turning the tide.