Japan's classic 'school of thought' nurtured in new generation of playmakers

On October 10, Japan head coach Eddie Jones revealed the squad for the upcoming autumn internationals, kicking off with a high-stakes clash against the All Blacks in Yokohama on October 26.

This will be followed by a European tour with matches lined up against France, Uruguay, and England. Notably, two fly-halves from the spring and summer squad have been replaced in this new selection.

Japan’s first-choice fly-half, Lee Seung-sin, will miss out due to injury, while Rikiya Matsuda, who donned the No. 10 jersey during last year’s Rugby World Cup, has been dropped.

In their place, Jones has opted for two uncapped players: 26-year-old Takuro Matsunaga from Brave Lupus Tokyo and 24-year-old Ichigo Nakakusu from Black Rams Tokyo.

Matsuda, despite his role in the previous World Cup, only started one of Japan’s nine matches over the spring and summer. When asked about Matsuda’s limited involvement, Jones initially explained, "He has plenty of experience, so I’m giving the younger players an opportunity to gain more."

However, his stance has since shifted.

“We’ve asked him to go back to his club and work on a couple of areas of his game,” Jones said, suggesting that the veteran has work to do.

Takuya Yamasawa, another experienced fly-half, was also omitted from the squad but is listed among the players sidelined due to injuries or physical concerns.

With Matsuda and Yamasawa out of the picture, Jones is expected to rely on 34-year-old captain Harumichi Tatekawa to guide the team at fly-half, supported by Matsunaga on the bench. Nakakusu, who has just one season of League One experience, will need time to adjust to the physical demands of international rugby.

Takuro Matsunaga had an impressive season with Brave Lupus Tokyo, starting 17 of 18 matches as the team’s fullback and helping them clinch the League One title. However, the starting fly-half for Brave Lupus is none other than Richie Mo'unga, the former All Black who joined the club this season, pushing Matsunaga to the fullback role.

Like Tatekawa, Matsunaga is a graduate of Tenri University, where he played his way into the starting lineup as a freshman. Despite not making waves in high school, he grew into a key player at university, eventually winning the national championship as captain in his senior year.

His development during those years is evident—he now plays alongside his former university teammates, scrum-half Shinobu Fujiwara and centre Siosaia Fifita, for the Japan national team.

Matsunaga’s coach at Brave Lupus Tokyo speaks highly of his composure and decision-making under pressure.

“He has the ability to make the right decisions quickly and execute them accurately,” the coach remarked, a skill crucial for any top-level fly-half.

Tenri University, founded in 1925, is known for nurturing players in Japan’s traditional "close-contact play" style—a strategy developed to counteract the size disadvantage that Japanese players often face against overseas teams.

This approach emphasizes quick, decisive passing and strategic movement, a hallmark of Japan’s rugby identity that

remains central to their play. Matsunaga, like Tatekawa before him, is a product of this school of thought, and it’s likely that the influence of Tenri’s coaching will be on full display during the autumn series.

Matsunaga’s regular role as fullback is largely due to the presence of Richie Mo'unga at Brave Lupus Tokyo, while Tatekawa occupies the inside centre position for Kubota Spears Funabashi, playing alongside the likes of Bernard Foley or Tomoki Kishioka at fly-half.

At Kobe Steelers where Lee Seung-sin plays, Bryn Gatland wears the 10 jerseys. According to Jones, the versatility gained from playing different positions ultimately benefits a fly-half, as it sharpens their awareness and adaptability.

Though Matsunaga has much to learn from a player of Mo'unga’s calibre, the ability to dominate the fly-half position for the Brave Blossoms should be reflected in domestic competition as well. However, in a league filled with some of the world’s best players, that might just be an overly ambitious expectation.