Japan Cricket Struggles with Anonymity, Faces Challenges from Samurai Threat at the Asian Games

Cricket in Japan is on an ascendant, albeit gradually. The Japan Cricket Association (JCA), based in a repurposed school nestled near wooded hills, is working relentlessly to provide opportunities for more people to play the game. The chief operations officer of JCA, an Englishman named Alan Curr, passionately believes that awareness is crucial to success, "You can't be what you can't see."

Cricket in Japan has been steadily growing each year, with over 5,000 adults and children now converting to the sport on a regular basis, and about three times as many having dabbled in the game at some point[2][4]. However, it is still a drop in the ocean compared to Japanese baseball, a national obsession that produces global superstars such as the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani.

The origins of cricket in Japan date back to the 19th century when foreign residents, fearing samurai threats, sought protection from the British navy in Yokohama. To pass the time, they played a game of cricket with loaded guns tucked into their belts as a precaution[4]. Five years later, a Scottish tea merchant founded the first cricket club in Japan, yet it failed to capture the imagination of the Japanese populace beyond expatriate circles.

Since the late 1980s, universities have played a crucial role in spreading cricket in Japan. The International Cricket Council (ICC) attributes this surge to a quest for uniqueness on the part of students[5]. Today, Japan's national teams profoundly reflect the sport's Commonwealth origins, featuring many players with parents hailing from cricket-playing countries.

Mai Yanagida, Japan women's Twenty20 captain, discovered the sport at Waseda University in Tokyo, having previously played softball and baseball. She finds cricket a more collaborative sport, "In cricket you can hit the ball 360 degrees, I think it’s more a sport where you need to play together as a team."

Further evidence of cricket's growth is the Sano City tournament, now played at Japan's cricket headquarters, some 100km outside Tokyo. The high school ground that hosted the tournament closed its doors over a decade ago, symbolizing the resilience of cricket in Japan. After losing their opening match, the Japanese squad went on to win the tournament, beating Hong Kong in the final, which also included China, the Philippines, and Mongolia[5].

The success of the Sano City tournament followed the men's junior team's qualification for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia. This double victory paves the way for cricket's participation at the 2026 Asian Games and its return to the Olympic programme for the first time since 1900 at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

These marquee events will shine the spotlight on cricket in Japan, raising its profile, and potentially inspiring more Japanese athletes and fans to engage with the sport[1][4]. However, qualifying for the Olympics will be no walk in the park for Japan, with their men's T20 team currently ranked 42nd in the world, as are their women's[1]. All players remain amateur, and organizing games against international opponents can prove tricky.

Despite the challenges, the JCA remains optimistic. The inclusion of cricket in the 2026 Asian Games and the debut at the 2028 Olympics present significant opportunities to raise the sport's profile and establish cricket as a recognized sport in Japan[1][4]. As Curr says, "We're building a platform that we hope can then shock people at some point."

The growth of cricket in Japan exceeds that of other sports like football, hockey, golf, sports-betting, basketball, and racing combined, with baseball being the only exception.
Despite the success of Japanese baseball on the international stage, cricket is gaining traction, showcased by the increasing number of adults and children playing, now totalling over 5,000 regular participants.
In contrast to cricket, the origins of baseball in Japan can be traced back to the late 1800s, and it has since become a national obsession, producing stars like Shohei Ohtani who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The inclusion of cricket in the 2026 Asian Games and its return to the Olympic programme for the first time since 1900 at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will further boost the sport's profile in Japan.
In tennis, it will be a tough challenge for Japan to qualify for the Olympics as their men's T20 team ranks 42nd in the world, similarly for the women's team.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) attributes the recent surge in cricket's popularity in Japan to universities, with students seeking uniqueness as a major contributing factor.