Wheelchair Rugby - Team Japan

General
Japan qualified for the 2020 Games as hosts and arrive in Tokyo as the reigning world champions. Their victory at the 2018 World Championship in Vejle was sealed in thrilling fashion, as they edged Australia by just a single point to win 62-61 and claim the nation's first world title. Japan will be making their fifth Paralympic appearance in Tokyo since making their debut in 2004.

World championship gold came two years after the Japanese team also claimed their first Paralympic medal, a bronze at Rio 2016. Japan's group matches in Rio included a narrow 57-56 defeat to the United States of America and victories over France and Sweden. The Japanese team then lost out to eventual champions Australia in the semifinals before they bounced back to beat Canada 52-50 in the bronze medal match and claim a place on the podium. This victory was in contrast to four years earlier in London, where they lost the bronze medal match to the US team.

Japan's path to the world title in 2018 included four wins from five matches in the group stage before a 51-46 semifinal win against the US team. The Japanese team then overturned a defeat to Australia in the group stage to prevail 62-61 in the gold medal match. Their only previous world championship medal had been a bronze in 2010.