Japan men's national ice hockey team
Men's national ice hockey team representing Japan
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The Japanese national ice hockey team (Japanese: アイスホッケー男子日本代表 Aisuhokkē Danshi Nippon Daihyō) is the national men's ice hockey of Japan. They are controlled by the Japan Ice Hockey Federation and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). As of 2025, Japan is ranked 20th in the IIHF World Ranking and 2nd in Asian Ranking. They currently compete in the IIHF World Championship Division I. They have competed in eight Olympic Games competitions. Team Japan are two-time Asian Winter Games champions (2003, 2007) and won the silver medal at the inaugural IIHF Asia Championship.[2][3][4]
AssociationJapan Ice Hockey Federation
Head coachJarrod Skalde
Assistants
- Masahito Haruna
- Kei Tonosaki
- Takeshi Yamanaka
CaptainTeruto Nakajima
| |
| Association | Japan Ice Hockey Federation |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jarrod Skalde |
| Assistants |
|
| Captain | Teruto Nakajima |
| Most games | Kenta Takagi (155) |
| Top scorer | Toshiyuki Sakai (44) |
| Most points | Norio Suzuki (85) |
| Team colors | |
| IIHF code | JPN |
 | |
| Ranking | |
| Current IIHF | 21 ( 1) (3 June 2026)[1] |
| Highest IIHF | 15 (2003–04) |
| Lowest IIHF | 25 (2021–23) |
| First international | |
Czechoslovakia  12–2  Japan(Davos, Switzerland; 24 January 1930) | |
| Biggest win | |
Japan 44–1  Kuwait(Gangneung, South Korea; 30 January 1999) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| Czechoslovakia 25–1 Japan (Moscow, Soviet Union; 4 March 1957) | |
| Olympics | |
| Appearances | 8 (first in 1936) |
| IIHF World Championships | |
| Appearances | 49 (first in 1930) |
| Best result | 8th (1930, 1957) |
| Asian Winter Games | |
| Appearances | 9 (first in 1986) |
| Best result |  Gold (2003, 2007)  Silver (1986, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2011, 2025)  Bronze (2017) |
| International record (W–L–T) | |
| 309–419–50 | |
Tournament participation
Winter Olympics
World Championship
- 1930 – Finished in 9th place
- 1957 – Finished in 8th place
- 1962 – Finished in 9th place (1st in "Pool B")
- 1967 – Finished in 17th place (1st in "Pool C")
- 1969 – Finished in 15th place (1st in "Pool C")
- 1970 – Finished in 11th place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1971 – Finished in 12th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1972 – Finished in 11th place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1973 – Finished in 12th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1974 – Finished in 10th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1975 – Finished in 12th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1976 – Finished in 10th place (2nd in "Pool B")
- 1977 – Finished in 11th place (3rd in "Pool B")
- 1978 – Finished in 10th place (2nd in "Pool B")
- 1979 – Finished in 14th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1981 – Finished in 16th place (8th in "Pool B")
- 1982 – Finished in 17th place (1st in "Pool C")
- 1983 – Finished in 13th place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1985 – Finished in 13th place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1986 – Finished in 15th place (8th in "Pool B")
- 1987 – Finished in 17th place (1st in "Pool C")
- 1989 – Finished in 15th place (7th in "Pool B")
- 1990 – Finished in 15th place (7th in "Pool B")
- 1991 – Finished in 16th place (8th in "Pool B")
- 1992 – Finished in 15th place (3rd in "Pool B")
- 1993 – Finished in 17th place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1994 – Finished in 16th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1995 – Finished in 18th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1996 – Finished in 20th place (8th in "Pool B")
- 1997 – Finished in 24th place (4th in "Pool C")
- 1998 – Finished in 14th place
- 1999 – Finished in 16th place
- 2000 – Finished in 16th place
- 2001 – Finished in 16th place
- 2002 – Finished in 16th place
- 2003 – Finished in 16th place
- 2004 – Finished in 15th place
- 2005 – Finished in 24th place (4th in Division I, Group A)
- 2006 – Finished in 22nd place (3rd in Division I, Group A)
- 2007 – Finished in 22nd place (3rd in Division I, Group B)
- 2008 – Finished in 21st place (3rd in Division I, Group B)
- 2009 – Finished in 21st place (3rd in Division I, Group A)
- 2010 – Finished in 21st place (3rd in Division I, Group A)
- 2011 – Withdrew from tournament citing the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake; remained in Group A
- 2012 – Finished in 20th place (4th in Division I, Group A)
- 2013 – Finished in 20th place (4th in Division I, Group A)
- 2014 – Finished in 19th place (3rd in Division I, Group A)
- 2015 – Finished in 20th place (4th in Division I, Group A)
- 2016 – Finished in 22nd place (6th in Division I, Group A)
- 2017 – Finished in 24th place (2nd in Division I, Group B)
- 2018 – Finished in 24th place (2nd in Division I, Group B)
- 2019 – Finished in 25th place (3rd in Division I, Group B)
- 2020 – Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[5]
- 2021 – Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[6]
- 2022 – Finished in 22nd place (2nd in Division I, Group B)
- 2023 – Finished in 23rd place (1st in Division I, Group B)
- 2024 – Finished in 21st place (5th in Division I, Group A)
- 2025 – Finished in 20th place (4th in Division I, Group A)
- 2026 – Finished in 22nd place (6th in Division I, Group A)
Asian Winter Games
| Year | Host | Result | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 |  Japan | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1990 | Japan | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 |  South Korea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1999 |  China | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 | Japan | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | China | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 |  Kazakhstan | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2017 | Japan | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2025 | China | 2nd | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 46 | 21 | +25 |
| Total | - | 9/9 | 39 | 27 | 3 | 9 | 334 | 81 | +253 |
Key: OT = W / SO = D / Excluded Goals in SO
- 2025: JPN 3-3 KOR Supposed
Asia Championship
Honours
- IIHF World Championship Division I / Pool B
- Winners: 1962 Pool B, 2023 (B)
- IIHF World Championship Division II / Pool C
- Winners: 1967 Pool C, 1969 Pool C, 1982 Pool C, 1987 Pool C
Notable coaches
- 1962, Tsutomu Kawabuchi[7]
- 2022, Perry Pearn
All-time record against other nations
As of 24 April 2025[8]
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australia | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 17 | +76 |
 Austria | 45 | 14 | 5 | 26 | 130 | 176 | –46 |
 Belarus | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 27 | –13 |
 Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | +24 |
 Bulgaria | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 29 | +37 |
 Canada | 47 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 90 | 276 | -186 |
| China | 36 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 246 | 77 | +169 |
 Chinese Taipei | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | +33 |
 Croatia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 6 | +24 |
| Czech Republic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 31 | –21 |
| Czechoslovakia | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 112 | -100 |
 Denmark | 34 | 19 | 1 | 14 | 147 | 112 | +35 |
 East Germany | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 45 | 89 | –44 |
 England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | –6 |
 Estonia | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 16 | +16 |
 Finland | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 65 | –50 |
 France | 30 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 101 | 120 | –19 |
 Germany[a] | 23 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 57 | 138 | –81 |
 Great Britain | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 41 | 39 | +2 |
 Hungary | 35 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 112 | 102 | +10 |
 Israel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 |
 Italy | 35 | 10 | 2 | 23 | 92 | 132 | –40 |
| Kazakhstan | 23 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 52 | 101 | –49 |
| Kuwait | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 1 | +43 |
 Latvia | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 75 | –50 |
 Lithuania | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 19 | +26 |
 Netherlands | 32 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 170 | 95 | +75 |
 North Korea | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 15 | +53 |
 Norway | 39 | 14 | 8 | 17 | 133 | 163 | –30 |
 Poland | 42 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 98 | 214 | –116 |
 Romania | 31 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 140 | 113 | +27 |
 Russia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | –5 |
 Serbia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | +18 |
 Slovakia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 39 | –27 |
 Slovenia | 19 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 38 | 68 | -30 |
| South Korea | 37 | 27 | 1 | 9 | 207 | 75 | +132 |
 Spain | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 5 | +12 |
 Sweden | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 44 | –43 |
 Switzerland | 31 | 9 | 3 | 19 | 93 | 141 | –48 |
 Thailand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 3 | +59 |
 Ukraine | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 44 | 45 | –1 |
 United States | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 33 | 103 | –70 |
 Yugoslavia | 34 | 17 | 2 | 15 | 133 | 139 | -6 |
| Total | 760 | 302 | 50 | 408 | 2 859 | 3 162 | –303 |
Notes
- Includes matches against
West Germany.
All-time record against other teams
As of 27 August 2016[8]
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battleford Millers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 33 |
| Victoria Navy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Pacific Coast Amateur League All Stars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| Nanaimo Labatts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| Chilliwack Volvos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Powell River Regals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 31 |
| Kamloops Cariboos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Central Alberta Hockey League All Stars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| Lethbridge Maple Leafs | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Regina Caps | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Brandon Wheat Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| Winnipeg Maroons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
| Kenora Thistles | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 16 |
| Thunder Bay Junior League All Stars | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| New Westminster Royals | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 |
| Chilliwack Steelheads | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| Victoria Commercial League All Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| Nanaimo Clippers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Portland Royals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| Victoria Intermediate All Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| Lethbridge Sugar Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Yorkton Terriers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Saskatchewan Junior League All Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| Manitoba South Junior All Stars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Kingston Merchants | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Halifax Canadiens | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 |
| Grand Falls Cataracts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Bathurst Papermakers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Manitoba North Junior All Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| North Peace River League All Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 |
| Prince George Mohawks | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 |
| Penticton Broncos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| Finland B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| Czechoslovakia B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
 USSR B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 16 |
| West Germany U20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Spartak Moscow | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| Saskatchewan Huskies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Michigan Tech Huskies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Alaska Gold Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Amur Khabarovsk | 15 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 60 |
| Sweden B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| Russia B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| Canada B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Denmark B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Japan All Stars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Tappara | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| TPS Turku | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Malmö Redhawks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Schwenninger Wild Wings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| EV Zug | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Krefeld Pinguine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Modo Hockey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Augsburger Panther | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| HC Lugano | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Switzerland B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Qiqihar | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 22 |
| Khabarovsk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| HC Pardubice | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Saint Georges Garaga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Île-des-Chênes North Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Mid-West Islanders | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| HKm Zvolen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Frankfurt Lions | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Amurskie Tigry | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| PSK Sakhalin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Straubing Tigers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Kölner Haie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Düsseldorfer EG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 106 | 30 | 5 | 71 | 347 | 608 |
