HISTORY OF JAPAN CRICKET TEAM

Japan first played cricket in 1868 at that time English merchant group living in Yokohama. They established the Yokohama Cricket Club and played their matches a place lastly the place inaugurate Yokohama stadium. Later the Yokohama Cricket Club change the name to Yokohama Country and Athletic Club and cricket play going on .

Until 1980s Cricket did not established in Japan, also Japan Cricket Association was not formed. In 1989 they achieved affiliate membership of ICC. In 1996 the national team first played ACC Trophy, but lost all the matches. They played continued  without win in 1998 and 2000 tournament.

Japan left the Asian Cricket Council after the ACC Trophy in 2000, they grown as a part of East Asia Pacific region of ICC. They participated in East Asia eight tournament in Australia in February 2002, and secured runner up to an Australian indigenous team. In 2004 Japan hosted the East Asia Pacific Cricket Challenge tournament to qualifying for the World Cup 2007.They achieved third place by beating Indonesia in a play off.

Japan became a associate member of ICC in June 2005. In the year Japan played in the ICC East Asia Pacific Cricket Cup 2005 in Vanuatu. They played in final match against Cook Islands and won the tournament. The next year they participated in ICC EAP Cricket Cup 2005 Trophy in Brisbane but they lost all the matches , there also Fiji and Cook Islands involved.

They participated in the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy 2007 in December 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand  and played against the Cook Island, Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. They qualified for Division Fiveof World Cricket league by won the tournament. They secured tenth place out of twelve team in Jersey.