Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 – Teams and Players’ Guide

Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 first leg is due to be played from 20-21 June; the top domestic Japanese Women’s Series follows the same format as last year, with three legs before a Grand Final Championship round. We look at who the clubs have signed for the incoming season.

As in previous seasons, there are 12 Japanese women’s sevens clubs involved and the Series will highlight the best of Japanese Women’s Sevens rugby, which includes a good number of international talent with several HSBC SVNS and Olympians in action. 

The Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series started in 2014 and is a key pillar in the development and promotion of the women’s game in Japan.

You can read more about the players who were involved in the 2025 Series here.

Many of the teams have already been involved in tournaments this year in preparation, such as the Nanairo Cup, Pearls Rugby Festival 2026, and the Pirika Mosori 7s.

A press conference was held by the Japan Rugby Football Union and Taiyo Life Insurance Co., Ltd., and guests included Yume Hirano (Nagato Blue Angels) as well as Yuka Kanematsu (Head Coach, Japan Women’s Sevens) and Misato Kawahara (Tournament MC).

Photo Credit – JRFU

Team News 2026 – Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026

Nagato Blue Angels 

The three-time defending champions of the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series will again be one of the favourites to lift the title. They have won five titles overall and by far sign the most players from overseas with SVNS and Olympics experience.

Sakura 7s player Yume Hirano was one of the Nagato Blue Angels co-captains last year. The squad also includes her national 7s teammate Mei Ohtani (Sakura 7s, Olympics 2020/2024) and Sakurako Yazaki, while Yazaki Sakurako (also a  Sakura Seven) has joined from Artemi Stars.

New signings include:

• Chen Keyi – Chinese two-time Rugby 7s Olympian and the first time a Chinese national team player has played in the Taiyo Life Series (as far as we know).
• Adita Milinia – Fiji 7s & XVs international.
• Mackenzie Davis – Australia 7s and Australia Touch – she made her SVNS debut in Cape Town in 2024 and scored 16 tries in 25 games during her maiden season. She said, “I’m so excited to join Nagato this year and to play with this amazing team!” She played this season too on the HSBC 7s Series.
• Amahli Hala – part of the Australia 7s HSBC SVNS 2026 Championship side – she previously played with the Japanese side in 2024 and scored the most tries that season – 22 – as an 18-year-old.
• Kahli Henwood – Another member of the 2026 World Championship-winning Aussie 7s – she was also with the NBA in 2024.
• Bianca Silva – The Brazil 7s player returns for a second stint and said, “I am very happy and honoured to have the opportunity to return to Nagato Blue Angels for another season. Japan has had a profound impact on my career, not only because of winning the championship, but also due to the personal and professional growth I experienced here.” She scored 16 tries when she was with them in 2024.
• Ana Naimasi – A Fiji 7s and bronze winner at Tokyo 2020 in Rugby 7s (she also competed at Paris 2024).

Rusila Nagasau was with the team as they competed at the HKFC 10s 2026 but so far has not been confirmed for the 7s season. Both Raichel Bativakalolo (Sakura 7s, Olympics 2020) and her sister Yumi Bativakalolo (Japan 15s) retired at the end of last season.

Mie Pearls

Conor Hirini coaches the team for a second season (partner to Black Fern Sarah; the couple recently had their first child in Japan), and his Assistant Coach is Renee Woodman-Wickliffe (partner to Portia, who played with the side last season).

Mie Pearls have signed international players who have competed in the recently concluded HSBC SVNS Series for the upcoming season. They also have several high-pedigree Japanese players such as Natsumi Takahashi (Sakura 7s).

• Heidi Dennis – World Series Championship winners Australia 7s
• Ellie Boatman – England and GB 7s (2024 Olympian) said, “I’m so excited to be joining the PEARLS this summer and be a part of a really exciting group of women. I was so disappointed to be injured last year, so I can’t wait for this amazing opportunity to make some new friends and memories but also play in a very competitive 7’s league in Japan.”
• Monique Coffey – has represented Canada 7s and previously was with the Pearls in 2024 when she scored 20 tries in four tournaments. She said, “I am so excited to rejoin Pearls for another great season. I am looking forward to getting back out there with the team and giving it my all. Can’t wait to bring energy, build momentum, and chase success with my teammates, new and old!”

They have re-signed Thaila Costa (record try scorer for Brazil 7s and two-time Olympian) and Gabriella Lima (Brazil 7s & two-time Olympian), who were with them last season.

Thalia scored 30 tries in four tournaments to become the top try-scorer of the year last season.

Captained by Mio Yamanaka (Sakura 7s, Olympics 2016/2020), the team includes current Sakura 7s captain and leading points scorer for the Japanese on the HSBC SVNS Series, Michiyo Suda, as well as Mao Higuchi (Captain Nippon Sport Science University), Natsuzuki Ouchida (Sakura 7s).

Yokohama TKM 

The team won the 15-a-side national championship last season to end the reign of Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix.

Former Black Ferns player, Crystal Nuku (nee Mayes), is the Head Coach of the Yokohama TKM this season. She has played with the Valley RFC in Hong Kong Prem in recent seasons as well as being a player-coach and the club’s MVP. She was involved in the HKFC 10s with the NZ legends. 

The side includes Sakura 7s Haruna Utsumi and at least four players who represented Sakura XVs in winning the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026;  Mele Yua Havili Kagawa, Nagoka Moe, Fuji Shuka, Yamamoto Minoru, and Nishimura Mio.

Mele Kagawa also played at RWC 2025, and her sister Megumi Sipola Havili Kagawa, plays for Brave Louve.

They have signed:

• Kahlia Awa – Blues (Super Rugby Aupiki) and Black Ferns XV.
• Taylah Watson – Briars Rugby 

Fiji 7s players Ateca Leiyamo & Roela Radiniyavuni (Fiji 7s, Olympics 2020, Fiji RWC 2021) are also in the squad – the latter was in the squad last season.

Nanairo Prism Fukuoka 

The team won the HKFC 10s 2026, beating the NZ Legends team stacked with talent earlier this year, and inspirational Chiharu Nakamura (Japan 7s, Olympics 2024) has been one of their standout players.

Other Japanese national team players include Haruka Hirotsu, who was the Sakura XV centre at the RWC 2025. They also announced the signings of Wada Yoko, Chura Ireijo, and Mako Shimada

• Jirawan Chutrakun – Thailand 7s top try scorer 2025; she made a recovery from a long-term injury last season, and she played with them in 2023, scoring 25 tries, before playing with Nagato Blue Angels, where she scored 15 tries in 2024.

Nippon Sports Science University Women’s Rugby Club 

The team won the recent 13th Women’s College Sevens 2026 held at their home ground. Some of the standout players included Saya Saito (a 2nd-year uni student), who is also a member of the Japan Sevens Senior Academy, as well as Himeno Sugimoto, also a member of the Senior Japan 7s Academy.

Saito scored a hat-trick in their Cup final win over Nikkei University, and was joint second top try scorer with 6, and Sugimoto was the top scorer in the tournament with 7 tries.

Sugimoto has been described as a powerful runner who has attracted attention from an early age, having participated in the Taiyo Life Series as part of the Challenge Team since her first year at Kokugakuin Tochigi High School.

There are two players in the team who have older sisters who play for the Sakura 7s; Miyabi Taniyama is the younger sister of Minako Taniyama, who also scored the HSBC SVNS Women’s Try of the Year, and Airi Ohashi is the younger sister of Seika Ohashi (Nanairo Prism Fukuoka & Sakura Sevens)

Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Rugby Club 

Last season, the former three-time back-to-back Japanese XVs champions signed Canadian superstar Charity Williams, while HKCR 7s rep Chloe Chan was also in the squad. The Phoenix had an injury-ravaged season, though, under a new head coach, Yumeno Noda.

They signed Japanese players Sayaka Tanaka, Emii Tanaka, Hiyori Kawachi, Mine Manam, and Korai Sakurako. They have announced the season captains are Nisha Arisa and Komaki Hinata. 

Hiyori Kawachi captained her side to their first-ever All Japan U18 Women’s Sevens in 2025 and was the MVP.

Emii Tanaka is a Japan 7s and XV player who played at the 2024 Paris Olympics and has spent the past three seasons with Nagato Blue Angels.

Hinata said, “I want to build a team full of love as always. Each person stands on the ground with their own backgrounds, but everyone has the same thoughts for Phoenix. Create an environment where you can fully express your thoughts. A team that gives everything and supports each other.”

• Temalesi Rayasi – promising multi-sports player from New Zealand, studying in Japan – her father is Philip Rayasi, a former Kintetsu Liners player and member of the Fiji XVs and brother of Salesi Rayasi who has played Fiji and NZ 7s and is with UBB in the Top 14.

They are without Wakaba Okuno (nee Hare), the Sakura 7s Olympian, who retired at the end of last season as well as four other players.

Hokkaido Barbarians Diana 

The side announced that the captain is Himena Yonemura, with Aki Fujimori and Jennifer Nduka as Vice Captains.

The Hokkaido Barbarians Diana have signed 14 players, among others:

• Ella Wilton – NZ Universities & Waikato
• Madison Pomerenke – Queensland Reds and the Australian U18 Schoolgirls Merit Team
• Emmisyn Wynyard – Queensland Reds & Australia A Sevens
• Zoe Waters – Queensland Reds 7s and Australia Sevens A
• Raukura Waikai – NZ-born player
• Kavanah Lene – The 6-foot player is the daughter of Stacey (former Black Fern). She was accepted into the “NextFerns Program” in 2025 and played the HKFC 10s with the NZ Legends team this year as well as the Fiji Coral Coast 7 and the eaast 7s.

The team also features Japanese players who have played for Sakura 7s and XVs and Ugandan international Emilly Lekulu, who was with them last season.

Last season, Takako Yoshida captained the Hokkaido Barbarians Diana, and Japan internationals include Chiaki Saegusa (Sakura 7s) & Jennifer Nduka (Sakura 15s).

JSDF Physical Training School 

Japan Self-Defense Forces Physical Training School has three new Japanese players in the squad: Kirara Ishida, Hina Hamano and Mirei Matsukawa.

Mirei Matsukawa participated in the National U18 Sevens for three consecutive years and has played in the U18 Hanazono 15-a-side tournament.

Yokogawa Musahino Artemi-Stars

The team also took part in the 2026 13th Women’s College Sevens and finished in 4th place but will combine with players from Rissho University (Arcas), which came in 5th place.

They announced their captain is Moe Tsukui with co-vice-captains Kanna Hayashi and Koharu Tanji as well as a raft of 7-8 new Japanese players.

One to watch is Nami Asari, who has won the national championship as a member of the Kanagawa Prefecture Junior High School Select in junior high school, and the national championship with Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura in high school. She has represented Japan in the Asian Emirates U18 and Global Youth Sevens tournaments

They had at least 6 players represent Japan Sakura Fifteen at the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026.

Arukas Queen Kumagaya Women’s Sevens Rugby Football Club 

They had three members in the Sakura Fifteen squad that won the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026 and three members represented the Japan Girls SDS/Senior Academy side in 7s rugby.

Yuna Hosokawa and Yui Harada were members of the U18 Asia Emirates Sevens Japan in 2025 and had experience in the Taiyo Life Series with last year’s Challenge Team. Harada scored a team-high five tries in College Sevens at the end of May, where they finished 5th.

Sevens Youth Academy student Kiyora Yamada is also the younger sister of another Sakura 7s player – Haruka Yamada.

Two-time Rugby 7s Olympian Mifuyu Koide retired at the start of 2026, and they also had half a dozen players leave the club at the start of the year.

Photo Credit – Arukas Queen Kumagaya Women’s Sevens Rugby Football Club

Otemon Gakuin Rugby Club VENUS

The VENUS side finished 9th overall of 12 teams in the 13th Women’s College Sevens 2026.

Challenge Team

The team comprises JRFU Sevens Youth Academy players from high school students who have the potential to compete on a global level, and the team is made up of promising young players from teams that are unable to participate in tournaments. They have finished 10th and 11th in recent seasons but cannot be relegated.

We would like to thank rugbyjapan365 for their reporting on the players signed.

Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Tournament Schedule

• Tournament One – Kumagaya – June 20 & 21, 2026 – Venue: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
• Tournament Two – Tochigi –  July 11 & 12, 2026 – Venue: Honda Green Heat Stadium, Tochigi
• Tournament Three – Kitakyushu – July 25 & 26, 2026 – Venue: Mikuni World Stadium
• Grand Final Tournament – Sapporo – August 9, 2026 – Venue: Daiwa House Premist Dome, Sapporo

How the Points Are Accumulated – Taiyo Seimei Women’s 7s Series 2026

As mentioned, there are three legs. Each leg has three pools of four teams, and the following points will be awarded based on the results of the matches.

• Win: 3 points 
• Draw: 2 points 
• Loss: 1 point 
• Withdrawal: 0 points

In Rounds 1 to 3, each team will be awarded the following Series points based on their ranking.

• 1st place: 20 points
• 2nd place: 18 points
• 3rd place: 16 points
• 4th place: 14 points
• 5th place: 12 points
• 6th place: 10 points
• 7th place: 8 points
• 8th place: 6 points
• 9th place: 4 points
• 10th place: 3 points
• 11th place: 2 points
• 12th place: 1 point

Taiyo Life Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Theme Song

It was also announced that “UNBREAKABLE,” a song by the four-member girl pop group Be-ray, has been selected as the song for the Taiyo Life Women’s Sevens Series 2026.

Group member Emi said, “In team sports like rugby, where everyone gives their all, I believe and feel that the most important thing is to believe in yourself and overcome any obstacle. So, no matter the situation, I hope you will never give up until the very end, believe in yourselves, and move forward. I would be happy if our song could be a source of strength to you all. 

And as we head into the hot season, I hope this song can be a great source of support and encouragement for the athletes who will be giving their all, and for everyone who is cheering them on.”

Photo Credit – Be-Ray

How To Watch Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026

All of the tournaments are free to attend. The JRFU has confirmed that the matches will be streamed for free on JAPAN RUGBY TV 

Japan 7s Rugby News

• Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Details Confirmed.
• Japan Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Challenger Tournaments.
• South Africa Men and Australia Women Crowned HSBC SVNS World Champions 2026
• Pirika Mosori 7s 2026.