JAPAN (JPN) Men’s National Ice Hockey Team
1 win, 1 reign, 1 game with IHLC – ranked 21st
IHLC last held November 1, 1997
Japan first burst on to the international scene in 1930, quite an anomaly for an Asian squad in the largely European / North American dominated hockey scene. Japan competed for their first IHLC in 1957, and made a number of World Championship appearances thanks to the IIHF allowing a “Far East” competitor to play in tournaments they otherwise wouldn’t have qualified for, before winning their first and only IHLC forty years later from Canada. While Japan has not played for the IHLC since, they have stayed a mainstay of Division IA, looking to reach the World Championship’s top pool once again.
IHLC GAMES
Total IHLC Games Played: 14
First IHLC Game: 16-0 loss vs. 
URS, Feb. 24, 1957
Only IHLC Win: 5-3 win vs. 
CAN, Oct. 11, 1997
Latest IHLC Game: 2-2 tie vs. 
NOR, Nov. 4, 1997
Largest IHLC Defeat: 16-0 (2 times, latest vs. URS, Feb. 12, 1980)
IHLC HOSTING
IHLC Games Hosted: 17
First Game Hosted: URS 3-3 TCH 
, May 24, 1989 (Tokyo)
Latest Game Hosted: CZE 1-0 RUS 
, Feb. 22, 1998 (Nagano)
Major Tournaments Hosted: Olympic Games (2: 1972, 1998)
MAJOR TOURNAMENT RECORDS
Best IIHF World Championship Result: 8th (3: 1930, 1957, 1960)
Best Olympic Games Result: 8th (1: 1960)
Best Canada/World Cup Result: n/a
COMPETITIVE IHLC RECORDS
CANADA: 1 win, 1 loss, 1 tie
FINLAND: 0 wins, 1 loss, 0 ties
NORWAY: 0 wins, 1 loss, 2 ties
SLOVAKIA: 0 wins, 1 loss, 0 ties
SOVIET UNION: 0 wins, 6 losses, 0 ties
COMPLETE IHLC HISTORY
01. URS 16-0 JPN – 02/24/1957 – WC – Moscow
02. FIN 11-2 JPN – 02/03/1976 – OG – Innsbruck 
03. URS 16-0 JPN – 02/12/1980 – OG – Lake Placid 
04. URS 10-1 JPN – 05/25/1989 – JC – Tokyo
05. URS 10-6 JPN – 05/28/1989 – JC – Tokyo
06. URS 17-3 JPN – 05/13/1990 – JC – Tokyo
07. URS 10-2 JPN – 05/16/1990 – JC – Tokyo
08. SVK 7-2 JPN – 08/29/1993 – OQ – Sheffield 
09. CAN 4-1 JPN – 10/07/1997 – EX – Calgary
10. CAN 3-3 JPN – 10/10/1997 – EX – Olds
11. JPN 5-3 CAN – 10/11/1997 – EX – Drumheller
12. NOR 5-3 JPN – 11/01/1997 – EX – Sarpsborg
13. NOR 3-3 JPN – 11/03/1997 – EX – Hamar
14. NOR 2-2 JPN – 11/04/1997 – EX – Oslo
Photo Credit: WMIA 2014 – IIHF – HHOF – IOC
