Water Polo - Team Japan

General
Four-time Asian Games champions Japan have only failed to reach the podium on one of their 16 appearances. They claimed silver on their debut in 1954 before going on to win the next four titles from 1958 to 1970. They have finished as runners-up on seven occasions since without winning another gold.

At the 2018 Games in Indonesia, the Japanese side won silver. They eased through their group with four wins from four matches and then eliminated Singapore [28-6] and the Islamic Republic of Iran [18-7] in the knockout stages to set up a final against Kazakhstan. Japan were seeking revenge in a repeat of the 2014 final and led 7-5 entering the fourth quarter. However, the Kazakhstani team scored three unanswered goals in the last period to edge the game 8-7. The gold medal match at the 2014 Games was also a tight affair, with Kazakhstan prevailing 7-6.

Japan did overcome Kazakhstan to win the Asian championship title in 2016 in Tokyo. They were also champions at the 2022 Asian Water Polo Championships in Samut Prakan, where they beat Kazakhstan 20-4 in the semifinals and the People's Republic of China 10-7 in the final.

Japan's nine appearances at the Olympic Games is the most of any Asian team. As hosts of the 2020 Games in Tokyo they placed 10th, recording a sole win against South Africa in their final group game. Between 2001 and 2023 Japan competed at 10 editions of the world championships, securing a highest ranking of ninth [2022] in that period.