Wales again visit Japan this summer when the British and Irish Lions are in Australia, just as they did in 2001 and 2013.
On those two previous trips, there were far more Wales representatives with only Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan selected initially in 2025.
In 2001, with Graham Henry leading the Lions, caretaker coach Lynn Howells took a development team on a two-Test trip.
The tourists lost their opening game against Japan’s premier club side Suntory, but a solid forward platform paved the way for Shane Williams to score four tries in a 64-10 first Test win in Osaka.
Wales trailed by a point at half-time in the second international in Tokyo, but the visitors rallied after the break for a 53-30 win, Gareth Thomas getting a hat-trick and Tom Shanklin two tries on his debut.
Twelve years later, it was Robin McBryde’s turn to lead a shadow squad with head coach Warren Gatland and 15 Wales players on the Lions tour and other senior personnel rested.
Wales managed to win the first Test 22-18 after a Harry Robinson try and the boot of Dan Biggar and Rhys Patchell on his debut.
A week later, Japan claimed their first and so far only win over Wales with a sparkling second-half display to win the second Test 23-8 in Tokyo and draw the series.
Craig Wing and Michael Broadhurst scored tries, while Ayumu Goramaru kicked 13 points. Wales led briefly in the second half through Tom Prydie’s try, but rarely threatened Japan after that.
Those two Japan tours were more than just results. Shanklin, Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Gavin Henson, Mark Jones, Gareth Cooper and Kevin Morgan were part of the 2001 tour party and would become key figures in Welsh rugby’s success over the next decade.
In 2013, Biggar, Patchell and Liam Williams featured and the trio were to enjoy further success with Grand Slam, Six Nations and Lions tours to follow.