48th All Japan Rugby Football Championship

The top four teams (Toshiba Brave Lupus, Sanyo Wild Knights, Toyota Verblitz, Suntory Sungoliath) in the Top League automatically qualifying for the competition competed in the playoffs for the Top League playoff title and a place in the Semi-Finals of the Championship.

Sanyo Wild Knights and Suntory Sungoliath eventually competed in the final, with Sanyo Wild Knights winning 28-23. As finalists this gained them automatic entry to the Championship Semi-finals.

The Top League Wildcard Tournament was contested by the fifth to tenth teams in the final Top League table for the last two Top League places in the Championship. This was competed by (Kobelco Steelers, NEC Green Rockets, Ricoh Black Rams, Fukuoka Sanix Blues, Kintetsu Liners, Coca-Cola West Red Sparks) and eventually taken by Kobelco Steelers and NEC Green Rockets.

In the Top Challenge One series, Canon Eagles, NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes, Kyushu Denryoku Voltex from Top Challenge One and Honda Heat (Top Challenge Two Winner) competed over 3 rounds to gain the Top Challenge One place. This was eventually won by NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes.

In the 47th Japan National University Rugby Championship final Teikyo University defeated Waseda University 17-12. Both teams gain entry to the Championship as finalists.

In the 18th All Japan Rugby Club Championship, Tamariba beat Hokkaido Barbarians 24-22 to gain the Top Club side entry to this Championship.

Suntory Sungoliath and Sanyo Wild Knights bypass the first two rounds into the semi-finals by reaching the final of the Top League Playoffs this year.