The Japan Rugby Football Union will bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup after narrowly missing out on the right to host the 2011 edition.
"We've decided to go ahead and make preparations to formally bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup," JRFU president Yoshiro Mori said in a statement Friday.
"The support we received from the rugby public, both in Japan and around the world, helped us greatly in making this decision."
Japan narrowly missed out on the chance to host the 2011 tournament, losing to New Zealand in the final round of voting.
"We are all looking forward to a tremendous tournament in New Zealand," said Mori.
Home to 60 percent of the world's population, Asia is seen as an area of untapped potential and the JRFU is determined to fulfill its role as the leading figure in Asian rugby.
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