England will travel to Japan in June next year for the first test match between the two teams on Japanese soil.
The Rose and the Brave Blossoms will also face each other at this year’s Rugby World Cup. They play each other in Nice on September 17 in their Pool D match.
England toured Japan in 1971 and 1979, but the matches were not given Test match status.
“We are delighted to announce that England will play their first ever Test match against the Brave Blossoms in Japan,” said Bill Sweeney, chief executive of the England Rugby Union.
England had beaten Japan in all three previous Test matches. The most recent was a 52 – 13 thrashing at Twickenham in November.
Masato Tsuchida, president of the Japan Rugby Union, said the match would give Japan an “opportunity to test ourselves against one of the world’s best teams”.
“The Japan Rugby Union and Japanese rugby fans have great respect for English rugby and recognize England as the birthplace of our great sport,” he said.
