IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship/Champion history

==Title history==
# 	Wrestlers 	Reign 	Date 	Daysheld 	Location 	Event 	Notes
1 	Shiro Koshinaka 	1 	February 6, 1986 	102 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	Koshinaka defeated The Cobra in a tournament final to become the first champion.
2 	Nobuhiko Takada 	1 	May 19, 1986 	123 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
3 	Shiro Koshinaka 	2 	September 19, 1986 	317 	Fukuoka, Japan 	Live event 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	August 2, 1987 	— 	NA 	NA 	Koshinaka vacated the championship due to injuring his right ankle.
4 	Kuniaki Kobayashi 	1 	August 20, 1987 	129 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	Kuniaki Kobayashi defeated Nobuhiko Takada to win the vacant championship.
5 	Hiroshi Hase 	1 	December 27, 1987 	152 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
6 	Owen Hart 	1 	May 27, 1988 	28 	Sendai, Japan 	Live event 	
7 	Shiro Koshinaka 	3 	June 24, 1988 	265 	Osaka, Japan 	Live event 	
8 	Hiroshi Hase 	2 	March 16, 1989 	70 	Yokohama, Japan 	Live event 	
9 	Jushin Liger 	1 	May 25, 1989 	70 	Osaka, Japan 	Live event 	
10 	Naoki Sano 	1 	August 10, 1989 	174 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
11 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	2 	January 31, 1990 	200 	Osaka, Japan 	Live event 	
12 	Pegasus Kid 	1 	August 19, 1990 	74 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
13 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	3 	November 1, 1990 	165 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	April 15, 1991 	— 	NA 	NA 	Liger vacated the championship so a new champion could be decided in the Top of the Super Juniors tournament.
14 	Norio Honaga 	1 	April 30, 1991 	43 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	Honaga defeated Jushin Thunder Liger in the finals of the Top of the Super Juniors tournament.
15 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	4 	June 12, 1991 	58 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
16 	Akira Nogami 	1 	August 9, 1991 	88 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
17 	Norio Honaga 	2 	November 5, 1991 	95 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
18 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	5 	February 8, 1992 	139 	Sapporo, Japan 	Live event 	
19 	El Samurai 	1 	June 26, 1992 	149 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
20 	Último Dragón 	1 	November 22, 1992 	43 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
21 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	6 	January 4, 1993 	628 	Tokyo, Japan 	Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	September 24, 1994 	— 	NA 	NA 	Liger vacated the championship due to fracturing his left ankle.
22 	Norio Honaga 	3 	September 27, 1994 	145 	Osaka, Japan 	Live event 	Honaga defeated Wild Pegasus in a tournament final to win the vacant championship.
23 	Koji Kanemoto 	1 	February 19, 1995 	73 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	
24 	Sabu 	1 	May 3, 1995 	42 	Fukuoka, Japan 	Wrestling Dontaku 1995 	
25 	Koji Kanemoto 	2 	June 14, 1995 	204 	Tokyo, Japan 	Live event 	This match was also for Kanemoto's UWA World Welterweight Championship.
26 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	7 	January 4, 1996 	116 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestling World 1996 	
27 	The Great Sasuke 	1 	April 29, 1996 	165 	Tokyo, Japan 	Battle Formation 	On August 5, 1996, Sasuke won an 8-man tournament to form the J-Crown, an octuple-belt championship that includes the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title; these titles were still considered separate but were defended together.
28 	Último Dragón 	2 	October 11, 1996 	85 	Osaka, Japan 	Live event 	
29 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	8 	January 4, 1997 	183 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestling World 1997 	Liger lost the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship from the J-Crown on June 6, 1997, but continued to defend the other 7 belts.
30 	El Samurai 	2 	July 6, 1997 	35 	Sapporo, Japan 	Live event 	
31 	Shinjiro Otani 	1 	August 10, 1997 	181 	Nagoya, Japan 	The Four Heaven in Nagoya Dome 	On November 5, 1997, Otani vacated all J-Crown belts but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title after the WWF retook control of its Light Heavyweight title, effectively ending the J-Crown.
32 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	9 	February 7, 1998 	403 	Sapporo, Japan 	Live event 	
33 	Koji Kanemoto 	3 	March 17, 1999 	164 	Hiroshima, Japan 	Live event 	
34 	Kendo Kashin 	1 	August 28, 1999 	44 	Tokyo, Japan 	Jingu Climax 	
35 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	10 	October 11, 1999 	49 	Tokyo, Japan 	Final Dome 	
36 	Juventud Guerrera 	1 	November 29, 1999 	7 	Denver, CO 	Nitro 	
37 	Jushin Thunder Liger 	11 	December 6, 1999 	227 	Milwaukee, WI 	Nitro 	Psychosis replaced Guerrera in the match due to Guerrera suffering a fractured right arm.
38 	Tatsuhito Takaiwa 	1 	July 20, 2000 	101 	Sapporo, Japan 	Summer Struggle 2000 	
39 	Minoru Tanaka 	1 	October 29, 2000 	264 	Kobe, Japan 	Get a Right!! 	
40 	Masayuki Naruse 	1 	July 20, 2001 	80 	Sapporo, Japan 	Dome Quake 	
41 	Kendo Kashin 	2 	October 8, 2001 	116 	Tokyo, Japan 	Indicate of Next 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	February 1, 2002 	— 	NA 	NA 	Kashin left NJPW and returned the title to the IWGP Executive Committee.
42 	Minoru Tanaka 	2 	February 16, 2002 	153 	Tokyo, Japan 	Fighting Spirit 2002 	
43 	Koji Kanemoto 	4 	July 19, 2002 	278 	Sapporo, Japan 	Summer Fight Series 2002 	
44 	Tiger Mask 	1 	April 23, 2003 	153 	Hiroshima, Japan 	Strong Energy 2003 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	September 23, 2003 	— 	NA 	NA 	The championship was vacated so it could be contested for in a battle royal.
45 	Jado 	1 	October 13, 2003 	62 	Tokyo, Japan 	Ultimate Crush 	Jado defeated Dick Togo, El Samurai, Gedo, Heat, Jushin Thunder Liger, Katsushi Takemura, Koji Kanemoto, Masahito Kakihara, Masayuki Naruse, and Tiger Mask in a battle royal to win the vacant championship.
46 	Heat 	3 	December 14, 2003 	387 	Nagoya, Japan 	Battle Final 2003 	Previously known as Minoru Tanaka.
47 	Tiger Mask 	2 	January 4, 2005 	277 	Tokyo, Japan 	Toukon Festival ~ Wrestling World 2005 	
48 	Black Tiger 	1 	October 8, 2005 	134 	Tokyo, Japan 	Toukon Souzou New Chapter 	This match was also for Black Tiger's NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
49 	Tiger Mask 	3 	February 19, 2006 	73 	Tokyo, Japan 	Acceleration 	This match was also for Black Tiger's NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
50 	Koji Kanemoto 	5 	May 3, 2006 	235 	Fukuoka, Japan 	New Japan Cup 2006 Special 	
51 	Minoru 	4 	December 24, 2006 	194 	Tokyo, Japan 	Battle Xmas! Catch the Victory 	Previously known as Minoru Tanaka/Heat.
52 	Ryusuke Taguchi 	1 	July 6, 2007 	155 	Tokyo, Japan 	New Japan Soul C.T.U Farewell Tour 	
53 	Wataru Inoue 	1 	December 8, 2007 	191 	Osaka, Japan 	New Japan Alive 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	June 16, 2008 	— 	NA 	NA 	The championship was vacated when Inoue moved to the heavyweight division.
54 	Tiger Mask 	4 	July 8, 2008 	75 	Tokyo, Japan 	New Japan Trill 	Tiger Mask defeated Prince Devitt in a tournament final to win the vacant championship.
55 	Low Ki 	1 	September 21, 2008 	105 	Kobe, Japan 	New Japan Generation 	
56 	Tiger Mask 	5 	January 4, 2009 	223 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom III 	
57 	Místico 	1 	August 15, 2009 	85 	Tokyo, Japan 	G1 Climax 2009: New Lords, New Laws 	
58 	Tiger Mask 	6 	November 8, 2009 	57 	Tokyo, Japan 	Destruction '09 	
59 	Naomichi Marufuji 	1 	January 4, 2010 	166 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom IV 	
60 	Prince Devitt 	1 	June 19, 2010 	 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Dominion 6.19 	
61 	Kota Ibushi 	1 	June 18, 2011 	85 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Dominion 6.18 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	September 12, 2011 	— 	NA 	NA 	The championship was vacated after Ibushi was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
62 	Prince Devitt 	2 	September 19, 2011 	227 	Kobe, Japan 	Kantaro Hoshino Memorial Show 	Devitt defeated Kushida to win the vacant championship.
63 	Low Ki 	2 	May 3, 2012 	87 	Fukuoka, Japan 	Wrestling Dontaku 2012 	
64 	Kota Ibushi 	2 	July 29, 2012 	71 	Tokyo, Japan 	Last Rebellion 	
65 	Low Ki 	3 	October 8, 2012 	34 	Tokyo, Japan 	King of Pro-Wrestling 	
66 	Prince Devitt 	3 	November 11, 2012 	419 	Osaka, Japan 	Power Struggle 	
67 	Kota Ibushi 	3 	January 4, 2014 	181 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom 8 	
68 	Kushida 	1 	July 4, 2014 	79 	Tokyo, Japan 	Kizuna Road 2014 	
69 	Ryusuke Taguchi 	2 	September 21, 2014 	105 	Kobe, Japan 	NJPW Destruction In Kobe 2014 	
70 	Kenny Omega 	1 	January 4, 2015 	182 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom IX 	
71 	Kushida 	2 	July 5, 2015 	80 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Dominion 7.5 	
72 	Kenny Omega 	2 	September 23, 2015 	103 	Okayama, Japan 	NJPW Destruction In Okayama 2015 	
73 	Kushida 	3 	January 4, 2016 	257 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom X 	
74 	Bushi 	1 	September 17, 2016 	49 	Tokyo, Japan 	NJPW Destruction In Tokyo 2016 	
75 	Kushida 	4 	November 5, 2016 	60 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Power Struggle 2016 	
76 	Hiromu Takahashi 	1 	January 4, 2017 	158 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom XI 	
77 	Kushida 	5 	June 11, 2017 	120 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Dominion 6.11 	
78 	Will Ospreay 	1 	October 9, 2017 	27 	Tokyo, Japan 	NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling 2017 	
79 	Marty Scurll 	1 	November 5, 2017 	60 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Power Struggle 2017 	
80 	Will Ospreay 	2 	January 4, 2018 	156 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom 12 	This was a four-way match, also involving Hiromu Takahashi and Kushida.
81 	Hiromu Takahashi 	2 	June 9, 2018 	72 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Dominion 6.9 	
— 	Vacated 	— 	August 20, 2018 	— 	NA 	NA 	The championship was vacated after Takahashi was sidelined with a neck injury.
82 	Kushida 	6 	October 8, 2018 	88 	Tokyo, Japan 	NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling 2018 	Kushida won the vacant title in a match against Marty Scurll.
83 	Taiji Ishimori 	1 	January 4, 2019 	92 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom 13 	
84 	Dragon Lee 	1 	April 6, 2019 	64 	New York, NY 	ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard 2019 	This was a three-way match, also involving Bandido.
85 	Will Ospreay 	3 	June 9, 2019 	209 	Osaka, Japan 	NJPW Dominion 6.9 	
86 	Hiromu Takahashi 	3 	January 4, 2020 	238 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom 14 - Night 1 	
87 	Taiji Ishimori 	2 	August 29, 2020 	129 	 	 	
88 	Hiromu Takahashi 	4 	January 5, 2021 	51 	Tokyo, Japan 	 	
Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.	Championship vacated on February 25, 2021 due to Hiromu suffering an injury.
89 	El Desperado 	1 	February 28, 2021 	147 	Osaka, Japan 	 	
90 	Robbie Eagles 	1 	July 25, 2021 	104 	Tokyo, Japan 	NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam In Tokyo Dome 	
91 	El Desperado 	2 	November 6, 2021 	176 	Osaka, Japan 	 	
92 	Taiji Ishimori 	3 	May 1, 2022 	248 	Fukuoka, Japan 	Wrestling Dontaku 2022 	
93 	Hiromu Takahashi 	5 	January 4, 2023 	365 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom 17 	
94 	El Desperado 	3 	January 4, 2024 	50 	Tokyo, Japan 	Wrestle Kingdom 18 	
95 	SHO 	1 	February 23, 2024 	Sapporo, Japan 	The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 - Night 1 	 	
Category:Champion history