The Kirin Cup is held annually, the host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. Originally the competition was contested with three teams but on a few occasions the trophy has been contested by just two nations or four sides in a round robin format.
The tournament was founded in 1978 then known as the Japan Cup, it’s most recent name changes have included Kirin Challenge Cup, Kirin Cup Soccer and Kirin Soccer Cup. Naturally Japan are the tournament’s most successful team. Scotland have competed in the competition on a number of occasions and have won the trophy once, this coming in 2006.
| Year | Guests | Winners | |
| 1992 | Wales | Argentina | Argentina |
| 1993 | Hungary | United States | Hungary |
| 1994 | France | Australia | France |
| 1995 | Scotland | Ecuador | Japan |
| 1996 | Mexico | Yugoslavia | Japan |
| 1997 | Croatia | Turkey | Japan |
| 1998 | Czech Republic | Paraguay | Czech Republic |
| 1999 | Belgium | Peru | Belgium/ Peru |
| 2000 | Slovakia | Bolivia | Japan/ Slovakia |
| 2001 | Yugoslavia | Paraguay | Japan |
| 2002 | Slovakia | Honduras | None |
| 2003 | Argentina | Paraguay | None |
| 2004 | Serbia | Slovakia | Japan |
| 2005 | Peru | United Arab Emirates | Peru/ United Arab Emirates |
| 2006 | Scotland | Bulgaria | Scotland |
| 2007 | Colombia | Montenegro | Japan |
| 2008 | Paraguay | Côte d’Ivoire | Japan |
| 2009 | Chile | Belgium | Japan |
| 2011 | Peru | Czech Republic | None |
| 2013 | Uruguay | Uruguay | |
| 2014 | Uruguay | Jamaica | Uruguay |
| 2016 | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark & Bulgaria | Bosnia and Herzegovina | |