The following champion history features the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Title history[]
| # | Wrestlers | Reign | Date | Days held |
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 | 364 | 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. | |||||||
| 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 | Won in a Four Way Match that also involved El Desperado and Master Wato. |
| 94 | El Desperado | 3 | January 4, 2024 | 50 | Tokyo, Japan | Wrestle Kingdom 18 | |
| 95 | SHO | 1 | February 23, 2024 | 114 | Sapporo, Japan | The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 - Night 1 | Won by Count Out. |
| 96 | El Desperado | 4 | June 16, 2024 | 19 | Sapporo, Japan | New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 1 | Won in a Steel Cage match. |
| 97 | DOUKI | 1 | July 5, 2024 | 94+ | Tokyo, Japan | ||