On January 5, 2017, Taguchi, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi, Evil and Sanada) for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.
The trio of Taguchi, Tanahashi and Nakanishi eventually became known as "Taguchi Japan".
Taguchi was portrayed as the coach of the pseudo-baseball/soccer/professional wrestling stable.
They lost the title back to L.I.J. on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka.
On March 6 at NJPW's 45th anniversary event, Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Over the following months, Taguchi Japan expanded with several new members, including David Finlay, Juice Robinson, Kushida and Ricochet.
On April 4, Taguchi, Ricochet and Tanahashi defeated L.I.J. to bring the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship back to Taguchi Japan.
They lost the title back to L.I.J. on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2017.
Taguchi then took part in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors, where he finished with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.

Taguchi then formed a new tag team named "Funky Future" with Ricochet under the banner of Taguchi Japan.
On August 13, the two defeated The Young Bucks to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
They lost the title to Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) on October 9 at King of Pro-Wrestling.
In May 2018, he entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
He finished the tournament with 3 wins and 4 losses, failing to advance to the finals.
On the final night of the G1 Climax 28, Taguchi under the guise of Pro Wrestler Sengoku Enbu teamed with Kushida and Rey Mysterio Jr. to defeat the team of Chaos' Kazuchika Okada, Sho and Yoh.

On January 30, 2019, Makabe, Taguchi and Yano defeated Bullet Club to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.
On March 10, Taguchi would compete in the New Japan Cup, replacing an injured David Finlay, and defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the first round.
On January 5, 2017, Taguchi, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi, Evil and Sanada) for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. The trio of Taguchi, Tanahashi and Nakanishi eventually became known as "Taguchi Japan". Taguchi was portrayed as the coach of the pseudo-baseball/soccer/professional wrestling stable. They lost the title back to L.I.J. on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka. On March 6 at NJPW's 45th anniversary event, Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Over the following months, Taguchi Japan expanded with several new members, including David Finlay, Juice Robinson, Kushida and Ricochet. On April 4, Taguchi, Ricochet and Tanahashi defeated L.I.J. to bring the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship back to Taguchi Japan. They lost the title back to L.I.J. on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2017. Taguchi then took part in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors, where he finished with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.
Taguchi then formed a new tag team named "Funky Future" with Ricochet under the banner of Taguchi Japan. On August 13, the two defeated The Young Bucks to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They lost the title to Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) on October 9 at King of Pro-Wrestling. In May 2018, he entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He finished the tournament with 3 wins and 4 losses, failing to advance to the finals. On the final night of the G1 Climax 28, Taguchi under the guise of Pro Wrestler Sengoku Enbu teamed with Kushida and Rey Mysterio Jr. to defeat the team of Chaos' Kazuchika Okada, Sho and Yoh.
On January 30, 2019, Makabe, Taguchi and Yano defeated Bullet Club to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. On March 10, Taguchi would compete in the New Japan Cup, replacing an injured David Finlay, and defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the first round.
Ryusuke Taguchi