[1] Scolopsis japonica was first formally described in 1793 by the German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch with its type locality given as Japan, but this is likely to mean Java.

[3] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Scolopsis within the family Nemipteridae which it places in the order Spariformes.

[4] Scolopsis japonica is very similar to S. vosmeri but it has a wedge shape black spot on the upper pectoral fin base, has no white band underneath the lateral line and in having greenish yellow, rather than black spots on the bases of the scales on the body.

S. japonica is not easy to tell apart from S. curite as they have very similar colours and patterns, however, in S. japonica the margin of the preoperculum is serrated or has a sepny edge while the preoperculum of S. curite is more robust and rough with a bony margin which has one or two rows of short blunt spines along its whole length.

[1] It is found on sand or mud substrates in depths down to 30 m (98 ft) and in the vicinity of reefs.