The research and application of hybrid rice is an important historical contribution made by Chinese scientists to food security throughout the world. Although China’s research on hybrid japonica rice is later than Japan’s, it has come from behind and is ahead of other countries by now. More importantly, the research on hybrid japonica rice in China has also greatly promoted the basic research on the intersubspecific hybrid compatibility of indica rice and japonica rice, and has produced a large number of super-high-yielding combinations represented by the ‘Yongyou’ series of indica and japonica hybrid rice that utilize the intersubspecific advantages. It has provided abundant ‘seed-chips’ for the current food security in China. This article reviews the history of hybrid japonica rice research in China, focusing on every innovative thinking in the research of hybrid japonica rice in the past. We hope that more researchers will join the discussion on future hybrid japonica rice research, and dive deep into the hybrid breeding law, so as to improve the real breeding efficiency of the field continuously.