Related Research Articles
The Japan national rugby union team, often a.k.a “Cherry Blossoms”, or a.k.a “Sakura”, and more a.k.a “The Brave Blossoms” is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and has enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years. Rugby union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), which was founded in 1926. They compete annually in the Pacific Nations Cup and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship. They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987.
Sir John James Patrick Kirwan is a New Zealand mental health advocate, former rugby union and rugby league player, and former rugby union coach.
Japan Rugby League One is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by absorbing the Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The chief architect of the league was Hiroaki Shukuzawa who strongly felt the urgency of improving Japanese domestic company rugby to a professional level which would allow Japan to compete more convincingly at Rugby World Cups.
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro Kunda, himself a former hooker for Toshiba and Japan. They are particularly known for the strength of their mauls. Before the Top League was created, the team was called Toshiba Fuchu after their location. Their slogan for 2006 season was "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)". The team rebranded as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to Japan Rugby League One in 2022.
NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. The team's captain is Ryota Asano. The previous captain was Takuro Miuchi, who was also the captain of the Japan national rugby union team. Before the semi-professional Top League was created, the team was just known as "NEC". The amateur club was founded in 1985 in the Kantō region.
Nili Latu, playing name of Otenili Langilangi is a Tongan rugby union footballer. In 2018, Latu left Newcastle Falcons after helping Falcons achieve 4th in the Aviva Premiership, the highest finish in 20 years. He moved to Japan to continue playing rugby.
Yoshie Takeshita is a retired Japanese volleyball player who played for JT Marvelous. She served as the head coach of Japanese volleyball team Victorina Himeji. and now serves as Executive Adviser.
Sinali Latu is a retired Tongan-Japanese rugby union player. He played in Japan for Sanyo and also played for the Japan national rugby union team. Now he coaches the Daito Bunka University rugby team. Since he acquired the Japanese citizenship, he changed his full name to William Sinali Latu. He is the founder of the non-profit organisation Japan-Tonga Friendship Association. He was nicknamed "Bill" (ビル) during his playing career in Japan.
Hitoshi Ono is a Japanese rugby player. He plays at lock for the Japan national rugby union team. He is nicknamed the "Iron Man".
Keiji Hirose, born April 16, 1973, in Osaka) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a fly-half. His club team was Toyota Verblitz. He was nicknamed Golden Boots.
Yasunori Watanabe was a Japanese rugby player, who played for Japan in three Rugby World Cups from 1999 to 2007.
Keiji Ogushi was a Japanese former hurdler who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics, in the 1960 Summer Olympics, and in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Kanako Naito was a Japanese female volleyball player, who played as a middle blocker.
Hiroyuki Tanuma is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as lock.
Takafumi Hirao, also known as Tsuyoshi Hirao, is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as wing and as fullback. He is not related to the late Seiji Hirao. As of 2015 he works as teacher at Kobe Shinwa Women's University's Development and Education Faculty of Junior sports education Department, with "sports pedagogy", "kinematics" as field of specialization and "body and sports" and "sports education rooted in children's development" as research field.
George Konia is a New Zealand former rugby union player who played for New Zealand Maori and for Japan. He played mainly as centre, but also as wing.
Ryohei Miki is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as wing and as centre.
Ryota Asano is a Japanese rugby union player with 22 caps and 0 points in aggregate. He played as flanker, lock and number eight. His nickname is Popi.
Wataru Ikeda is a Japanese former professional rugby union player.
Takashi Miyake is a Japanese former international rugby union player.
References
- ↑ "Japan stays unbeaten in qualifiers". The Japan Times . 24 April 2006.
- ↑ "Toshiba to meet NEC in Japanese final". ESPN.com . 20 February 2006.
- ↑ "元日本代表ＦＢ武井敬司が引退 元ＮＺ代表ツイタヴァキらＮＥＣ退団 - ラグビーリパブリック" (in Japanese). Rugby Republic. 4 March 2013.