Japan Rugby The key to further progress November 1 17:11
The Rugby World Cup, where Japan's national team was in the best eight. As soon as it's over, the interest is in a different place ... What is necessary to expand the base of rugby's popularity and lead to further breakthroughs? As I proceeded with the interview, I heard that it was necessary to train leaders and “need to be professional”.
(Weekly Marugoku News Reporter Norihiko Ito, News Production Department Kina Harada)
Rugby that moved my heart
We first listened to stories from the people around the city to find out where they were moved in rugby.
The word that came out of many people was "one team".
“The Japanese national team also worked hard as players from overseas.”
And “the spirit of self-sacrifice”.
“I was sacrificed for my friends, and I endured and worked hard even when I was hit by an opponent. I thought that the spirit of being for everyone was important for life.”
The Japanese national team, who taught this spirit all over the body, looked to the future right after losing to South Africa in the final tournament. During the press conference, there were many voices from players expecting rugby to penetrate Japan.
“It was an environment where fans could support us very much, but we have to continue to strengthen Japanese rugby.”
"I'm really happy if the number of children who want to be representatives of Japan increases"
The spread of the skirt is ...
However, the current rugby population is less than baseball and soccer. Looking at club activities in junior high schools nationwide, the number of participants in the soccer club is over 190,000 and the baseball club is over 160,000, while the rugby club is only around 6,000.
(Japan Junior High School Athletic Federation, as of June 2019)
What is necessary to expand the base field? We visited Higashiyamato City Fifth Junior High School, which is one of the few public junior high schools in Tokyo and has a rugby club.
There are 19 members, including 1st and 2nd graders. Although it was in the absence state until Ototoshi, the teacher who can teach was assigned, so I recruited the member last year and resumed.
Advisor Tatsuya Kurosaki was a member of the rugby club from junior high school to university. I wanted to teach my students rugby that made me bigger both physically and mentally.
“Rugby is respect for the other person and self-sacrifice is a big theme. I want students to grow through rugby.” (Kurosaki Teacher)
However, there are many students who are unfamiliar with rugby, and it is not easy to gather members.
Since rugby is in intense contact with each other, students and parents have been worried about injury. I've explained that you can reduce your risk of injury by training your body through practice.
Rugby has a variety of positions, so it is a sport that anyone can challenge, regardless of body size.
Although only students who started rugby from junior high school, now they can participate in the competition and win.
When I talk to students, it seems that sometimes it is scary to go to a big opponent in the game, but I feel that I am fighting with `` one team '', and that rugby is such an interesting sport I was talking about it.
In addition, Mr. Kurosaki, an advisor, said that the rapid progress of the Japanese national team in the World Cup has helped students get interested.
“The topic of rugby can be heard not only in the rugby club but also in the school. I feel strongly that the rugby is spreading.”
The key to rugby ’s breakthrough is “professionalization”?
The appeal of rugby that has begun to reach children. The challenge is how to increase the competition population and fans.
Sports journalist Kiyozumi Ninomiya points out that the creation of a professional league will increase the value of rugby, leading to the expansion of the base.
“Life with rugby in life is good. You must create a landscape where rugby will enrich the city. If you do n’t become professional, you ca n’t use the heat of the World Cup. Now is the biggest and best opportunity. ''
I asked Mr. Saburo Kawabuchi!
The Japan Rugby Association is actively discussing how the domestic league should be, including the creation of a new professional league.
Is it really possible to create a professional league? Speaking of professional sports, this person. I was able to hear from Saburo Kawabuchi, who has led the birth of soccer J-League and basketball B-League.
“If we connect well, such as the World Cup, next year's Tokyo Olympics, and the professionalization of rugby, there is a high possibility that the professionalization of rugby will succeed.” (Mr. Kawamata)
With both professional and grassroots wheels
Regarding the merits of creating a professional league, Mr. Kawamata pointed out that if a professional team is created in the area, children can be nurtured by subordinate organizations, leading to expansion of the base.
“Top athletes and grassroots are the two wheels of sports development. Professional clubs are able to enjoy and teach rugby with local people as well as cultivate professional athletes. I think (Mr. Kawamata)
On the other hand, there are also issues. The biggest challenge Mr. Kawamata gave was securing a home stadium. The World Cup was played at 12 venues nationwide.
However, there are only three stadiums dedicated to rugby. Most of the ground is used by the J-League team, so it is necessary to gain the understanding of the team.
“In the case of soccer, the length of the turf is adjusted in millimeters in consideration of how the ball rolls. The rugby scrum and heavy tackle hurts the ground considerably. I hear that it is tough to use
Surprisingly, the difficult part of making rugby professionals is that the Japan national rugby team has the ability to enter the best eight.
“When both soccer and basketball were professionalized, Japan was weak in Asia, so there was a recognition that it had to be professionalized in order to improve ability. However, rugby has the ability to enter the best 8 in the world. Then, the audience's eyes will change, but even if the customer enters at first, if they do not play a deep game, the audience mobilization will decrease and the sponsor will leave. We have to be able to establish a strong game, including first-class foreign players, ”(Mr. Kawamata)
An environment where players can drive
As the representatives of Japan “has sacrificed a lot,” this time, they made a long-term training camp for rugby for the World Cup.
Mr. Kawamata stressed that in order to develop rugby, it is necessary to create an environment where players can continue to compete.
In this tournament, players and our fans shared the same dream. Through the interviews, I felt that supporting the athlete-first environment will lead to further progress in the future.
Weekly Marukan News Reporter
Umihiko Ito
News production department reporter
Rina Harada