The national anthem of both teams of Rugby World Cup “Omotenashi” on October 9 at 18:08
At the Rugby World Cup Japan tournament, there is an increasing effort to sing together the national anthem and anthem of both teams that will compete at the match venue.
One of the venues, the Kumagaya Rugby Field in Saitama Prefecture, held an Argentine vs. American match on the 9th and sang the national anthem while watching the lyrics card distributed by the fans.
At the Kumagaya Rugby Field, three games of this tournament and the first league were held, and Argentina vs. America on the 9th was the last game.
In Kumagaya City, a chorus group that sang the national anthem and anthem of the participating teams was set up mainly by the citizens to make the tournament more exciting.
Before the game on the 9th, at the JR Kumagaya Station and the shuttle bus to the venue, choirs handed out 12,000 cards that printed the lyrics of the national anthems of Argentina and America.
In the vicinity of the venue, Ken Usuki, the head of the choir, spoke to the fans and sang the national anthem of both teams.
And in the national anthem singing before the match, many fans at the stand were holding up the lyrics card and singing the national anthem of both teams with a loud voice.
Mr. Usuki said, “I prepared a lyric card so that everyone could sing. I ’m glad that foreign fans recognized it as“ hospitality ”. I think the World Cup is starting. It was.
Representatives from each country return with “bowing” and “cleaning”
Each team actively accepts Japanese culture at the Rugby World Cup Japan tournament, with New Zealand and others aiming for the first three consecutive wins to start “bowing” to express their gratitude for support after the match.
New Zealand held a camp before the tournament in Sakai City, Chiba Prefecture, and was welcomed by the local inhabitants who showed their traditional indigenous dance, “Haka”.
In response to such Japanese hospitality, New Zealand has started a Japanese-style “bow” that shows gratitude for support after the match.
The players of both teams lined up in a row in New Zealand and Namibia held in Yokohama on the 6th of this month and bowed to the fans at the venue.
This “Ojiki” has spread to other teams, and has received a great response.
New Zealand national team 33-year-old Ben Smith said, “There is a“ respect ”in Japanese culture, so I decided to bow when I wanted to return to it. I was welcomed and felt supportive. "
Also, some teams such as France and Italy cleaned up the locker room and left the stadium after the match, which was recognized as an appreciation for Japanese hospitality and became a hot topic at SNS.