And that’s perfectly all right

Welsh national anthem.

The All Blacks played in front of almost 63,000 people when they beat the Springboks 23-13 in Yokohama last weekend.

And, make no mistake, the All Blacks are the rugby kings in Japan.

On subway trains you can view a dated AIG advertisement of the All Blacks, which features ex-test flanker Jerome Kaino, tackling people walking down a busy city street.

While marching towards the International Stadium in Yokohama a giant sign advertising the tournament featured the men in black.

And the crowds flock to public signing sessions, or mayoral receptions.

Unlike in New Zealand in 2011, where a publican who understood the importance of selling a pint put a game on the telly, you must search for a venue that does so in Japan.

Where the All Blacks are currently based, in the picturesque resort town of Beppu on the southern island of Kyushu, lanterns embossed with the World Cup logo down shine down on the narrow alleyways that separate the many restaurants and bars.

There’s also a fan zone with tents set up for games near the waterfront.

Nearby there’s huge black sign by the beachfront with a silver fern and the words Kapa O Pango embossed on it. Yes, the haka is popular over here. As it is with most people outside of New Zealand.

The odd windbag from up north might let out an almighty yawn before hammering his keyboard, taking the unoriginal line that it should be banned, but it seems unlikely that will gain much traction here.

Japan isn’t a rugby-mad nation. But that’s all right, too.

We do know this. They are attending games. The infrastructure is excellent, the people are friendly and the food is good.

It’s a World Cup like no other. That’s exactly what it should be.