A hat-tip for the blooming marvellous Brave Blossoms

Even as the Rugby World Cup is being decluttered of teams it ‘‘sparks joy’’, with the brightest spark proving to be Japan’s Brave Blossoms, a diverse bunch of rugby misfits enrapturing a nation and far beyond.

‘‘Sparks joy’’ is an invention of Tokyo-born organisational guru and author Marie Kondo, who argues that when things stop making your heart flutter, it’s time to thank them and throw them out.

Let’s not throw out Japan tonight. They’ve sparked joy from the opening pool match to the last; a stubborn defiance of Scotland that might even have prompted Robert the Bruce to nod in appreciation.

Most don’t want to see the Blossoms thrown out, but it could just be their time to go. Just before midnight they face the mighty Springboks of South Africa, a country steeped in rugby history. With a take-noprisoners approach, the Boks come bearing a forward pack that will try to crush the life out of the frenzied Japanese.

Japan play as if they’ve had their fast-forward button permanently pressed. Using their lack of size as a weapon, they will try to knock down the green Goliaths by running them all over Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.

Sparkling rugby is not the only way Japan has won hearts. Coach

Jamie Joseph and his assistant Tony Brown have stitched together imported cast-offs into the silky Japanese, to concoct a cloak of

(so far) invincibility.

At the centre of the blossoming are 16 Japanese players. First-five Yu Tamura was the leading scorer in pool play with 48 points; Zimbawean-Japanese left wing Kotaro Matsushima led try-scoring and Kenki Fukuoka on the right was just one try back, slicing past defenders as a samurai sword might.

Korean-born prop Koo Ji Won finished a stunning try against Scotland. Four Tongans, five Kiwis, three South Africans, an Australian and two Samoans played back up.

Could it be the Brave Blossoms have something to say to the isolationists and the Brexiteers, along the lines of what can be achieved when different cultures work together, rather than pull apart?

Japan are special, conjuring up moves that have surprised two of the best defences in the world, tricks founded in diversity with a unique style at the heart.

Some have dismissed Japan as a gathering of rugby mercenaries, or as ‘‘fake Japanese’’. Yoichi Shimada, a professor of international relations at Fukui Prefectural University, disagrees.

‘‘I’m not a big believer in being Japanese based on a person’s blood, it’s more about how a person accepts our culture and contributes in a positive way to our society,’’ he told

the South China Morning Post.

‘‘About half the team was born abroad, but the amazing thing for me is just how hard they are all fighting for Japan. It really is quite impressive.’’

If its team hasn’t been enough, Japan has put together a tournament that rebuffs those who would like nations, religions and cultures to move apart, rather than embrace their differences.

Players have adopted cultural exchanges such as post-match bowing. Once knocked out of the tournament, the Canadians went on typhoon relief duty in Kamaishi.

‘‘We decided to offer up anything we could do to help the community,’’ their media man said.

Russian flanker Tagir Gadzhiev drove four hours to meet All Black Muslims Sonny Bill Williams and Ofa Tuungafasi.

They exchanged gifts, an All Black jersey for a traditional papakha hat worn in Dagestani Avar culture.

Although 20 countries arrived at the RWC, 10 other nations or territories feature in players’ places of birth – anywhere from Tullahoma to Keetmanshoop, Tipperary to Tucuman, from Plymouth to New Plymouth.

You might not have noticed but Algeria, Northern Ireland, Germany, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Azerbaijan and New Caledonia had genetic links to the RWC.

No blight here, akin to the disgusting racism which almost saw a midweek football match between England and Bulgaria called off. How refreshing. Long may the Brave Blossoms bloom.

Japan has put together a tournament that rebuffs those who would like nations, religions and cultures to move apart.