Japan drop the ball away from the game-day heroics
A day after the Japanese team were knocked out of a Rugby World Cup during which they had won the hearts and minds of nearly every oval-ball watching tragic on the planet, their Kiwi coach Jamie Joseph and all 31 members of their squad attended a media conference in Tokyo attended by Japanese media only.
That was because the international media here in Japan weren’t alerted to the fact it was on and that, in a nutshell, is one of the big challenges the Brave Blossoms have in capitalising on their incredible success over the past five weeks.
They are an incredibly professional set-up on the grass, but the backrooms are staffed by individuals with an old-fashioned and amateur ethos. It’s a clash of styles, just like the Japan versus South Africa quarter-final was, and while the Japanese free-radical approach helped them beat Ireland and Scotland for the first time and united a nation, the backwardthinking approach to administration is threatening to send this bullet train into reverse.
One day during the build-up to the sudden-death match against the Boks, the Japanese team provided three players to speak to the media. It was in Japanese only; no translator was present. Four players were provided. Only one — Tongan-born lock Uwe Helu (who went to St Thomas of Canterbury College in Christchurch) — spoke English. There was a translator present to interpret his answers for the Japanese media.
The All Blacks have a fulltime interpreter with them — New Zealander Joe Rush, who has lived in Japan for about 15 years and works for a rugby club here. Rush translates for the Japanese media who attend All Blacks press conferences and often asks questions on their behalf. It may not appear that important in the big scheme of things but, as the Japan team, now ranked No 8 in the world (they were ranked No 6 and above Australia before their 26-3 loss to the Boks), attempt to break through to the next level and possible inclusion into the Rugby Championship, it was a shame their message couldn’t get through to a captivated rugby world.
They are at a critical point in their history. News reports suggest that tomorrow meetings will be held in Tokyo between
Japanese and Sanzaar representatives during which the Brave Blossoms’ possible involvement in the Rugby Championship will be discussed. The future of the Sunwolves, Japan’s Super Rugby team who are due to bow out of the competition after next year, could also be on the agenda.
At least they appear to have their foot in the door in terms of the professional game. But the other big issue is how Japan capitalises in terms of providing opportunities for children.
More than 50 per cent of the nation watched Japan beat Scotland, a viewership of about 60 million. It’s more than the number of viewers for the 2002 Football World Cup final in Yokohama. But there are obstacles for kids. Not all schools here have rugby programmes and there are no agegrade clubs in Japan. — NZ Herald