WORLD CUP FEVER HITS JAPAN
Host country bitten by oval ball bug as England and Wales given stirring welcome
JAPAN has been hit by World Cup mania — but it is not reserved for the host nation’s team. Wales were stunned by an incredible reception they received in Kitakyushu, where 15,000 Japanese fans came to watch them train and then broke into song.
And England were treated to a thunderous performance by local drummers at their team welcome ceremony yesterday.
In Kitakyushu, on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, there was a queue a mile long outside the Mikuni Stadium as fans tried to watch Wales in an opening training session. The event had to be pushed back an hour.
Then, as the Welsh team warmed up, the crowd, mostly clad in red Wales shirts, burst into a rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau — the Welsh national anthem — having been given song sheets translated into Japanese. Many had clearly been practising for weeks.
Kitakyushu has gone Wales mad. At the airport, ground staff wore red Wales shirts. The baggage carousels were lined with Welsh flags too and the fire engines in the city have been emblazoned with dragons. Posters around the city have ‘Go, Go Wales!’ on them and show Alun Wyn Jones in action.
It is not by chance. The Welsh Rugby Union have been coming to Kitakyushu for 18 months. Community projects have looked to engage the city — who will not host a World Cup match — with the likes of former Wales captain Ryan Jones involved.
‘I’ve never experienced anything like this. It’s astonishing and emotional,’ said WRU performance director Jones. ‘It’s been like hosting a party. We got up this morning and we were saying, “Oh, I hope it goes well today and people will turn up”.
‘Then to see the queues and the players’ faces when they came was just magic. It has exceeded all our expectations. That’s the magic of a World Cup and a day like this. The
dream was to turn the city red and we’ve done that. Kitakyushu weren’t a host city and we wanted to bring the World Cup to them.’
In Miyazaki, England were introduced to local dignitaries after enjoying the energetic show laid on for them. Maro Itoje then addressed the audience in Japanese as part of a thank you speech and Ben Youngs was presented with the gift of a ‘lucky’ devilish red ‘Tengu’ mask. Finally, Billy Vunipola was called on to the stage to help decorate an elaborate ‘Daruma doll’ modelled on a monk credited with founding Zen Buddhism.
Each of the teams competing at this World Cup are receiving their own, individually-crafted doll as an unusual memento.
The younger of the Vunipola brothers was asked to make a wish after demonstrating his artistic side. He said: ‘I wish that whatever we do in the next few weeks will live with us for the rest of our lives.’
There were sincere wishes from the hosts that what England do is leave here well prepared and go on to win the trophy.
As with with Wales, there is much local pride that England are staging their training camp with them.
Speaking after the ceremony in his new cap, Itoje said: ‘It’s going to be an awesome World Cup. I can’t wait to get started. ‘ You can tell the whole squad feels together and that we’re building towards something. We feel as if we’ve grown tighter, more cohesive. The feeling is good.’ That goes for the locals, too.