We Are Tomodachi Summer 2017

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20The Rugby World Cup (RWC), held once every four years, will be hosted by Japan two years from now, marking the first time the RWC is held in Asia. A total of 20 teams–12 that secured their spots by proving themselves last time in RWC 2015 in England, plus eight more who win preliminary matches held around the world–will compete for the venerable Webb Ellis Cup. RWC 2019 Japan starts in Tokyo on September 20, 2019, leading up to a final match in Yokohama on November 2.According to Akira Shimazu, CEO of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee, “Rugby has been a popular sport in Japan since the 1890s and has a very enthusiastic following of fans, but Japan isn’t considered a “traditional rugby country” by the rest of the world. That’s why holding RWC in Japan is something the fans here have really been wanting for a long time.”When it was announced in 2009 that RWC would finally be held in Japan, the Japanese national team began training even harder to raise its performance to a level worthy of representing the host country. The extra training paid off in the last RWC: although the Japanese team was unable to proceed to the finals, they fought hard and earned three wins in their pool matches. In particular, the team impressed the world with their dramatic winning try just before the end of their match with South Africa. It was a come-from-behind win that earned the team the RWC’s “Best Match Moment,” an award which was newly established for this tournament. The sight of Japanese players alongside foreign ones competing as one team was something that helped raise the level of excitement for rugby to fever pitch throughout Japan.Hosting the First Rugby World Cup™ in Asia“Connect Create Go Forward” is the vision for the Japanese tournament. This means “Connecting people in Japan, Asia, and around the world to create a groundbreaking and inclusive celebration of Rugby and Community. We will go forward as one, to build a better future for all.”Rugby World Cup 2019™http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/