Expansion In Japan

[Bronco Rob]

While the game in Japan has been in somewhat of a lull in the past few years it looks like they are trying to expand the game which is great news.

Japan the Rugby League nation of the Far East

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By Matthew Brown, Date: 15/9/14
Japan is nicknamed the “Land of the Rising Sun”. It is a unique country with a population of over 100 million people. Japanese people love their sports, both traditional ones and those brought in from overseas such as Football (soccer), Baseball and Rugby Union. What many Japanese people don’t know is that the sport of Rugby League has been played in the country for over 25 years.
Japan has a rich history in Rugby League. During the 90s and into the early 2000s Japan was a regular in Emerging Nations tournaments and the World 7s. They went into a bit of hiatus during the middle 2000s and have in recent years begun to play regular Rugby League again. I got in contact with the Japanese Rugby League and found out a bit of the history of the Japanese Rugby League board and their current and future plans.
The current Japanese Rugby League began in 2008 with two teams based in Tokyo. Currently they have 3 teams, two based in Tokyo (Tokyo 13 Warriors and Tokyo -Shinjuku Giants R.L.F.C) and one based in Osaka Area (Kansai Kaminari). This year, the Japanese had a 6 round club Competition with the Shinjuku Giants winning the competition.
In 2015, the Japanese are looking at expanding the domestic competition. They hope to have 2 divisions with 3 teams based in Osaka and 3 or 4 teams based in Tokyo. There are also plans to introduce a third division by 2018.
The national team (The Samurai) a looking at playing fixtures as well. They are going to be playing in the Cabramatta 9s next February and also play a 13 a side test match. The Japanese are also planning to tour Thailand in October, 2015, the details of this tour are still to be finalised.
With other nations in Asia such as the Philippines and Thailand starting up Rugby League, Japan could eventually build a rivalry with its Rugby League neighbours. Their main problem in the past has been trying to find regular opponents to play with and have regularly travelled to Sydney to face international competition. Hopefully with Rugby League spreading around Asia, Japan can flourish both internationally and domestically in the 13 man code!

http://www.nospam18.com/rugby-leagu...japan-the-rugby-league-nation-of-the-far-east

 

[Evil Homer]

Zero faith in anything happening in Japan unless this is a new body. Hopefully the people involved in Osaka are not the same ones who have been doing nothing in Tokyo for the past 10 years.

 

[roughyedspud]

id sell my first born child for that japan jersey

 

[Sydney Knight]

What happened to Max Mannix?

 

[deluded pom?]

id sell my first born child for that japan jersey

Open Rugby used to flog 'em 'spud.

 

[roughyedspud]

im obviously not as old as you pal so missed that offer

 

[deluded pom?]

im obviously not as old as you pal so missed that offer

My real name is Methuselah. ;-)

 

[BigInJapan]

Hey all.

I play for Kansai Kaminari- our website
kansaikaminari. blogspot.jp
We won the recent 9s comp in Kyoto and came second in the 7s last year.

List of teams in Japan- If people are keen to play pls message.
kansaikaminari. blogspot.jp/p/history.html

Please fix the websites up. Its my first post so I cant post links.

 

[RoosTah]

I can't see League taking off in Japan unless the corporate and university sectors gets behind it... they're the only reason the Union scene has the power it does, and I can't really see how League will market itself.

 

[BigInJapan]

I can't see League taking off in Japan unless the corporate and university sectors gets behind it... they're the only reason the Union scene has the power it does, and I can't really see how League will market itself.

In my opinion 3 ways it can take
1) the way you suggested - very unlikely
2) many people stop playing sport in Japan after High School and university- league targets these people.
3) more individuals take responsibility for growing the game.
Cricket in Japan has grown lots in the last 3 years due to option 3.

 

[deluded pom?]

Nothing comes up for that website address BiJ.

 

[BigInJapan]

I cant post links. Due to my post count

google search kansai kaminari rugby league

It should come up. Website is still being made.

 

[Bronco Rob]

I cant post links. Due to my post count

google search kansai kaminari rugby league

It should come up. Website is still being made.

Welcome to the forum Big in Japan, great to hear from someone in Japan. What are your thoughts on the game in Japan, do you think it has a chance to grow or establish itself as a bona-fide RL nation or will it be the case of a niche sport that is played for enjoyment?

Here is the link:

http://kansaikaminari.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/play-rugby-league-in-nagoya.html

 

[BigInJapan]

I think if its grown well there could 5-6 teams in kansai and 5-6 teams in kanto area in around 5 years.
Main issues are finding grounds to use- many union grounds are sand or dirt, which is brutal to play on.

Also international rugby league federation needs to help out more- I was trying to find online courses I could do to become a better coach or ref and I couldn't find anything.

As for being bona fide its a possibility- but start small steps.

As for the Kaminari- goals are to play often, get our own playing tops, website in Japanese, English and French, set up working holiday programs with teams overseas, work with union and touch within Japan.

Remember that the sport in Japan is run by volunteers with little time off and funding.

Thats my 2 yen.

 

[mtngry]

Any word on a tour for 2015 to Cabramatta or is the focus on the Asian cup?