Thursday marked one year until the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off, and venues that will host games are devising creative ways to welcome fans from around the world and add a special touch to the tournament.
The city of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, is still rebuilding after being devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium, the only stadium newly constructed among the 12 venues for the tournament, has become a symbol of this well-known rugby town's recovery. The stadium was built on land where an elementary and junior high school stood until they were destroyed in the disaster.
Kazuki Hirota is involved in a project to produce wine from grapes grown in hills near the stadium and make it available at places around the venue. Hirota, whose mother hails from Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, was directly affected by the disaster: His grandmother died in the tsunami, and his grandfather remains missing.
After the disaster, Hirota moved from Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, to Kamaishi. Hirota, 32, had been a member of his high school rugby team and is now taking part in the project led by the Bon Courage Tohoku volunteer organization. With advice from local farmers, project participants are growing about 150 vine plants on a 0.1-hectare field and expect to produce several dozen bottles of wine next spring.
"I hope the wine produced in tandem with the city's recovery will make the World Cup even more exciting," Hirota said.
Dressed for the occasion
Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, is considered "hallowed ground" in Japanese rugby circles. While the "cool biz" campaign was in effect during summer, Higashi-Osaka City government officials wore rugby shirts at work to build interest in the World Cup. Stadium renovations have been completed and the venue will host its first game since the upgrade when Japan's national team plays a World XV in October.
Higashi-Osaka residents and shop owners have been making preparations such as learning English so they can welcome rugby fans from overseas.
"I'm excited that fans from around the world will come to Hanazono," said Shunsuke Mori, 77, head of the residents association in Higashi-Hanazono, an area near the stadium. "We will roll out the red carpet and make the most of this opportunity to show people the great things about Higashi-Osaka."
Feast for eyes and mouth
Yokohama will be the stage for several World Cup matches, including both semifinals and the final. The city is preparing to give fans a rugby-themed treat for their taste buds.
Yokohama Gastronome Committee, an organization formed by people working in Yokohama's restaurant industry, is working on various rugby ball-shaped menu items in Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine. The plan is the brainchild of Shigeru Imahira, 61, chairman of the committee and head chef of a long-established French restaurant.
"I want to surprise visiting rugby fans and see them smile," said Imahira.
General ticket lottery starts
Applications for the lottery for general ticket sales started on Wednesday.
A total of 1.8 million tickets will be available for the tournament. Of them, about 900,000 are being handled by the tournament's organizing committee. Priority lottery sales have already been held for fans, members and officials of registered teams of the Japan Rugby Football Union and host city residents. During balloting between January and June, about 2.5 million ticket applications were made and more than 600,000 tickets were sold. Demand was highest for matches featuring the Brave Blossoms, while games involving New Zealand and England were also popular.
World Rugby, the sport's international governing body, is also handling about 900,000 tickets. Any leftover tickets will be passed to the committee.
"The popular teams also have games for which it will be relatively easy to buy tickets. I hope many people will apply for the lottery," a committee official said.
Applications for the general ticket sales lottery can be made until Nov. 12.
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