FUKUROI, Shizuoka -- The excitement spread like a fever to every corner of the nation Saturday night as the Japan national rugby team pulled off an epic victory over powerful Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.
Japan came from behind to defeat the world's No. 2-ranked team 19-12 in a group match at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture.
One of the greatest upsets in rugby history came four years after the Brave Blossoms accomplished a similar miracle by stunning favorite South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Trailing the second half, the tide turned after 18 minutes when Kenki Fukuoka scored a try to put Japan ahead, bringing the 47,000 spectators to their feet in a roar of joy.
"After team captain Michael Leitch came off the bench, the atmosphere throughout the stadium suddenly changed to 'we're going to win this,'" said a 34-year-old company employee from Meguro Ward, Tokyo.
The decibel-level never wavered when Yu Tamura widened the gap with a penalty goal as the crowd loudly chanted, "Nippon! Nippon!"
At the moment of the historic victory, fans gave a standing ovation to the players, as they themselves shed tears on joy.
"I'm so moved by such a great game that I can't stop crying," said the father of team member Ryoto Nakamura. "I want to thank my son for allowing me to see such a match."
A 23-year-old male company employee from Hamamatsu wearing a Japanese team jersey said, "I am more emotional than when [Japan] beat South Africa. This is the real level of Japan. I don't want anyone saying 'what an upset' anymore," he said as tears welled in his eyes.
Outside the stadium after the match, fans from both teams chanted the names of the two countries while putting their arms around each other's shoulders.
"[The players] were so powerful," said a sixth-grade elementary school girl from Hamamatsu, who attended the match with three family members. "I'm so glad I came on such a historic day," she added, then exchanged high-fives with an Irish fan.
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