The popularity of Japanese rugby got a much-needed boost when the national team reached the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time on home turf.
Rugby workshops, such as an Oct. 28 event in Tokyo that 120 children attended, are spreading around the country.
At the Tokyo workshop, former Brave Blossom Toshiaki Hirose, 38, former England player Jonny Wilkinson, 40, and other players with experience playing on the world stage taught the children kicking and tackling techniques among other skills.
Former South Africa player Bryan Habana, 36, said he hoped the event would give children hope.
The New Zealand national team hosted a session at their training camp base in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, on Oct. 1, at which All Blacks captain Kieran Read, 34, and others interacted with about 200 elementary and junior high school students.
About 3,000 people attended the event, more than 500 of whom were in line for tickets at 6:30 a.m. on the day.
On Oct. 24, the Beppu board of education launched Oita's first joint junior high school rugby club.
"We had great experiences through the World Cup. As part of the [tournament's] legacy, we want to create an environment in which players can develop," the head of the city's World Cup promotion office said.
Rugby schools for children are also seeing a surge in interest.
At the Genkai Junior Rugby Club in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, where Brave Blossom Kenki Fukuoka, 27, started playing, about 30 newcomers participated in events in October alone.
Since late September, about 50 newcomers have visited Rindo Young Ruggers in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, where national team plyer Yutaka Nagare, 27, trained.
Many parents are enthusiastic about the sport. "I want my child to learn the 'no-side' spirit," one said.
"I hope this excitement will continue," said the club's secretary general.
"Tag rugby," in which players grab flags hanging from other players' waists instead of tackling them, is also growing in popularity.
The Japan Rugby Football Union, which lends equipment to clubs, has received many requests since the start of the World Cup. The union received a total of 40 requests in the month starting Sept. 21, which is about four times the number from the same period last year.
The inquiries are not just for children's events, but have also come from people who want to play tag rugby at company social gatherings.
"Anyone can enjoy [tag rugby] safely, so we want people to know how great it is to move their bodies," said an official of the union's development department.
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