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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

People in Japan can't wait for Wales to arrive at the Rugby World Cup as entire parade chants 'Go Wales!'

New footage shows Japanese locals showing their support for the Wales rugby team before has even arrived for the World Cup.

Warren Gatland's men don't fly over for another month, but this video suggests that they will be well received when they touch down.

The video shows local supporters marching through the streets of Kitakyushu wearing Wales T-shirts and carrying flags, chanting 'go, go Wales'.

Shortly after, a branded bus carrying the same slogan rolls by, with a couple of Wales flags being waved out the window.

It's all part of an engagement programme set up in the city by the Welsh Rugby Union

Gatland's side will spend some time in the city, getting over their jetlag and getting used to the country in Kitakyashu.

The WRU have had an engagement programme set up in the city for more than a year. Its aim is to develop links between Wales and the city, improve the standard of coaching among locals and spread the Union's values.

Gatland has been sending personal video messages to the people in the city while Wales branding can be found on fire engines, postal vans and buses.

The WRU's hierarchy have also been involved with chairman Gareth Davies and chief executive Martyn Phillips also paying visits to the city.

The hope is that the by-product of all this is Wales becoming everyone's second team in the city, and that extra support could prove vital later this year.

In 2011, Wales became many locals' second team in New Zealand, which helped on their impressive run to the semi-finals.

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