Tag Archives: brave blossoms

Allez Les Bleus! France Provide a Reality Check for Japan at the World Rugby Nations Championship in Tokyo

Posted on July 19, 2026 by tokyofox

During all my time in Japan I’ve managed to see the majority of the top test-playing international rugby teams at some point but there have been a couple of notable absentees for a while. The title of this post reveals … Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Inaugural World Rugby Nations Championship Begins in Front of a Packed Tokyo Crowd as Japan Hosts Italy

Posted on July 7, 2026 by tokyofox

“The miracle of Brighton” in 2015 helped propel Japan’s national men’s rugby team towards the upper echelons of world rugby. That famous win against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in England was one of the greatest upsets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

TF Top 10……Rugby Match Day Experiences in 2024

Posted on January 24, 2025 by tokyofox

2024 was a bumper year for watching rugby by my standards as I attended twice as many  matches as I’ve ever seen in any previous year. More importantly, it now gives me the opportunity for my first ever top 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rugby Fans Should “Try” & Visit This Themed Shrine In Kyoto!

Posted on November 22, 2024 by tokyofox

It’s been an incredible rise in fortunes for the Japanese men’s national rugby team over the last decade or so with the pinnacle being at the World Cup they hosted five years ago.  However, the last few years have seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Quirky Japan, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Witnessing History As England Play A Rugby Match In Japan For The First Time In 45 Years!

Posted on June 25, 2024 by tokyofox

Rugby in Japan was very much a minor sport when I first saw the national team in live action back in June 2005 as they were thrashed by Ireland. Things changed a decade later though on the back of that … Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

TF Flashback: When The Ireland Rugby Team Played In Tokyo For The First Time (2005)

Posted on June 14, 2020 by tokyofox

Last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan saw the hosts become the first Asian team to qualify for the knock-out rounds. After an expected opening win against Russia they then produced the shock of Shizuoka as they stunned Ireland. Samoa … Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments