Ceremonies held to cheer for Rugby World Cup teams
The Yomiuri ShimbunA pep rally for the Japanese national rugby team was held Friday at the Tokyo metropolitan government building ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which will kick off on Sept. 20. The day also saw ceremonies to welcome some of the other 19 teams in various places around Japan.
At the event in Tokyo, players were given medals and caps commemorating the international sports competition, and captain Michael Leitch drew an eye on a daruma doll to pray for victory. Leitch said: “This is only chance in my lifetime to have an impact on 120 million people [in Japan]. I want to prove that we are strong.”
A ceremony to greet Ireland’s team, which will play Japan in Pool A, was also held in Chiba city on the day.
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