Rugby serving as symbol of reconstruction

March 8, 2018

Kamaishi, Iwate Pref.- The construction of a rugby stadium is under way as a symbol of reconstruction in a northeastern Japan city devastated by a massive tsunami seven years ago.

The new stadium is being built in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, the home of former Nippon Steel Kamaishi, one of Japan's top rugby clubs after establishing a dynasty in the 1970s and 80s. The stadium will be one of the venues for next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Following the disaster, Kamaishi Seawaves, the successor to Nippon Steel Kamaishi, acted promptly to provide support to affected local residents, including transportation of relief supplies.

Seawaves players from overseas even opted to stay in the city to support local people instead of following advice from their home countries to return.

Seawaves general manager Yoshihiko Sakuraba says he cannot forget local people's response to the club's relief activities. "Doing volunteer work is good, but please cheer up the community by doing what you really need to do--play rugby," he quotes them as saying.

Sakuraba says he was impressed by Kamaishi people's determination not to lose their pride as citizens of a rugby town.

Sakuraba, a former Nippon Steel Kamaishi player, now serves as a World Cup ambassador. Kamaishi "has received assistance from both at home and abroad," he says. "The World Cup will be a chance for visitors to see the recovery and for us to express our gratitude."

The Kamaishi city government is making preparations to offer maximum "omotenashi" hospitality to World Cup visitors.

"We want to express our gratitude to people across the world and energize children and future generations," says Hiroki Yamamoto, chief of the city government's division for World Cup preparations.

The city has many areas where reconstruction work has yet to start. Yamamoto says there have been complaints that the priority should be helping residents still living in temporary housing rather than hosting the World Cup.

Yamamoto says he hopes that the sporting event will revitalize the city and its residents at a time when there is a long way to go before the reconstruction is completed. Jiji Press