The Rugby World Cup is taking place in Japan over the next several weeks. This is undoubtedly stating the obvious to any readers of this blog from rugby nations.
An elegant sport about which I’ve been heretofore ignorant, rugby, I’m discovering, offers lessons which extend well beyond the pitch. For example, much like in certain business environments, I’ve learned that the underlying goal of all competitive matchups is simply “to get your retaliations in first.”
Another is that there’s a fair bit of money involved. Although not at FIFA magnitudes, the money seems to flow more in the form of cost outlays for stadium construction and infrastructure to handle the sudden influx of rugby fans worldwide. Japan’s budget-restricted rural regions seem to be on the receiving end of the ultimate hospital pass: they’ve incurred relatively material expenditures for limited-purpose stadiums which may never fully recoup the investments.
It is in this spirit that I’m proud to support the Kamaishi, Tohoku initiative. On Sunday October 13, the Canada-Namibia match takes place at the Recovery Memorial Stadium in Kamaishi, a small coastal town in the Iwate Prefecture.
If you’re not familiar with this region of Japan, I wholeheartedly recommend making the detour sometime. It’s part of Japan’s Pacific Northeast, breathtakingly gorgeous yet still in reconstruction from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. I personally developed an affection for it while cycling in the now famous Tour de Tohoku.
The Kamaishi, Tohoku initiative is a volunteer project which involves assisting with stadium cleanup following the Canada-Namibia match, and subsequently joining the community in a public viewing of the Japan-Scotland broadcast that same evening. The camaraderie and spirit of this community is energizing, and I have a feeling that some of the world’s most delicious sea scallops, along with the regional libation, will be flowing freely.
Below is the full programme of the excursion. Please feel free to contact me if you’re in Japan and interested in participating in this authentic and undoubtedly fulfilling volunteer experience.
