Table Of ContentThe influence of foreign players on the
transformation of Japanese rugby over the last three
decades
A Thesis
Submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the Degree
of
Master of Arts in Sociology
in the
University of Canterbury
By
Hiroshi Sakata
University of Canterbury
2004
8*77~e'~f6!lt7)I::tJ6I::
This thesis aims to contribute to the further development ofJapanese rugby.
ABSTRACT
This thesis explores the influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese
rugby over the last three decades. Foreign players first had an impact in company league
teams and, more latterly, have also played with distinction in the Japanese national team.
Using historical materials and interview data with players, coaches and administrators, I
show how the game of rugby in Japan has developed, and consider aspects of the
relationship between migrant players and the Japanese game. I follow the actors through
the shift from the amateur to the professional period, and describe the impact on
Japanese rugby of foreign players and coaches.
In the first chapter, I describe the establishment and historical development path of
rugby in Japan. The game has incorporated aspects of Japanese styles of organisation,
playing techniques and philosophies. Until the 1980s, high school and university rugby
was the most popular form of the game, but after then, rapidly-developing company
rugby became the predominant domestic form of the game. The company game's latest
iteration, launched in 2003, is the Top League, and in it, labour relations have become
more professional. Chapter Two describes the influence of foreign players in company
teams, looking in particular at migration trends, eligibility rules and labour relations. I
found that, as well as increasing in number, foreign players and coaches as teachers are
having a deeper influence on the way that Japanese play the game.
Chapter Three narrows the focus to a case study of a representative company team,
Yamaha Motors. It follows three broad themes, of the history of the team and its moves
to a more professional style of organisation, labour relations and the team environment,
1
and the degree of equality between foreign and Japanese players, in terms of salary,
social status and the expectations on them. The company teams have a high degree of
control over players' contracts, and with salary and expectations differing between
professional foreign players, the few Japanese professionals and Japanese players
employed as regular employees, the majority, interpersonal relations are still difficult.
Chapter Four analyses the case of foreign-born players in the Japanese national team.
The eligibility criteria for the Japanese national rugby team do not demand citizenship,
only three years' residence, which has caused considerable debate. This chapter found
that changes in role that have occurred since the first selection of foreign-born players in
1986, with emphasis of late on adding leadership rather than strength. Through
comparative case studies of the national team at three key points in time, 1968, 1999
and 2003, this chapter found that the distinctive Japanese playing style on show in 1968
has now largely disappeared, although moves are underway to revive it. Additionally,
players' main loyalties are often now to company teams rather than the national team,
and many simply choose not to appear for Japan.
11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have many people thanks for their help with my research over the years. This study
was made possible with the participation of rugby players, coaches and administrators
in the Japanese national teams and company clubs (Yamaha Motor and Kobe Steel). I
want to thank you for your involvement and interest in my work. Thank you to the
players for your friendship and encouragement. To the staff of JAPAN RUGBY
MAGAZINE, thank you for your time and resources. I express thanks to my friend, Glen
McCabe, for your hours of editorial work and sharing company.
I would like to take this opportunity to thanks all of my friends and family who have
helped me during my seven years in New Zealand. I have learnt form your warmth and
friendship what the human spirit is truly about. Thank to my friends and colleagues in
the Sociology Department for your encouragement. To Antoine Monti, thank you for
your technical help.
lowe debts of gratitude to my supervisors, Camilla Obel and Evan Poata-Smith. Thank
you for your supports, wisdoms and trusts in my abilities. You have always provided
sociological perspectives, academic advice and encouragement with my research. I also
have to appreciate your understanding and endurance, when I encouraged 'big clashes'
with my 'job-interviews' in Japan.
To my family in Japan, I am grateful for your understanding, care, concern and support.
Thank you, Mum for your positive encouragement. I always do my best with your
words saying 'always fairplay'. I am especially grateful to Dad. I have benefited
immensely from your valuable experience and knowledge of rugby as a player, coach
111
and sport academic. Congratulations on your appointment to the Rugby World Cup
Committee of 'Rugby Stars' for France in 2007.
IV
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT' .. i
ACKNOWLEDGEMNETS' . iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . v
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . . viii
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Research project· . . 1
1.2 Research questions and objectives' . . 5
1.3 Thesis structure' . . 6
1.4 Use of theoretical/analytical ideas' . . 8
1.5 Methodological issues and research data' . . 12
Chapter Two: Introduction to Japanese rugby
2.0 Introduction'" 16
2.1 Historical background: Rugby Union in Japan' '17
2.2 Organisational context . . 21
2.3 The development of company rugby' . 28
2.4 Top League competition . . 34
2.5 The current state of the Japanese national team . . 38
2.6 Summary' ·41
v
Chapter Three: Foreign players in Japanese company rugby
3.0 Introduction v v 43
3.1 Comparative role of foreign specialists in vanous Japanese organisational
fields' . . 44
3.2 Historical background of foreign rugby players . . 46
3.3 Migration data of foreign players (1978-2002) . . 49
3.4 Eligibility, quota and transfer system of foreign players' . . 52
3.5 Recruitment of foreign players' . . 54
3.6 Motives and objectives of foreign players' . . 59
3.7 Foreign players' views and experiences' . 62
3.8 Failure migrant players' . . 65
3.9 Reflections on the influence of foreign players' . . 67
3.10 Summary' .. 69
Chapter Four: Foreign players in Yamaha RFC
4.0 Introduction r > 72
4.1 A brief history and current philosophy of Yamaha RFC' . . 73
4.2 Team strategy and labour relations' . . 77
4.3 Kevin Schuler -Cultural and technical leader . . . 85
4.4 'Fijian Player' - A representative migrant player' . . 89
4.5 'Japanese Player' -The local perspective' . . 92
4.6 Summary'" 95
VI
Chapter Five: Foreign-born players in the Japanese national team
5.0 Introduction'" 99
5.1 Eligibility to represent the Japanese national team . . 100
5.2 History of foreign-born players in the national team' . . 104
5.3 The data regarding success and failure of foreign influences in the national
team' . 106
5.4 1968 All Japan (Ohnishi Japan) . . 111
5.5 1999 Cherry Blacks tHirao Japan) . 113
5.6 2003 Brave Blossoms (Mukai Japan) . 117
5.7 Summary . 124
Chapter Six: Conclusion . . . 128
APPENDIX' . . 136
PRIMARY SOURCES' . . 141
MEDIASOURCES' .. 142
REFERENCES· . . 144
vn
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
TABLES:
Table 2.1 The key features of the different models of organisation . 33
Table 3.1 The number of foreign players per Top League team . 50
APPENDIX:
Table 1. Team profile in the Top League' . . 137
Table 2. Distribution/total number of foreign players
in Japanese company teams' . 138
Table 3. The list of foreign-born players in the Japanese national team' . 139
FIGURES:
Figure 2.1 Map of prefectural unions' geographical areas' . . 21
Figure 2.2 Institutional contexts and competitions' . . 22
Figure 3.1 Number of foreign players' . . 50
Figure 3.2 The composition of foreign rugby players in the Japanese company league
between 1978 and 2002' . . 51
Figure 3.3 Foreign players in the 2002 season' . . 51
APPENDIX:
Figure 1 Structure of Top League competition' . . 137
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