For those heading to the Rugby World Cup this year in Japan your journey starts this Saturday on the Gold Coast. The Japan Community of Queensland Inc. cordially invite you to immerse yourself into Japanese food, culture and the people at Albert Waterways Community Centre in Broadbeach from 10am to 5pm. Proudly supported by the Japanese Consulate in Brisbane and Brisbanerugby, this is your first step of the incredible journey for the World Cup to be hosted outside of a ‘traditional‘ rugby nation.

4年に一度じゃない。一生に一度だ。
(yon-nen ni ichi-do jyanai. Isshou-ni ichi-do da.)
The catch cry for this year’s World Cup is, “Not every 4 years. Once in a lifetime.” Basically meaning that this will be the ONLY time in your lifetime to experience such an event in Asia.

Japan has a proud history of rugby dating back to 1889, when Edward Bramwell Clarke, an instructor in English language and literature at Keio University at the time, began teaching rugby together with fellow Cambridge alumnus Ginnosuke Tanaka. Enthusiasm for rugby grew in Japan, led mainly by the university and high school students. University rugby became increasingly popular because of the top teams from Waseda, Keio, Meiji and Doshisha Universities, peaking between the 1980s and early 1990s. From 2016 the Tokyo based Sunwolves entered the Super Rugby competition and played a very competitive match against the Queensland Reds last weekend in Tokyo, narrowly losing 34-31 in the final play.
Some Queensland Reds and Super W players will be on hand around 2pm for autographs and some rugby fun. We are very privileged to have a Japanese player from the Women’s Reds Team, Asako-chan, as well to demonstrate the pathways open to those that persevere, “Fight-o” in Japanese.

CJ
This Japanese girl is blazing a trail for other Japanese girls that want to pick up their game:
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/03/16/superw-queensland-ono?fbclid=IwAR3n6UY1mrCEtYB9ksN5hxFtnoylyuhkap6I8IFRCMkpAWFMObya8q7ACJw
Hi everyone! I’m Lilika Fujii! I will be your mc for this year’s Japan Friends Day.
I was born and raised on the Gold Coast. Although I live in Australia, I love to always be in touch with the Japanese culture and I am learning Japanese drum and Japanese dance. I do performances in various places so as to tell a lot of people how amazing the Japanese culture is.
I appreciate to be having such a role and i will put in my utmost effort! I will be looking very forward to see you all on this amazing day!
皆さん!はじめまして!今年のJapan Friends Dayのmcを務めさせていただきます藤井梨々香です。
私は生まれも育ちもゴールドコーストです。オーストラリアに住みながらも日本の文化が大好きで和太鼓と日本舞踊を習っています。大勢の人に日本の文化の良さを伝えたく様々な場所でパフォーマンスを行っています。
このような大役をいただき光栄に思います。精一杯頑張るので、よろしくお願いします。皆さんどうぞ楽しい一日にしてください!