Japan and Tonga: the First Encounter

From the Pages of History
Japan and Tonga: the First Encounter

The first meeting between Japan and Tonga took place on Sunday, 08 April 1990 at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo.

This inaugural test between these two countries was part of the Asia and Oceania Qualification for the 1991 Rugby World Cup with Japan claiming victory 28-16. The combined Asia and Oceania qualification was held at Chichibu in Tokyo in April 1990. The four-team round-robin tournament involved Western Samoa, Japan, Tonga and South Korea with Western Samoa and Japan gaining qualification as the two top-placed sides.

This was test number 103 for Japan coached by the late Hiroaki Shukuzawa and captained by the late Seiji Hirao. There was a lot at stake in this match and consequently the boot dominated the run of play. Japan scored two tries to one, but it was the six penalties from fullback Takahiro Hosokawa playing in his first test that got the home side across the line in the end.

The 23-year-old Hosokawa landed his first successful penalty in the third minute of play, but the early lead was short lived. Two minutes later, Tongan left wing Quddus Fielea crossed for the first four pointer of the afternoon to give the visitors a slender 4-3 lead. Japan soon hit back with a penalty try to retake the lead 9-4, but Tonga stayed in touch with a penalty from five-eighth Kite Tuivailala. Over the reminder of the opening half, Hosokawa kicked three more penalties from four attempts to see Japan lead 18-7 at the halftime break.

In the second half, two more Hosokawa penalties early on pushed Japan out to a commanding 24-7 lead forcing Tonga to chase the game. A penalty from halfback Nafa Tufui in the twelfth minute pegged back three points for Tonga, but a try to diminutive Meiji University wing Yoshihito Yoshida on the hour edged Japan closer to victory at 28-10. At only 170cm and 75kg, the dynamic Yoshida was playing his fifth of what would be 30 tests for Japan including the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups. Tufui completed the scoring with two further penalties over the closing stages with Japan recording a 24-16 win.

Coach Shukuzawa died on 17 June 2006 at the age of 55 following a heart attack on the way back from a mountain climbing trip in Gunma prefecture. He had a long career with Sumitomo Bank and played three tests for Japan as a halfback in the early 1970s. As a coach, he is best remembered for the 28-24 win over a Scotland XV in Tokyo in 1989 and the victory over Zimbabwe at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. This would be Japan’s only victory at a World Cup until they surprised the world in 2015 with three wins in England under Eddie Jones.

The much-loved Seiji Hirao, sometimes better known as Mr. Rugby, played 35 tests for Japan as five-eighth or centre, 12 as captain between 1982 and 1995. The Kobe Steel stalwart then went on to coach Japan in 33 tests between 1997 and 2000. In what was a tremendous shock to the Japanese and world rugby communities, Hirao passed away from an undisclosed illness in a hospital in Kyoto on 20 October 2016 at the age of 53. On his passing, Bill Beaumont, the chairman of World Rugby commented, “On behalf of World Rugby I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of Seiji Hirao and to the entire Japanese rugby family. Hirao-san was a fine player, coach and administrator and always helped to push Japanese rugby on the world stage. He will be greatly missed.”