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Andrew McNicol

Japanese rugby star Kazuki Himeno is leading the charge to reawaken the Asian scene after what he described as a lull during the Covid-19 era.
The 27-year-old Toyota Verblitz forward is considered one of the best in the world in his position. He was named last year’s Aotearoa Rookie of the Year after an impressive stint with Super Rugby side Highlanders, and also bagged Japan’s Player of the Year.
Back in his familiar Japan Rugby League One (JRLO), the man teammates call “Mr. Passion” hopes the cross-Asian borders will soon allow for more elite-level rugby games.
He and his fellow Cherry Blossoms will hold the fort in the meantime, while neighbouring South Korean players are also carving their own niches in the JRLO.

“The rugby level in Asia has had growth in both popularity and standard, but it’s quite stagnant at the moment,” Himeno said via an interpreter at a JRLO virtual press conference.
“It’s not improved so much, and as the Japan team, we’re kind of representing Asia as a whole in terms of popularity, getting the environment right, and bringing the standard up.
“For us, representing the whole of Asia and getting good results is one of our responsibilities. We used to have a few games in Asia, but there’s not been many chances lately.”

Verblitz coach Simon Cron contrasted the recruitment process in Japan with his native New Zealand and other top rugby breeding grounds. Most of Japan’s young talent is identified at university, but there is a delay as players do not integrate until after graduating.
Cron expects the university recruitment system to “evolve over the coming two or three years as professionalism continues to grow”, while other countries in the region had with players of untapped potential.

Congratulations to the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa Rookie of the Year - Kazuki Himeno 🔥🇯🇵 Special mention to Connor Garden-Bachop who was Runner-Up 💨

READ MORE HERE 👉🏽 https://t.co/ymC96hKq9A#itsabeautifulthing #rookiewatch pic.twitter.com/N6gsy0QiB0
— Highlanders (@Highlanders) May 6, 2021

“It’s a very different beast over here,” said Cron, who will take over as Western Force coach in August after three seasons in Japan under the tutelage of legendary All-Blacks coach-turned-Verblitz director of rugby Steven Hansen.
“I’ve been in contact with some of the Singapore Sevens coaches to look at what’s happening in Singapore. I know China is one of the fastest-growing games, and I love that it’s developing in China.
“Any opportunity to give or to play in front of them – to give them the opportunity to see rugby – we should give to them.”




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by KAZUKI HIMENO 姫野和樹 (@kazukihimeno)



The former Waratahs assistant added that while Himeno was the prime candidate to be the face of Japanese rugby, it was crucial the forward did not stop improving as he inspired others.
Bringing in the likes of former world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit and All-Blacks international Patrick Tuipulotu to Toyota’s Muzuho Rugby Stadium- following in the footsteps of incumbent Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and former All-Blacks captain Kieran Read – certainly helps to raise the standard.
“The mistake some people make is they look at the team and go, ‘there’s two or three foreign stars’,” Cron said. “The reality is we’ve got a squad of 48 and it’s the Japanese players that make the difference in the JRLO.
“It’s about building them up to be the best they can be and that will ultimately be the difference to them winning or losing the top four [spots in the conference]. You can’t ask the Hoopers, the Reads, the Himenos to carry the team individually – it really is about squad depth.”




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Simon Cron (@crony7)



Verblitz are third in Conference B with six wins from 10 this season, and Cron is intent that his side will improve on their third place in last year’s overall season.
But the coach said his players needed more “consistency for 80 minutes” and the avoiding of “our own errors” leading to losses.


“Frankly speaking, I don’t think we’re at the level we want to be playing at,” Himeno said. “I’m not quite satisfied yet – we need to work harder. But there are good things.
“Steve Hansen [the former All Blacks coach] is here, and we’re a really positive team who are getting better with every game. We just want to focus on the process and the results should follow.”
Himeno will also likely have a talismanic presence for the Japan national team’s Test against reigning Six Nations champions France in July, the result of which may influence whether the Brave Blossoms are included in other major competitions after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.


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Japan responsible for ‘representing Asia’ amid Covid-impacted rugby stagnation, says star Kazuki Himeno

Kazuki Himeno (centre) of Japan in a league game event for the Toyota Verblitz against the Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu. Photo: Japan Rugby League One   

Kazuki Himeno of Japan wins a line-out in a Rugby World Cup pool game against Ireland in Fukuroi, Japan in 2019. Photo: Kyodo 

Kazuki Himeno (centre) of Japan after a league game for the Toyota Verblitz. Photo: Japan Rugby League One 

All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu and Springboks Pieter-Steph du Toit talk Six Nations and how a move to Japan improved their game

Pieter-Steph du Toit (right) and Damian de Allende (left) tackle Ataata Moeakiola during a friendly between Japan and South Africa. Photo: AFP

Wales flanker Aaron Wainwright (right) tackles Pieter-Steph Du Toit during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match in Yokohama. Photo: AFP

New Zealand’s Patrick Tuipulotu is tackled by a Canadian defender during the Rugby World Cup Pool B in Japan. Photo: AP

Yokohama Canon Eagles celebrate after coming from behind to beat Toyota Verblitz. Photo: Kyodo

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Fiji celebrate winning the Cup final against France at the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Winson Wong

Fans cheer in the South Stand at Hong Kong Stadium during the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

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Sport

Rugby

China


The 27-year-old Toyota Verblitz forward acknowledges overall Asian improvement but Japanese set-up has been ‘bringing the standard up’
Coach Cron outlines potential for Asian player recruitment despite foreign influx – ‘I love that [rugby is] developing in China’



The 27-year-old Toyota Verblitz forward acknowledges development in Asia but cites the Japanese set-up for ‘bringing the standard up’, as coach Simon Cron outlines potential for future Asian player recruitment.


Rugby World Cup 2019

Asia Rugby Championship