Our partners use technology, such as biscuits, and collect information that is browsing to personalise the content and advertising and to supply you with the ideal online experience.
Please let us know if you agree.
From Chris McLaughlin
BBC Scotland sports news correspondent
For one little town, 500 miles north of Tokyo, the presence of the Rugby World Cup signifies more than a celebration of game.
Kamaishi is located in the state of Iwate and used to be best known for fishing, its steel business and also the 35,000 residents’ fascination with rugby union, as it was home to the team which dominated Western infantry in the 1970s and 80s.
This was until March 11, 2011. That triggered a tsunami and was the day the nation hit.
News footage at that time shows cars bobbing throughout the streets and homes floating around like matchsticks from the rain, as well as the sight of folks on a hillside desperately howling to their fellow townsfolk to operate because the ocean invaded the roads, crushing everything in its path.
A total of 1,300 people died and the city was devastated. Many survivors took what they could salvage and left, never to return. But people who remained were decided to rebuild.
One of the buildings to be washed off was the local school. It lay at the heart of town, both physically and emotionally.
As a result of a tsunami evacuation procedure that was well-established, the majority of the students made it but nothing remained of the construction.
In locals invented a plan that would offer a sense of function to the town and restore some pride – and – rugby was in its heart.
The Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium stands on the place where the faculty was washed away, having been constructed with the help of government investment made to aid in the area’s recovery.
With a capacity of 16,000, it is going to be the smallest of their World Cup venues, but many think it’s going to be the most significant.
“We needed to construct something which would symbolise hope for the near future,” said arena manager Takeshi Nagata.
“It isn’t simply rebuilding something physically – it’s about rebuilding hearts”
That opinion is evidenced once the wave struck, by Akiko Iwasaki, who almost lost her life. She owns a little inn that sits at the edge of the sea. When recounting her fatal experience she smiles broadly.
“There was a feeling that’today is your day’,” she recalls. “We had been anticipating it since we had been told that a major earthquake would one day come out our way.
“As I attempted to run to the hills, I had been caught under water.
“I looked at the skies and remember thinking it looked so pretty before I lost consciousness.”
One of her customers who’d made it was trapped under a van but pulled clear iwasaki. She wants Kamaishi to be remembered for rugby as opposed to a period of tragedy.
“I don’t believe this town and the individuals might have made it during the last eight years when we did not have the World Cup to focus on,” she explained.
Not everybody is in agreement though. Many sailors point towards people still forced to live in housing as major government investment is ploughed around the stadium and World Cup infrastructure.
The arena will host Namibia v Canada and Fiji v Uruguay, however, those who visit won’t fail to notice the sporting event will take place.
The tsunami memorial situated just outside Akiko’s inn also serves as caution.
The words etched right into the tall black granite rock read, simply:”Just run! Run uphill! Do not be worried about others. Save yourself first. And tell the generations a tsunami attained this stage were the people who ran faulty. So run! Run uphill!”
A vast pool of a brand new league that is professional athletes and sevens experience, would be the United States the next big thing in world championship?
Producer and chris Louise join Tom Fordyce in the England hotel.
Jimmy Peters’ life, the first rugby player of England, is recalled at a BBC documentary.
#
A story of greed, deceit and herd madness
Junk conversation fresh stars burning nation-uniting and bright triumphs – much can you remember of those iconic Rugby World Cup minutes?
Get headlines and latest scores sent directly to your phone, and also learn where to find us on online.
The way to get into rugby union – throughout the age groups around the 15-player game or try rugby sevensthat made its Olympic debut in 2016.
Enjoy the debate, analysis and interviews with all BBC 5 live and World Service plus our union remark Posts.
Könyvek vétele, eladása.