※This article is a text version of the video recording.

• Koichi Murakami (hereinafter "Murakami")
  In this corner, we talk to those who have enriched their lives after experiencing rugby. The guest is Mr. Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor of Yokohama. Thank you very much. This time, it was recorded at Yokohama Country & Athletic Club (YC&AC) in Naka Ward, Yokohama. This is known as a historical private sports club.
• Mayor Yamanaka (hereinafter "Mayor")
  YC&AC began with the Yokohama Cricket Club, which was founded in 1868 (the first year of Meiji). The Yokohama Cricket Club merged with other sports clubs operating in Yokohama to become the current YC&AC. One of the merged sports clubs is the Yokohama Football Club. This club was established in 1866, shortly after the opening of Yokohama Port in 1859, led by U.K. Army officers stationed in Yokohama, and this is said to be the origin of Japanese rugby. It's amazing that a rugby club was established at this time. It is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in the world.
• Murakami
  I visited the facility, but it looks like an overseas sports club.
• Mayor
  YC&AC has a variety of sports facilities, including rugby and soccer grounds, several tennis courts, and swimming pools. In addition, U.K. has been the center, so there are pubs and restaurants, and there is an exotic atmosphere. Facilities that feel such a history remain, and it is valuable that they are still used.
• Murakami
  It seems that it is also a venue for the rugby academy for elementary and junior high school students held by the Yokohama Canon Eagles, and a training facility for Y.S.C. belonging to J3 for soccer.
• Mayor
  Yes. At the "2022 World Triathlon Para Triathlon Series Yokohama Tournament" held by Yokohama City in May this year (2022), it became a practice ground for swims.
• Murakami
  When did you meet rugby?
• Mayor
  I had been familiar with various sports before I entered elementary school. However, since there was no rugby school in my hometown where I was born and raised, I met rugby at high school (Waseda University Honjo Senior High School). At that time, the people of the rugby club were the most energetic at school. In addition, I joined due to the influence of a TV drama on the theme of rugby. I've seen scrums and malls on TV, but I think it's fun to play and I think it's a fulfilling high school life by encountering rugby.
• Murakami
  I hear that the position was forward.
• Mayor
  Because my legs were slow (laughs). I'm not a solid body, so I often asked, "Is it a backs?", But I was in a scrum. I did a hooker, and I did a flanker.
• Murakami
  What kind of memories do you have?
• Mayor
  The scrum needs to fit the breath of eight people perfectly. The scrumharf puts the ball and the hooker hooks. Until the ball comes out of the scrum, teamwork of eight forwards and a total of nine scrum hurdles are important. I practiced to keep my breath here many times.
• Murakami
  What do you think is the appeal of rugby?
• Mayor
  There are people of various physiques, and there are positions in various roles. It brings together power as a team. I think that's the biggest attraction, but there are some scrambles for the ball and some break the defense with autograph play. I think the appeal of rugby is that it can be enjoyed in various ways.
• Murakami
  Did you practice the rugby club in high school?
• Mayor
  It was tough. It was especially difficult to practice scrum during the hot season. I practice pushing a scrum machine, but I only move about 10 cm at a time. I push it about 100m. It was hard to do both coming and coming days, but I got physical strength.
• Murakami
  Did you watch rugby?
• Mayor
  I was watching university rugby, such as the Waseda game and the Waseda game. In the era when Kiyoshi Imaizumi of Waseda was active, when Imaizumi played a placekick, when he adjusted his stride, he said, "Ichi, Ni, Shan."…"There was a voice from the audience. I remember the Japan Championship (January 15, 1988), where Waseda defeated Toshiba Fuchu in the early snow battle (December 6, 1987). There were star players such as Masami Horikoshi in Waseda, Yoshito Yoshida and Yoji Nagatomo in the Meiji era. Of course, I often watched both adults and high school rugby.
• Murakami
  Is there any player you longed for?
• Mayor
  Katsuyuki Kiyomiya (1989 Captain of the Rugby Kickball Club at Waseda University) was in the same forward, and he was a big and hero.

• Murakami
  How has playing rugby affect your life afterwards?
• Mayor
  Anyway, it was a rugby pickling life, so it was hard every day. Through such strict practice, I think I was able to understand the spirit of One Four All and All Four One. Each person understands the role given to each person, and sometimes pushes toward victory, sacrificing himself. Now I am the mayor of Yokohama, and I am pushing forward with the government. I think the rugby spirit is inscribed in my heart.
• Murakami
  The 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC) was held in Yokohama.
• Mayor
  The RWC was held for the first time in Asia, but in Yokohama, six games including the finals were held. At that tournament, all over Japan was caught up in a whirlpool of enthusiasm. I think it has contributed greatly to increasing the popularity of Japanese rugby.
• Murakami
  Do you have any memorable games?
• Mayor
  In addition to the Japanese national team, I looked at the finals from beginning to end. I was very happy that the finals of the historic tournament attracted more than 70,000 spectators and was held in Yokohama, where I live.
• Murakami
  The excitement around the venue was amazing.
• Mayor
  Everyone was happy that they liked rugby so much. I think it is necessary to take over this as a legacy. Currently, the Yokohama International Stadium, which has become a battleground, is also conducting a stadium tour where you can experience the feeling of becoming a player who fought the world's highest stage. By all means, I would like you to experience the excitement and excitement of those days again on the stage of the final.
• Murakami
  On the stage where the finals were held, the Heroes Cup, a national rugby tournament for fifth and sixth graders in Japan, was also held. You heard that this year (2022) tournament was visited.
• Mayor
  I was impressed. Each play was full of enthusiasm, and I wanted these players to play Japanese rugby. The government will continue to contribute to the holding of the Heroes Cup.
• Murakami
  Canon Eagles, a member of the Japan Rugby League One, which started this year (2022), was based in Yokohama City and became Yokohama Canon Eagles.
• Mayor
  It's a local rugby team, so I would like to support you. During the off-season, Eagles players collaborate with the community, such as lectures in Yokohama and rugby classes at elementary schools.
• Murakami
  Yokohama City is also the leader of the "Local Government One Team".
• Mayor
  In 2020, we formed a council with about 140 local governments and the Japan Rugby Football Association in order to take over and further develop the momentum that was greatly excited at the RWC. The official name is "Local Government Cooperation Council for Promoting Regional Collaboration with Rugby", but it is commonly called "Local Government One Team" because it is long. The purpose is to enliven rugby from the region, take root, and share aspirations, and promote the region together. I have taken over the former mayor Fumiko Hayashi, and have been the chairman.
• Murakami
  Finally, please give a message to the children and parents who attend the rugby school.
• Mayor
  Rugby is a sport in which people with various personalities come together and move toward a common purpose. There is a role of each person, but you can maximize your strengths for the team and perform best with your peers toward victory. This experience is always useful when you grow up. Please learn such a spirit through rugby.

RKids <Rugby Kids>

[Interview] Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor of Yokohama-Part 1-https://rkids.jp/article/92925 (outside site)

[Interview] Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor of Yokohama-Part 2-https://rkids.jp/article/92926 (outside site)