Cultural References
Rugby is occasionally mentioned in Japanese popular culture.
- School Wars: Hero (スクール・ウォーズ／ＨＥＲＯ, sukūru wōzu hero?) (2004, dir. Ikuo Sekimoto) is set in an industrial high school in 1974 Kyoto. Devastated by campus violence, most of the teachers interact as little as possible with the students, but a physical education teacher, who is a former Japan player believes he can constructively channel the teens' anger by forming a rugby team. Despite internal conflicts and setbacks, the team begins to bond, forming a type of family relationship most of them have never known and a national championship may be within their grasp. It is based on the story of a traditionalist coach, Mr Yamaguchi, at Fushimi Technical High School and his battle against teenage delinquency.
- In the manga, More Ryuunosuke (episode 108) an alien invasion is foiled when the extraterrestrials make the mistake of arriving during a rugby match.
- "Sports Drink Rugby" is a soft drink inspired by the sport.
- An episode of the anime Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu has protagonists Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori charged with training the rugby team of their school for an upcoming game; because the team has been losing their matches in a consistent basis, should they lose, the rugby club would have to disband. When Sousuke takes over training duties, he uses typical Army training to turn the otherwise overtly delicate players into ruthless, cold-blooded "killing machines", allowing the team to dominate the game and thus, keep the rugby club functioning.
Read more about this topic: Rugby Union In Japan
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