Monday, Sept 21, 2015
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
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Mid Canterbury’s Japanese community is ecstatic after their team’s RWC match win.
Water stories told P5
Japan supporters (from left) Yuka Iino-Curd and Akira, Nodoka Takizawa, Masumi Banwell, Sanae Hydes, Chiyo Hunt and Kyosuke. PHOTO JOSEPH JOHNSON 200915-JJ-023
‘We’re so proud’ BY SUSAN SANDYS
SUSAN.S@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Big win for Mid Canty P16
The greatest upset in Rugby World Cup history had Mid Canterbury’s Japanese community cheering and almost in tears. “I was so proud of them,” said Chiyo Hunt of her country’s 34-32 win against two-time World Cup champions, the Springboks, in their pool match which kicked off 3.45am New Zealand time yesterday. Mrs Hunt and some of her Japanese friends in Ashburton are married to Kiwis, and all remember exactly how they heard the most exciting sporting news of their lives. Mrs Hunt said a friend of hers texted her early yesterday, saying “OMG… did you watch RWC?” She then followed with a rundown of the game,
with a few more OMGs included. “It was really, really big shock,” Mrs Hunt said. Yuka Iino-Curd said her husband’s brother tagged her in a Facebook post. She had taped the game to watch it, so it was a spoiler, but one she was happy to hear nonetheless. “I have seen the difference (in the Japanese team) since the last World Cup, because of the coach, he did a great job,” she said. Masumi Banwell saw the highlights on television after her husband woke her up yesterday morning with the exciting news. “I was almost in tears, so emotional,” she said. “I thought Japan was going to lose.” Watching the match live was not on the high priority list for the busy wom-
en, but they don’t think they will miss that opportunity for the next match. Daring to dream, they all wanted to see an All Blacks versus Brave Blossoms for the RWC final. And in the likely event of that not happening, they knew they would continue to be proud of their team anyway. The Brave Blossoms’ performance in taking the match to a win was a testimony not just to the courage of team members, but to the Japanese spirit overall. Another of Mrs Hunt’s Ashburton friends, Sanae Hydes, said the essence of the Japanese spirit was a “never going to give up” mentality.
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