❀ 千葉・九十九里の樹木
2019-10-31
湖畔美術館
九十九里「海の家」
伊能忠敬・生家
伊能忠敬記念館
千葉、九十九里 Oct. ’19
2019-10-31
いつも、行こう行こうと思いながらたぶん1年半ぶりか2年ぶりぐらいの千葉訪問となりました。その間に、私は遠くまでひとりで車で行くのがやや億劫になり、逆に弟からは電車かフェリーかバスで来るようにアドバイスがあり、「そうしましょう」となりました。
市原市湖畔美術館（銅版画などの現在アート）
アートを通した地域づくり、中核施設 
房総の食材を使用したピザを中心とした食事
桑の実のガレット 
市原の蕪とごぼうのPizza 
名所めぐり１ 千恵子の歌碑
名所めぐり 2 伊能忠敬の生家
名所めぐり ３ 佐原、伊能忠敬記念館
山茶花 
「海の家」（200坪）
ロウヤガキ（老爺柿） なつしろぎく 
北部ハイブッシュ（？） 
イロハモミジ シラカバ
これ以外の庭の樹木はこちら
庭の千両 ハイビスカスが咲いていた
道の駅「水の郷佐原」
野菜たっぷりみそラーメン 
進撃止まる、でも前進した！
2019-10-20
Best 4 は逃したけど立派に頑張った。姫野の涙、美しかった。Lieth Michael, 具さん、稲垣、堀江、中村、そのほかにもすばらしい選手がいっぱいいた。今日は松島、福岡の華麗なプレーが封じられた。南アは強かった。イングランド、NZはもっと強い。まだ楽しみは続く・・・。（我ながら、なんという幼稚で杜撰で下手な文章！）
プロップは、稲垣啓太選手（29）とグ・ジウォン選手（25）。
フッカーは、堀江翔太選手（33）。
ロックは、トンプソン ルーク選手（38）とジェームス・ムーア選手（26）。
フランカーは、キャプテンのリーチ マイケル選手（31）とピーター・ラブスカフニ選手（30）。
ナンバー８は、姫野和樹選手（25）。
バックスです。
スクラムハーフは、流大選手（27）。
スタンドオフは、田村優選手（30）。
ウイングは、福岡堅樹選手（27）と松島幸太朗選手（26）。
センターは、中村亮土選手（28）とラファエレ ティモシー選手（28）。
フルバックは、山中亮平選手（31）。
控えの８人は、坂手淳史選手（26）、中島イシレリ選手（30）、ヴァル アサエリ愛選手（30）、ヴィンピー・ファンデルヴァルト選手（30）、アマナキ・レレイ・マフィ選手（29）、田中史朗選手（34）、松田力也選手（25）、レメキ ロマノ ラヴァ選手（30）です。
奇跡の進撃, Brave Bloosoms! ☆3
2019-10-16
あれよ、あれよという間にスコットランドも打ち破り、”念願の”Best 8ならぬ「優勝するつもり」との選手の言葉も、あながちも虚言とか単なる願望とか「目標」ではなく、実現の可能性5％ぐらいはあるのでは？と思わせる快進撃。スコットランド戦では、フランカー稲垣が、いるはずのない(?)ウィングの位置にドドドドッと走ってきて、あろうことか見事に相手方の裏をかいてTRYした！見ている方も、たぶん本人もメンバーも、もちろん外国メディアもびっくりした。素晴らしかった。あとは、もちろん KENKI 福岡の、あっという間のボール奪取とそのあとのフルスピード・ランと美しいTRYも見事のひとこと。
Rugby World Cup: One man’s search into Japan’s mysterious rugby past
Japan 28-21 Scotland: Gregor Townsend’s side out of Rugby World Cup
By Tom English BBC Scotland at International Stadium Yokohama
Japan v Scotland
Japan are in the quarter-finals for the first time after ending their seven-game losing run against Scotland
2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A: Japan v Scotland
Japan: (21) 28
Tries: Matsushima, Inagaki, Fukuoka (2) Con: Tamura (4)
Scotland: (7) 21
Tries: Russell, Nel, Fagerson Con: Laidlaw (2), Russell
Scotland crashed out of the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage for only the second time after being beaten by an irrepressible (impossible to repress, restrain, or control) Japan in Yokohama.
Gregor Townsend’s side needed four more points than the hosts but, despite leading through Finn Russell’s try and mounting a comeback, they fell short.
Kotaro Matsushima, Keita Inagaki and Kenki Fukuoka all crossed before half-time, before the latter blasted over again to secure Japan’s maiden quarter-final – against South Africa in Tokyo on Sunday. Scotland, forced to go for broke in a febrile contest that had been in doubt until about 03:00 BST because of the effects of Typhoon Hagibis, scored through WP Nel and Zander Fagerson after the break.
But that second-half rally was not enough to prevent a first defeat at the hands of the Brave Blossoms in eight Tests. The result also means Ireland finish runners-up in Pool A and will face New Zealand in the last eight in Tokyo on Saturday.
‘Japan were relentless and magnificent’
After a horrendous Saturday that brought death and destruction, it was a minor miracle the game went ahead in the first place, a roaring tribute to the people responsible for clean-up after Hagibis battered this area 24 hours earlier.
There was a moment’s silence for the stricken in a stadium that heaved with emotion and power. The home national anthem was haunting and ominous, a moment of foreboding for Scotland. The visitors had hoped that the sense of occasion might get to the hosts, that the pressure would grind them down as they pushed for a quarter-final against the Springboks next weekend. So much for that tin-pot theory. In their minutes of total dominance, before Scotland came roaring back, Japan were a full of invention and pace. Their accuracy while playing at full throttle was astounding. Every Scotland mistake was punished. It was absolutely relentless. And magnificent.
What a game this was. What an occasion. The Scots had a great start, which was played at bewildering pace. Russell’s cross-kick and Magnus Bradbury’s follow-up created the opportunity and Russell, having started it, then finished it with a hand-off of Yutaka Nagare to score. It was probably the only less-than-perfect moment that scrum-half Nagare delivered all night. Japan took over at that point. They lorded it over possession, whipped left and right and down the middle. Jamie Ritchie, playing utterly heroically, kept them out on 10 minutes with a terrific turnover near his own line, but that respite was short.
Before the end of the first quarter, Japan got their reward when attacking up the left through the wonderful Fukuoka, who eluded Chris Harris and drew in Stuart Hogg before chucking a one-handed offload to Matsushima to gallop away to the posts. Yu Tamura converted and the home crowd erupted.
More Japan heat and more Japan brilliance. Their second try was an epic, a thing of rugby wonder. Matsushima burst through Grant Gilchrist and Blade Thomson and away he went. What happened next was wondrous. Five sets of hands offloaded at speed as if they were on a training run. Nagare, Tamura and Shota Horie worked it to James Moore. The lock flicked it on to William Tupou, who spun and got it to Inagaki for the last act. Sheer genius, pure and simple. The conversion made it 14-7, then just before the break came the try that looked like sending Scotland heading home. Timothy Lafaele grubbered in behind and Fukuoka seized on it to get Japan’s third try. Two more points from Tamura made it 21-7 at half-time. Scotland were on the floor.
‘Huge moment for incredible country’
Three minutes into the second half, Japan scored again. Fukuoka ripped it from Harris and, when the ball went spinning in the air after contact, the wing caught it and sprinted off to score. Tamura made it 28-7. A rout. Or so it seemed. Scotland needed the kind of miracle they produced at Twickenham in March. When Nel grunted his way over the line to narrow the gap, Laidlaw’s conversion made it a 14-point game. Scotland were still a mile off their target. The bench got busy. Six of them came on at once – and Scotland scored again.
Hogg began it, there was a lovely one-two between the immense Jonny Gray and Scott Cummings, Gray running on and feeding Fagerson, who thumped his way through Horie to get the ball down. Russell banged over the extras this time. Seven points in it now. Still a mountain to climb, but this was pulsating stuff.
Japan were denied after another turnover by the towering Ritchie, then they asked their own questions again. It was Scottish pressure now. Chasing two converted tries and a penalty or drop goal they had to take risks, had to force the issue, had to make sure that every pass stuck, every attack counted. They owned the ball in the closing minutes, but Japan’s defence was unbreakable. Their crowd roared and roared and roared again. Scotland were not going to get the points they needed now. There was no time. For them, the battle was all about getting another try and a conversion and a draw. They bust a gut but Japan would not let them through.
When they turned over that last Scottish raid the acclaim of the home support was deafening. A huge moment for this incredible country, a huge moment for this World Cup. Scotland are heading home. Japan? Who knows how far they’re heading. Further than they’ve ever gone before, that’s for sure.
Rugby World Cup: Things we love about the tournament in Japan
From the sectionRugby Union
In case you haven’t heard, the Rugby World Cup is in Asia for the first time. Taking place in Japan, the tournament feels completely different to its predecessors and both foreign and Japanese fans have been revelling in it. There are many things to love about a World Cup out east, some of which were expected and some which have come as a welcome surprise. But after a bit of discussion, the BBC Sport team in Japan have settled on what they love most.
The unpredictability
BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones
You never quite know what you are going to get in Japan. It is never boring; and always fun. For example, the weather seems impossible to predict – any given day could be a combination of perfect sunshine or torrential storms – while at breakfast one needs to be prepared to eat anything from rare beef to fish stew to donuts and cakes. And for such polite and reserved people, the Japanese also absolutely love letting their hair down by getting stuck into good food and good drink – often in a karaoke booth.
The upsets
BBC chief sports writer Tom Fordyce
Every World Cup needs a result in the group stages that shakes up the established order, that messes with the predictions you may have made on your wallchart and keeps you watching other matches that you might otherwise assume to be dead certs. In 2007, you had Fiji beating Wales. In 2011, you had Tonga upsetting France, and in 2015 you had Japan’s famous victory over South Africa. What this World Cup is delivering is not just an isolated one-off but – maybe – a story that could kick on and on. Should hosts Japan make it through to the knock-out stages for the first time in their history, it would be devastating for Scotland but remarkable for the wider tournament. Other tier-two nations have struggled, and that should be a concern for World Rugby. To have the host nation in the last eight would cover up a number of those wider issues.
The Japanese fans
BBC Radio 5 Live rugby union producer Louise Gwilliam
The enthusiasm of the Japanese fans for this World Cup has been like no other tournament I’ve ever been to. Not only do they buy the shirt of every team they go and see (imagine hundreds of Japanese fans in full Namibia kit, backpack and all) they have also learnt the words to every national anthem and sing them with as much pride as passionate Argentines, crying Frenchmen and women and multi-lingual South Africans.
The language
Former England fly-half and BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Paul Grayson
Never have so few words in a native tongue elicited such a warm response. I know how to say about six things in Japanese covering a huge range of topics from hello to sorry and all the way to excuse me. The response to these attempts is pure joy from the recipient and then they politely speak to you in Japanese after which you nod and smile and point at stuff. You feel welcomed and foreign all at the same time. Loud English gets you nowhere here and that’s absolutely as it should be.
The respect
BBC Sport journalist Becky Grey
Japanese society has a lot to teach us about respect. Trains are plastered with signs reminding travellers not to use their phones on-board and on match days there are announcements in English telling fans not to “cause any discomfort” for their fellow passengers. The high value placed on respecting others has translated onto the pitch too. Teams have stayed out on the field after full-time to go round and bow to every side of the stadium, as is the Japanese custom when thanking someone. And there’s been plenty of respect between teams behind the scenes. After thrashing them 63-0, reigning champions New Zealand invited Canada into their dressing room for a few post-match beers.
The rules
BBC Radio 5 Live rugby union producer Louise Gwilliam
The Japanese love a rule, and there’s absolutely no deviating from them, but it makes life in Japan really quite pleasant and easy. Everyone waits at the crossings for the green man, even on back streets with no-one around. There are signs painted on the floor of where to queue on train platforms and no-one ever pushes in. Trains are always on time, and when over a minute late you get a public apology. Lastly, shoes must be taken off inside, no outdoor shoes are allowed in gyms and caps must be worn by everyone in the swimming pools.
The hosts
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Gareth Lewis
My favourite personal moment so far was being presented with a jar of marmite in a little bar-cum-restaurant in Tokyo. We had popped in there to watch the England v USA game and had deliberately chosen a place with no westerners. After pretty much everyone had had a go at their English, the bar owner was so excited to have British guests that he produced a tiny jar of marmite from behind the counter and made us pose for pictures with it. And as for the rugby… I am not counting my chickens or making any predictions, but to see Wales beat Australia at a World Cup for the first time in 32 years – at last – was pretty special.
I’m not quiet when I watch games at home on the TV and tend to live every pass, kick and moment of unbearable tension. To let all that out by commentating on the game itself was an unforgettable experience. I’ve just about left another level to get up to in case Wales go on and do something special.
奇跡の進撃なるか？Brave Bloosoms! ☆1
奇跡の進撃なるか？ Brave Bloosoms! ☆2
◆「象徴」天皇とは何か？
2019-10-12
猛烈な台風「19号」が来て、外に出るのは無理、家の中でいろいろできることもある。（小田島隆のTwitterには笑った。″普段はいない人も家にみんないると、余計なお説教をしたり、体型についていろいろ言ったりして、要らぬ諍いになる”と。Wahaha・・)
この頃記事にしてないので、気づいて取っておいた記事を掲載。
＜ちょっとその前に：MariからSkype電話で「琵琶島弁天が浸水してるって、大丈夫？」と。あちらはAbemaTVで見てるらしい。こちらは知らなかった。そのあと、自分の方の神田川の氾濫が気になり興奮状態のシモンから「えっ？そんなことも知らないの？もう、〝トシヨリ”は知るのが〝オソイ”んだから」と辛らつな言葉が聞こえた。子どもは正直。そう思ってるんだ・・・と知った。勉強になった。＞
台風の最接近は午後9時の予定。あと50分。ほんの5分ぐらい前から急に猛烈な風の音がしだした。一人だったらきっと怖いだろうと思う。
象徴の中味は”私たち”国民が決めるべきもの！ 
「皇后の役割」について 
愛知トリエンナーレ主点作品にちなんで
奇跡の進撃なるか Brave Bloosoms! ☆2
2019-10-09
Not only Japan beat Ireland, but also beat Samoa with the score of 38 vs 19 on 5 of Oct.
Hosts now have three wins and 14 points in Pool A (The Guardian)
Samoa showed admirable fighting spirit and after dominating possession and winning a succession of penalties inside the Japan 22 Taefu crossed to bring them back into the contest.
Japan, roared on by their home support, drove the ball towards the Samoa line from the kick-off and Fukuoka crossed in the corner, before the lively Matsushima secured the bonus-point with the final play of the game.
Jamie Joseph, the Japan coach, said: “We were a bit frantic in the first half, we didn’t execute exactly how we wanted to, but after half-time we were more in control. Our team had incredible belief to the very end and the bench came on and made a massive impact.
“That is one of the big reasons why we have been successful. It is not just one or two players that we rely on.”
次はScotlandとの最終試合だ！大型激烈台風はどこかへ行ってくれ！
Top Pageへ
仕事をしてるとちょっと楽しいことがある…
2019-10-06
1年に一回だけ作る報告書の印刷を頼みに行くのは横浜駅西口のK店。予算と規則の制約があり無理を言って作ってもらうので、「今年は多分もう嫌がられてるから、どうしようかな？？」と躊躇しつつも電話すると「（変な客だから？）良く覚えてますよ」と快諾してくれ、しかも店内で（たぶん）待っててくれた。サービスとはこういうことだと思い、私も来る人のことはちゃんと記憶し、あったかく応対したいと思う。
(K店webより）店長へインタビュー
Q1. 横浜駅西口店はどんなお店ですか？
神奈川県の旗艦店舗になります。店舗面積、機械の台数共に神奈川県で一番規模の大きい店舗です。見て触れて頂けるだけでも楽しめ、そしてお客様のアイデアを開花させる場所になるかもしれません。
Q2. どんなお客様が多いですか？
神奈川県下全域、新幹線が通る新横浜を経由して来店されるお客様が多いです。
学生、主婦、会社員、ご年配のお客様と幅広い世代の方々にご利用頂いております。
＜緊張のあとは、ほっと一息＞
デパートで買い物。６階にあったカフェは資生堂パーラーだった（高級ベビー用品のコーナーだったので、こちらも’高級’）。久しぶりにちょっと高級、ゆったり（人が少ない）カフェでとびっきりおいしいケーキととびっきりおいしいコーヒーを楽しんだ。いい日だった！
2020年も行ってきた。こちらのことはもう覚えてもらていると思ったので気楽に行けた。段取りよく仕事が終わって帰ろうとしてドアを出ようとしたら後ろから呼ぶ声が。なんと店長さんが見送りに来てくれた。背はそんなに高くなく細身美形のHさん。ビックリした。「お仕事は調子はどうですか？」「Apple watchですね。僕のはフツウの時計です。」など話しながらの楽しい契約だったのでお互いリラックスして、しかもたぶん「良い客」だからだと思う。楽しかった！
奇跡の進撃なるか Brave Bloosoms!
2019-09-29
4年前、夜中に「ハッ」と目が覚めてTVをつけたら、ちょうどにラグビー・ワールドカップJapan vs South Africa最後の場面。日本チームが優勝候補の南ア相手の最後の攻撃でペナルティ・ゴールではなく勇敢にもスクラムを選択し、その後奇跡のTryを決め、勝利した瞬間を見た。その試合は「World Cup史上最大の番狂わせ」と言われた。でも、今年9/28、日本開催のWorld Cupで日本人のほとんど全員が（もちろん私も）負けると思っていた世界1,2を争う優勝候補のIrelandを破った！
Japan have been praised for a “seismic” win over Ireland, which is expected to “ignite” the Rugby World Cup.
***The Brave Blossoms recorded a huge upset as they won 19-12 in Shizuoka.
It built on a nervy opening-day victory against Russia for the hosts, who now top Pool A and are aiming to make the quarter-finals for the first time.
Former Ireland wing Denis Hickie said: “For the host nation to beat the number one ranked team and to win this early on, it will ignite the tournament.”
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said his team were “obviously ecstatic about the result”.
The New Zealander said his side had been “preparing for three years” so “we felt like had an advantage”.
“You’ve just got to be careful before the game. You don’t want to come across too arrogant and cocky,” he added.
“We obviously had a lot of belief in our gameplan and in what we wanted to do. We knew how good Ireland were and how strong they were.”
The result comes four years after Japan famously shocked the rugby world by beating two-time world champions South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. That 34-32 success was dubbed the “Miracle of Brighton” after Japan slid over for an injury-time winning try.
But despite growing enthusiasm for rugby in the country, few would have expected the hosts to repeat the trick against an Ireland side who came into the tournament as the world’s top-ranked team, although went into the match in second behind the All Blacks after their win over South Africa.
Japan also had to recover from trailing at half-time on Saturday, just the second time in 24 attempts they have fought back to win after behind at the break at a World Cup, with the other occasion the win over the Springboks four years ago.
***********Japan’s stand-in captain Pieter Labuschagne told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We backed ourselves going into this game. That was a great game [against South Africa], but we came into this tournament with a new goal and knew what we wanted to do.
“We are really happy. It is difficult to put it into words but I’m proud of every man and it was a great team effort.”
It was the first time Ireland have lost to a non-tier one nation at the World Cup, with Japan, who had never previously beaten the Irish, having now won five of their last six matches at the tournament.
**********Japan’s win is ‘so massive’
Former Australia international Matt Giteau, who now plays for Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath, said the win was “so massive for the World Cup”, while former Ireland wing Shane Horgan said it was “no fluke”.
Horgan added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “This tournament needed a second-tier nation to beat a first-tier nation and this was no fluke – they thoroughly deserved it, [they] out-played Ireland.”
Denis Hickie said: “It’s a huge country and rugby is not anywhere near the top sport, so it’s perfect timing.”
Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to Olympic sevens gold, said it was a “seismic” win, and that he was impressed by Japan’s approach to the game.
“This was textbook from Japan – any young kids watching who want to see how to tackle properly should watch this Japan team,” he said.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said: “Congratulations to Japan. What a furious and intense effort it was. We knew it was potentially coming. They are a tremendous side and did really well.”
************Can Japan reach the knockout stages?
Many thought Pool A would be a battle between Ireland and Scotland to see who would face either New Zealand or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
But with two wins from two, it is Japan who top the group and have set a platform to reach the last eight for the first time.
Hickie said the group was now “wide open”, with ex-Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson in agreement.
“Japan had the pressure of being hosts in their first game, but tonight they showed they are the real deal and mean business in this tournament,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Their goal of making the quarter-finals is not just a whim. They deserved the win and have blown that group wide open.”
However, with games against Samoa and Scotland still to come, the Brave Blossoms will need to continue their winning form if they are to set up a mouth-watering match with either the All Blacks or another meeting with South Africa in the last eight, while bonus points could play a key part in who progresses.
Ireland should bounce back against Russia next time out, but no side has ever won the World Cup having lost a game in the tournament.
Hickie said: “We saw a situation last time when Japan won three games and didn’t progress. They have their destiny in their hands and Ireland will have to hope Japan and Scotland drop some points.”
Horgan added: “We have an absolute stonker for the last game of this group, Japan versus Scotland. The whole world will be watching, which is exactly what you want at a World Cup.”
The Brave Blossoms recorded a huge upset as they won 19-12 in Shizuoka.
It built on a nervy opening-day victory against Russia for the hosts, who now top Pool A and are aiming to make the quarter-finals for the first time.
Former Ireland wing Denis Hickie said: “For the host nation to beat the number one ranked team and to win this early on, it will ignite the tournament.”
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said his team were “obviously ecstatic about the result”.
The New Zealander said his side had been “preparing for three years” so “we felt like had an advantage”.
“You’ve just got to be careful before the game. You don’t want to come across too arrogant and cocky,” he added.
“We obviously had a lot of belief in our gameplan and in what we wanted to do. We knew how good Ireland were and how strong they were.”
The result comes four years after Japan famously shocked the rugby world by beating two-time world champions South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. That 34-32 success was dubbed the “Miracle of Brighton” after Japan slid over for an injury-time winning try.
But despite growing enthusiasm for rugby in the country, few would have expected the hosts to repeat the trick against an Ireland side who came into the tournament as the world’s top-ranked team, although went into the match in second behind the All Blacks after their win over South Africa.
Japan also had to recover from trailing at half-time on Saturday, just the second time in 24 attempts they have fought back to win after behind at the break at a World Cup, with the other occasion the win over the Springboks four years ago.
Japan’s stand-in captain Pieter Labuschagne told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We backed ourselves going into this game. That was a great game [against South Africa], but we came into this tournament with a new goal and knew what we wanted to do.
“We are really happy. It is difficult to put it into words but I’m proud of every man and it was a great team effort.”
It was the first time Ireland have lost to a non-tier one nation at the World Cup, with Japan, who had never previously beaten the Irish, having now won five of their last six matches at the tournament.
Japan’s win is ‘so massive’
Former Australia international Matt Giteau, who now plays for Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath, said the win was “so massive for the World Cup”, while former Ireland wing Shane Horgan said it was “no fluke”.
Horgan added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “This tournament needed a second-tier nation to beat a first-tier nation and this was no fluke – they thoroughly deserved it, [they] out-played Ireland.”
Denis Hickie said: “It’s a huge country and rugby is not anywhere near the top sport, so it’s perfect timing.”
Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to Olympic sevens gold, said it was a “seismic” win, and that he was impressed by Japan’s approach to the game.
“This was textbook from Japan – any young kids watching who want to see how to tackle properly should watch this Japan team,” he said.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said: “Congratulations to Japan. What a furious and intense effort it was. We knew it was potentially coming. They are a tremendous side and did really well.”
Can Japan reach the knockout stages?
Many thought Pool A would be a battle between Ireland and Scotland to see who would face either New Zealand or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
But with two wins from two, it is Japan who top the group and have set a platform to reach the last eight for the first time.
Hickie said the group was now “wide open”, with ex-Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson in agreement.
“Japan had the pressure of being hosts in their first game, but tonight they showed they are the real deal and mean business in this tournament,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Their goal of making the quarter-finals is not just a whim. They deserved the win and have blown that group wide open.”
However, with games against Samoa and Scotland still to come, the Brave Blossoms will need to continue their winning form if they are to set up a mouth-watering match with either the All Blacks or another meeting with South Africa in the last eight, while bonus points could play a key part in who progresses.
Ireland should bounce back against Russia next time out, but no side has ever won the World Cup having lost a game in the tournament.
Hickie said: “We saw a situation last time when Japan won three games and didn’t progress. They have their destiny in their hands and Ireland will have to hope Japan and Scotland drop some points.”
Horgan added: “We have an absolute stonker for the last game of this group, Japan versus Scotland. The whole world will be watching, which is exactly what you want at a World Cup.”
英国の高級紙のガーディアン紙は「日本が、また1つラグビー・ワールドカップでの素晴らしい番狂わせを引き出しアイルランドを仰天させた」との見出しで日本の金星を伝えた。
「日本が、またやってのけた。今回は2週間前には世界ナンバー1にランクされたチーム（アイルランド）に対してだった。ワールドカップのホスト国（の日本）がペースをつかみ、技術と、時間が過ぎてもかすむことのない熱気あるプレーを見せて9点差をひっくり返して勝利を収めた」と絶賛した。
さらに「試合終了の笛が鳴ると、近くにそびえる富士山が揺らぐことになるそうな轟音がとどろいた。オフロードパスをつなぎ、タックルをかいくぐり、必死さを強めて陣地深くから世界のラグビーで最も強固な守備の1つを破り、彼らはまるで赤と白のジャージを着こんだオールブラックスのようだった」と称賛の嵐。
「日本は4年前のワールドカップにおいてブライトンで南アフリカを破ってラグビー界を驚かせた。彼らは、このままいくとベスト8で、またスプリングボクス（南アフリカ代表の愛称）と対戦する可能性が高いが、今回（の勝利）は（4年前とは）違うものだった。1995年、2007年の優勝チーム（の南アフリカ）は、当時、下り坂にあり、慢心ある独りよがりのチームだった。対してアイルランドは、この試合をむだに費やすことはしなかった。彼らは、キックオフから2つのトライを決め、最初の20分で試合をコントロールした。だが、ホスト国の大会でキャプテンを務めるマイケル・リーチがベンチから投入されるや否や状況は変わった」と、前半30分に投入されたリーチ・マイケルの活躍がポイントだったと指摘した。
記事は、「リーチがフィールドに立ち、まるで地震のような瞬間をもたらした数分間、日本はアイルランドに対し彼らのボールをスクラムで押し込み、ペナルティーを勝ち取り、観衆の勝利の願いを確信へと変えた」とし、「問題は、日本が最後までこのペースと技術を維持できるかだった。しかし、その答えは大きな声でイエスと言えるものだった。限界まで戦い、死にものぐるいの守備となったときでもくじけなかったアイルランドは立派だった。地元チーム（日本）のプレーのいくつかは鳥肌が立つほどとても独創的で技術的に素晴らしく、この2チーム（の実力）を分けるものはなかった」と日本の戦いぶりを称えた。
英国のBBCは「日本の衝撃の勝利は『ラグビー・ワールドカップの熱狂に火をつけるだろう』」との見出しを取って「ラグビー・ワールドカップを盛り上げることに火をつける効果が期待された日本は、アイルランドへの『地震のような』（衝撃的な）勝利で称賛を浴びた」と伝え、記事の中で複数のラグビー関係者の声を紹介した。
元オーストラリア代表で、現在は、日本のサントリー・サンゴリアスでプレーするマット・ギタウ氏は、「この勝利は、とても重要なもの」と語り、元アイルランド代表のウィングだったシェーン・ホーガン氏は「決してまぐれではない。この大会では、第2グループの国が第1グループを破ることが必要で、これはまぐれではない。日本の勝利は、完全な勝利でありアイルランドを上回った」とコメントした。
元アイルランド代表のデニス・ヒッキー氏は、「ラグビーがトップスポーツに及んでいなかった国にとって。とても完璧なタイミング（での勝利）だった」とコメント。7人制ラグビーで、フィジーを指揮して五輪で金メダルを獲得したベン・ライアン氏は、「『地震のような』勝利。試合に向けての日本のアプローチが素晴らしかった。これは日本からの教材だ。正確なタックルをどのようにするかを子供たちが見たければ、この日本チームを見るべき」と、日本の技術を絶賛するコメントを残している。
日本がどこまで快進撃を続けるのか。今後の戦いも海外メディアは続けてフォローしていきそうだ。
Japan can only dream of a Shizuoka Shock to match the Brighton Miracle
Four years after World Cup heroics against South Africa, Japan’s players must play the game of their lives to upset Ireland
Justin McCurry in Tokyo Fri 27 Sep 2019
