Japan

Vanuatu represents Oceania at Table Tennis World Cup

Anolyn Lulu and Stephanie Qwea flew out of the country Monday to join Priscilla Tommy, who is currently training in Japan.

It was a positive news for Vanuatu following the withdrawal of Australia’s women’s team from the competition which gave Vanuatu the opportunity to represent the continent at the much anticipated World Cup.

There will be a total 38 matches (19 men + 19 women) and seeding for the teams will be based on the latest available Team World Ranking List on November 5.

South Africa end Japan's World Cup fairytale

In what was a first World Cup quarter-final for the Japanese, neither an entire nation seemingly now besotted by rugby, nor a raucous 50,000 crowd packed into Tokyo Stadium, could carry the hosts to victory on Sunday.

"Test match rugby is all about creating opportunities and capitalising, but unfortunately they kept us out and with their set-piece... they played well," Japan skipper Michael Leitch said.

"Credit to them."

Japan team inspired by 'Mr Rugby' Hirao

Former Japan captain and head coach Hirao – nicknamed "Mr Rugby" in his homeland – died three years ago this Sunday aged 53 after a battle with cancer.

Full-back Ryohei Yamanaka played under Hirao, who represented the Brave Blossoms at the 1987, 1991 and 1995 World Cup, at Kobe Steelers.

"[The quarter-final] is the date he passed away, so there'll be a game on an important day for me as well," he said.

Japan's scrum coach Shin Hasegawa was handed his international breakthough by Hirao during his playing days.

Homeless men denied shelter in middle of typhoon

Typhoon Hagibis brought heavy rain and winds of 225km/h (140mph) to Japan at the weekend, killing 72 people.

But when two homeless men tried to use a shelter in Tokyo, they were turned away as they did not have addresses.

The case has caused huge debate in Japan - with not everyone sympathetic.

As Hagibis took hold on Saturday morning, a 64-year-old homeless man went to a primary school, which was being used as an evacuation centre.

Hansen happy to avoid in-form Japan

Tournament hosts Japan qualified for the knockout stages for the first time in their history, Sunday's hard-fought victory over Scotland also seeing them finish top of Pool A.

The 28-21 result means the Brave Blossoms next face South Africa, who were second in Pool B, rather than New Zealand, with the two-time reigning champions instead going up against Ireland. 

Pleased to avoid one of the in-form teams still left standing, Hansen praised the way Japan's players had lifted their nation after the devastation caused by Typhoon Hagibis.

At least 35 killed and 17 missing after Typhoon Hagibis tears through Japan

Hagibis, the 19th named storm of the season, tore through Japan’s main island of Honshu on Saturday and early Sunday packing winds of up to 144 kph at landfall, killing 35 and leaving 17 unaccounted for as of Sunday afternoon, according to Kyodo News. NHK reported 166 people were injured.

Cities and towns across the country — including in Nagano, Niigata, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures — were inundated by flood waters after levees failed in the face of record rainfall,forcing many people to abandon submerged homes.

Hagibis disaster motivated Japan

The hosts triumphed 28-21 in Yokohama, sparking jubilant scenes as they reached the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.

Japan have won four matches from four at their home tournament and, as Pool A winners, they go on to face South Africa next Sunday in Tokyo, with rugby fever gripping the country.

This has otherwise been a grim weekend in Japan, though, as the deadly tropical storm has claimed more than 20 lives, according to local reports, with many others missing and considerable damage done to property.

Canada help with typhoon clean up

World Rugby and the Japan 2019 Organising Committee cancelled the final Pool B match on safety grounds after one of the most powerful storms for decades swept through the country.

Although Canada were unable to end the tournament with a first victory at Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, they rolled their sleeves up for physical endeavours off the field.

Players headed out to assist with the clean-up operation in a city that was battered by torrential rain and fierce winds over the weekend.

Japan deploys military rescuers as deadly storm hits

Typhoon Hagibis made landfall south of Tokyo on Saturday, moving north and bringing severe flooding.

Thirteen people are missing from the storm, public broadcaster NHK said.

In central Nagano prefecture, water surrounded Japan's famous bullet trains while helicopters plucked stranded residents from rooftops.

A total of 27,000 military troops and other rescue crews have been deployed in relief operations, the government said.

In Kawagoe city, north of Tokyo, emergency crews used boats to help residents trapped in a nursing home.

One killed in Japan as typhoon approaches

A man in his 40s was killed in an overturned car early on Saturday (local time) in Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, where high winds were reported, according to public broadcaster NHK. Four people were injured, also in Chiba, as winds blew roofs off several houses.