(Written by Azul: January 28, 2025)
On January 13, 2025, the final match of the 61st National University Rugby Championship was held at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Minato-ku, Tokyo. The semifinals were played at the National Stadium, which has a capacity of over 60,000, but the final was played at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, which has a capacity of about 23,000, and many rugby fans asked why. Since the final was held at a stadium with a small capacity, tickets were sold out five days in advance.
I bought a cheap unreserved ticket and entered the venue as soon as the doors opened to secure a good seat.
The photo above was taken around 11:40 when the doors opened.
However, just before the game started, the seats were full, as you can see.
Before the game started, both schools sang their school anthems, and the officials of both schools stood up and sang together.
The photo above is an image of Teikyo University fans.
Next, here is an image of Waseda University fans.
Teikyo University is currently winning 3 consecutive university championships, but this season, Waseda University was expected to win the Japan championship for the first time in 5 years, so many Waseda University fans gathered at the venue.
Here is the latest information on the two schools that will be competing on this day.
First, the latest information on Teikyo University, the defending champion.
Teikyo University lost to Waseda University by the score of 48-17 in the official match of the Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group on November 3. Teikyo University had not lost to any other university in the 3 seasons prior to last season, so this long-overdue defeat seemed to have come as a great shock not only to the players, but also to those involved at Teikyo University. Since then, Teikyo University has been studying hard, hoping to be humiliated in the University Championships, and the factors that led to Teikyo University’s defeat in the 11/3 match were,
(1) Overwhelmed in the FW game, especially in the scrum.
(2) Waseda University’s SO HATTORI’s long-range kicking was not able to be dealt with, and the players were worn out during the game.
3) The loss of 5 tries by WTB TANAKA of Waseda University. 5 tries scored by one player in the match on 11/3 was a collapse of Teikyo University’s defense.
How Teikyo University will correct these factors of defeat in the rematch on this day will be the highlight of this match.
The starting lineup for this day’s match was as follows
| Teikyo University | |||||
| No. | Name | height | weight | age | |
| 1 | Kaisei UMEDA | 176cm | 108kg | 22 | |
| 2 | Yura CHINEN | 171cm | 100kg | 22 | |
| 3 | Tsubasa MORIYAMA | 180cm | 109kg | 20 | JXV,U18Japan,Japan |
| 4 | Kaisa DAUNAKAMAKAMA | 182cm | 120kg | 21 | U-18 Japan |
| 5 | Takuma MOTOHASHI | 192cm | 118kg | 22 | JXV,Japan |
| 6 | Keito AOKI | 187cm | 110kg | 22 | JXV |
| 7 | Ikki MORIMOTO | 169cm | 81kg | 22 | |
| 8 | Kanta KURAHASHI | 181cm | 103kg | 22 | |
| 9 | Kumsu LEE | 174cm | 80kg | 22 | |
| 10 | Takaya MOTOHASHI | 182cm | 86kg | 20 | U-20 Japan,JXV,Japan |
| 11 | Taiyo HIGUMA | 176cm | 89kg | 21 | |
| 12 | Yoshiki OMACHI | 173cm | 84kg | 20 | U-18,U-20 Japan,JJ |
| 13 | Yamato UEDA | 180cm | 84kg | 19 | U-18,U-20 Japan,JXV |
| 14 | Genki IKUTA | 170cm | 83kg | 21 | U-18,U-20 Japan,JXV |
| 15 | Shinya KOMURA | 180cm | 88kg | 22 | |
| JJ=Junior Japan | |||||
| JXV=Japan XV | |||||
＊＊ Player to watch ＊＊
(The player with the number 6 is Keito AOKI)
Keito AOKI. 187cm, 110kg, 22 years old. He is a graduate of Toin Gakuen High School and was selected for the Japan XV. Captain of Teikyo University this season. He has been a regular member of the top team since he was a freshman at Teikyo University. He has never been a captain before, but this season he was selected as a captain for the first time. As for his achievements as a player, he is impeccable, but as a team leader, he has had a lot of trial and error. As a leader-oriented captain, will he be able to lead his team to the top of the championship with his rugged back in the final game against Waseda University, the only team they have lost to so far?
Next, an update on Waseda University, the undefeated A-seeded school in this season’s University Championship.
Since losing to Kyoto Sangyo University in the quarterfinals of last season’s University Championship, they have remained undefeated, and were the only team to beat the reigning university champions, Teikyo University, in an official match on November 3, 2011. This season, under the leadership of captain Kenji Sato, the team tried to recapture the No. 1 position in Japan for the first time in 5 years. This season, the team has not only a strong BK attack, but also a powerful FW, and they will challenge this day’s final with a solid team structure. Will they be able to go undefeated in the final match of the day?
The starting lineup for this day’s match wsa as follows
| Waseda University | |||||
| No. | Name | height | weight | age | |
| 1 | Airou SUGIMOTO | 176cm | 107kg | 21 | U19 Japan |
| 2 | Kenji SATO | 177cm | 107kg | 21 | Japan XV,Japan |
| 3 | Shotaro KAMEYAMA | 176cm | 116kg | 22 | |
| 4 | Takeomi NISHIURA | 184cm | 94kg | 22 | |
| 5 | Bunsuke KURITA | 184cm | 105kg | 20 | U20Japan |
| 6 | Osuke SHIRO | 185cm | 99kg | 18 | U18 Japan |
| 7 | Yusei TANAKA | 166cm | 87kg | 21 | |
| 8 | Fuuta SUZUKI | 183m | 99kg | 23 | |
| 9 | Sena HOSOYA | 162m | 64kg | 21 | |
| 10 | Ryota HATTORI | 178cm | 80kg | 18 | U18 Japan |
| 11 | Haruto IKEMOTO | 183cm | 90kg | 20 | |
| 12 | Kengo NONAKA | 180cm | 93kg | 21 | U20,U21Japan,Junior Japan |
| 13 | Shuhou FUKUSHIMA | 183cm | 95kg | 21 | U18 Japan |
| 14 | Kenzou TANAKA | 172cm | 76kg | 19 | |
| 15 | Yoshitaka YAZAKI | 180cm | 86kg | 20 | U18,U20 Japan,JapanXV,Japan |
| JJ=Junior Japan | |||||
| JXV=Japan XV | |||||
** Player to watch **
(The player in the black T-shirt on the left is SATO.)
177cm, 107kg, 22 years old. Position = Hooker. He is a graduate of Toin Gakuen High School. He and AOKI, captain of Teikyo University, were teammates in high school, and both experienced Japan’s top high school team when they were in their second and third years of high school. However, after entering Waseda University, he became a regular player in his freshman year, but has yet to win the University Japan championship. Unlike AOKI, who appears quiet on the outside, SATO has a strong charisma that makes him a natural born leader. The fighting spirit he displays during games inspires the team. Will Team SATO be able to grab the title of No. 1 university in Japan?
Let’s start the first half.
In the first scrum after the kickoff, Teikyo University pushed Waseda to take the lead.
5 minutes into the first half:
Waseda University penetrated deep into the enemy territory and almost created an opportunity, but Teikyo University’s BK defenders were calm and composed in this match. Teikyo University caught up with the ball kicked deep into their own territory and immediately tried to counter attack from there. Teikyo University deployed the ball to the left side, and FL AOKI bounced off the opposing defense and quickly approached the enemy’s in-goal. Waseda University’s defenders caught up with them in front of the in-goal, but Teikyo University’s prop MORIYAMA followed up and scored a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and Teikyo University scored the first points of the match. The score was 0-7.
12th minutes into the first half:
Waseda University made some minor mistakes due to their inferiority in the scrum and the upset caused by allowing the first score. They failed to get the ball out of their own lineout and gave it to their opponents, allowing Teikyo University to close in on their in-goal. Teikyo University’s flanks began to charge forward, and FL AOKI scored a try right under the goalposts.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 0-14.
15 minutes into the first half:
Waseda University kicked off from the restart after the try, and attacked the enemy line. After Teikyo University was fouled for offside, Waseda University opted for a penalty kick and had a lineout opportunity on their own ball on the left side in front of the enemy in-goal.
Waseda University secured their own ball, and after a rightward move, FB YAZAKI received the ball, broke the line, and scored a try right under the enemy goal posts.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 7-14.
24 minutes into the first half:
Waseda University recovered from the upset of scoring the first points and became more consistent in set plays other than scrums.
Waseda University won a series of dense battles and launched a series of attacks, with No.8 SUZUKI scoring a try in the left corner of the enemy’s in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try failed, and the score was 12-14.
The first half ended with Teikyo University holding a two-point lead. Teikyo University overcame the weaknesses seen in the previous defeat and came into this match
The first half ended with Teikyo University holding a 2-points lead. Teikyo University came into this match having overcome the weaknesses seen in their previous defeat. Teikyo University won the scrum battle, dealt with the long kick by SO HATTORI of Waseda University, and when the ball was kicked in, the back-3 players responded calmly and did not allow WTB TANAKA to get a chance to get the ball rolling. Waseda University, as the undefeated No. 1 seeded school, also evened up their game, and it was not a surprise to see either team win.
Let’s get the second half underway.
2 minutes into the second half:
Both teams were looking to see what their opponents were up to, and near the halfway mark, the teams traded positions via contested kicks.
Teikyo University committed an infringement just inside their own half, and Waseda University opted to go for the PG. Waseda’s CTB NONAKA scored to give Waseda the lead for the first time in the match, 15-14.
5 minutes into the second half:
Waseda University kicked the ball into their own territory, and SO HATTORI attempted a counter attack, which was caught by the Teikyo University defense.
From there, Teikyo University connected with a series of attacks and finally prop MORIYAMA dived into the enemy’s in-goal for the try.
However, this was ruled a no try as a result of video judgment.
After this, the game started with a penalty kick by Teikyo University. Immediately after, Teikyo’s FWs surged forward from sign play, and lock MOTOHASHI scored a try right under the enemy’s goalposts.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 15-21 in favor of Teikyo University.
Waseda University then had several good scoring chances to close in on the enemy in-goal, but Teikyo University was able to overcome them.
27 minutes into the second half:
Teikyo University took control of the scrum and used it as a starting point to attack deep into Waseda University’s territory. Waseda University defended well, but in the end, Teikyo’s lock, Daunakamakama, scored a try in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal on the right.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 15-28 in favor of Teikyo University.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, Teikyo University was one step closer to victory. Can Waseda University come back from this deficit?
37 minutes into the second half:
Waseda University tried their best to connect the ball in a final counterattack, but were penalized for a series of knock-on penalties that dropped the ball forward. With this foul, the game would restart from the scrum, and since Teikyo University had complete control of the scrum, Waseda University was on the defensive. Teikyo University’s WTB HIGUMA kicked the rolling ball, picked up the ball himself, and scored a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 15-33.
The score remained at 15-33 until the end of the game. Waseda University was eventually held to one PG in the second half. Teikyo University successfully avenged their loss against Waseda in the November rivalry game in the final of the University Championship, the last decisive match of the tournament.
With this victory, Teikyo University has now won the University Championship for four consecutive years. Unlike the previous seasons, Teikyo University added a new page to the history of the Teikyo University Rugby Club as they bounced back from a loss to Waseda University.
Waseda University, who also lost, fought evenly until the middle of the second half, and came close to winning the University Championship for the first time in 5 years. The match was a hopeful one for the next season. The packed house of fans cheered them on. We wish both teams good luck next season, and we also wish the graduates good luck in their future careers.
Nice game.
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Stop the war.
Peace to Ukraine
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