We and our partners use cookies to give you the best internet experience, including to personalise advertising and content. Data about the advertisements shown to you and your interaction with this site may be shared with firms.
Please let us know if you agree.
By Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Japan
The World Cup was just over an hour old when Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima immediately became a hero and finished his hat-trick against Russia.
It was the very first time a player had scored three tries in a World Cup game, making him the nickname’Ferrari’ for the dazzling speed.
After supporting the hosts stun Ireland, matters got better for the 26-year-old. His score gave Japan a win from Samoa, and then came Matsushima’s crowning moment at the win from Scotland.
He ignited a glorious Japanese attack which helped the nation attain the World Cup and grabbed for the opening try of his side.
The match was the most-watched television program of the season in Japan.
The score of matsushima left him the 2019 the joint best try-scorer of World Cup up to now, around five alongside Wales’ Josh Adams, and placed him front and center on the worldwide stage that was championship.
However, for one person inside the stadium, this recognition to the electrical skill and speed of the wing had been a very long time coming.
A 30-minute push from International Stadium Yokohama is the pitch in which Hideyuki Fujiwara helped to mold the most up-to-date sensation of international rugby.
I expected something good from him
Fujiwara has been the coach at Toin Gakuen High School for three decades, between the ages of 18 and 15 of Matsushima, but his influence has extended far beyond that.
The 51-year-old explains their relationship as”close to some father-son bond”, a particularly poignant description provided that Matsushima’s father died while he was at the faculty.
They exchange messages prior to every game. Fujiwara passes on good fortune and guidance and Matsushima consistently answers, no matter how busy he is.
Seeing someone develop to a participant from a talented teenager has to be an emotional experience, however, it has not taken Fujiwara by surprise.
“I expected it,” said Fujiwara, who is still the trainer at Matsushima’s senior school. “I expected something good .
“He had a huge effect on the Scotland match. He was a excellent player but he’s grown into an one.
“The children who play in the college now are prompted by him in the World Cup.
“There are always kids who appear to him and need to be like him it’s hard to find anyone as good as him.”
After Matsushima finished school, it had been Fujiwara who convinced him to join with a South African side rather than stay in Japan and play with college football such as his team-mates.
Until he moved to Japan dated six matsushima was created into dad and some Japanese mom and lived in South Africa, therefore playing for Durban-based side Sharks was not too much foreign concept.
It was during the time he played alongside one of the additional wings of this World Cup: Cheslin Kolbe.
He and Kolbe were part of the South Africa Under-20 training group for the 2013 Junior World Championship.
Matsushima did not, although kolbe went to compete at the championship. The following year, Rather, he made his first cap for Japan.
On Sunday they will be on exactly the exact same pitch again, now as opponents. It’s Matsushima’s first World Cup quarter-final contrary to the country of his birth, but he already has of beating the Springboks on the greatest stage of rugby experience.
He began in the 2015 World Cup at Japan triumph against South Africa, however, Fujiwara cherished memory of Matsushima arrived a couple of years before that.
“In the national tournament quarter-final in his last year of high school, 2011, he played exceptionally,” Fujiwara clarified.
“He did everything right, he scored attempts whenever he touched the ball. We had been winners this season, it had been the first and only time we have won.
“It is one of my best memories as a trainer, it will remain with me every day.”
He’s happy to prevent attention off it, Although Matsushima has been grabbing eyes on the pitch.
He describes him as shy, although fujiwara stated Matsushima was a pupil that was mischievous.
He explained Matsushima is requested to be by national broadcaster NHK on tv, but refuses unless it is a programme. Fujiwara considers the wing can handle being in the spotlight, however.
“He is not too fond of this media,” he clarified.
“It requires a lot of time he frequently fails but his supervisor says he must do more.
“The person he him and is at the rugby world are two separate things so he can handle the attention.
“He is essentially quite silent and shy but he’s powerful inside because he’s been brought up really well.”
Former Japan fly-half Kosei Ono, who performed against South Africa Matsushima at the 2015 win, thinks this nature that is reserved may be among those secrets to the achievement of the wing.
The set also play at Top League side Suntory Sungoliath, where the performances of Matsushima earned him the Most Valuable Player award of the league in 2018.
Ono states Matsushima’s reluctance reflects a feature of the Japan team which was fundamental in their own four wins that are pool-stage.
“He is one of several players who are playing for the group and appearing in the right places at the right time to complete off the group operation,” Ono said.
“Japan are looking for each other rather than against each other and no one is attempting to outshine anyone. That’s only Japanese civilization, I suppose; everybody is doing what’s best for the team.”
Since the World Cup came, rugby has had focus and passionate fans have generated an incredible atmosphere in the hosts’ games.
Sunday’s quarter-final against South Africa will be no different by helping his side and Matsushima could bolster his status as an area sporting hero.
He might not enjoy but Ono considers that it’s worth the impact he could have on the next generation of Japanese gamers.
“In 2015there were not too many Japanese superstars we looked up to,” he said.
“When he concludes one day and sees the next generation of gamers who want to be Kotaro Matsushima, how cool would this be?
“That is what are his motivating factor. He wouldn’t like it , but it is pretty cool he can inspire little children and the entire country doing what he loves.”
Kotaro Matsushima has lit up the World Cup along with his wing play – could he lead Japan ?
The group make toys for 6-8 year olds
Trash discussion fresh stars burning bright and nation-uniting triumphs – much do you remember of these iconic Rugby World Cup minutes?
Get scores and headlines sent directly to your phone, sign-up to our newsletter and find out where to find us on online.
How to enter rugby union – through the age groups around the 15-player game or attempt rugby sevensthat made its Olympic debut in 2016.
Enjoy the very best debate, analysis and interviews with BBC 5 live and World Service plus our union commentary listings.
Read more: sportsnewsstories.com