College rugby team kicks of cultural connections on Japan tour
Playing rugby against Japanese schools, visiting ancient temples, and attending a live sumo wrestling event were among the highlights of Sacred Heart College Year 10 student Bowen Bartley-Smith’s time in Japan. Bowen was part of the school’s Under-17 development rugby team, which toured Japan earlier this year, playing matches against schools in Tokyo and Sapporo. The team’s itinerary also included cultural experiences, supported through a grant from the Foundation’s sports programme.
The team taking in the sights at Tokyo's Sensō-ji Temple
When we first flew to Japan, I didn’t really know what to expect. As soon as we landed, I noticed how hot and muggy it was. It was super humid, and we were all sweating the whole time. But I was excited for the games and to experience a new country.
We began our time in Tokyo doing some sightseeing. We went to Sensoji Temple, the Asakusa Samurai Museum, and the Tokyo Imperial Palace, followed by a trip to the Tokyo Skytree - the tallest building in Japan.
It was cool seeing stuff that was so different from New Zealand. The temples were impressive, the Skytree was massive and there were heaps of people.
At night game against Kokougakuin Kugayama Senior High School resulted in a 45–5 win for Sacred Heart
One thing we all loved doing was going to Family Mart every night. We’d get drinks or ice creams, and sometimes weird snacks we’d never tried before. It was our thing to do after long days of walking and exploring.
Our first rugby game was against Kokougakuin Kugayama Senior High School. It was a night game, which helped because of the heat. We played really well and ended up winning 45–5. It was awesome to get a good win in our first game overseas.
After that, we had a few more days to explore. We went to Shibuya Crossing, which was packed with people walking in every direction—it was kind of crazy but fun.
We also went to a sumo wrestling event, at the end of which they let some of us have a go against one of the sumo wrestlers. And the food was delicious.
Attending a sumo wrestling event in Tokyo was a highlight of the visit
The next day had a special ceremony where we got welcomed by the students of Kokougakuin Kugayama Senior High School and given a small gift. We did a haka for them, which they really respected. That moment felt special because we got to share something from our culture.
Then we flew to Sapporo where we played Sapporo Yamanote Senior High School. Before the game, they invited us to a tea ceremony. It was really quiet and respectful. Everything was done slowly and carefully. It was cool to experience something like that before a match.
The game itself was tough, and we lost 21–40. Their team was really good and fast. But it was cool to connect with some of the boys in the other team like Masa, who came to Sacred Heart College.
The team at Sapporo Yamanote Senior High School
After that, we flew back to Tokyo for our last game. We played Tokyo High School, and it was a close game, but we won 26–19. A win felt good after the loss in Sapporo.
The trip was awesome. Playing rugby against different teams in Japan was a cool challenge—they play with heaps of skill and discipline. But the best part was all the things we got to experience outside of rugby and the people we met along the way.
I feel like I learned a lot about Japan and their culture. It was fun, exciting, and something I’ll remember forever.
The Foundation's Sports Programme provides New Zealand sportspeople opportunities to grow more knowledgeable, connected and confident with Asia.
