One of the things that struck Makazole Mapimpi when he went to Japan to play in the 2019 Rugby World Cup was how popular the game is there.
Even at the team’s daily training sessions, fans would arrive in droves to watch the players practice and to cheer them on, calling them each by name. He found this amazing as it showed just how avid Japanese rugby fans are.
Hailing from Tsholomnqa in the Eastern Cape, Makazole made his test debut with the Springboks in June 2018, playing a match against Wales in Washington DC. In the historic 2019 Rugby World Cup, which South Africa won, he scored six tries, including two in the quarter final against the host nation and one in the final against England. In doing so, he became the first player in the history of the Springboks to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final as all previous wins had been secured without tries.
Now back in Japan to play for the Red Hurricanes, Makazole tells of how fascinating it is for him to experience such a different culture. He remarks time and again on how welcoming the Japanese people are and on how organised, respectful and disciplined they are. Everyone adheres to the Covid-19 protocols, he says. Everyone wears a mask in public and everyone respects the government’s requests.
With the pandemic still such an immediate issue, being in Japan is a rather different experience this time around, but there’s no holding back when he says he loves living there and interacting with Japanese rugby players and fans. In everyday life, he finds people very friendly and helpful, which has made it easier than expected for him to adjust to living so far away from home.
As the new season of Japan Rugby Top League started in February, he’s looking forward to upcoming games with his new team mates. Japanese players, he says, are always willing to learn and have a rare dedication to developing their skills. They throw themselves into learning specific plays, sometimes working on a single play for four hours or more. They also put in a lot of extra hours to hone the skills required in their individual positions. They’re always willing to go the extra mile and the camaraderie on the team is exceptional.
When asked what his favourite experience of living in Japan is, he unhesitatingly says the food. His all-time fave is yakiniku, a meal of bite-sized meat and vegetables cooked on a griddle over a flame of wood charcoal known as sumibi. One could say it’s a Japanese take on the South African braai. Yakiniku is, in fact, one of Japan’s most popular national dishes, so no wonder it’s a hit with Makazole.
It also comes as no surprise to find that his favourite moments in Japan include scoring that famous try in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final and, together with his Springbok team mates, lifting the trophy to celebrate South Africa’s win. This was made all the more special by the fact that he was playing in his first major-league final on that memorable day.
He’s also blown away by the technology, especially by the speed and efficiency of Japan’s famous bullet trains, which make travelling around the country so easy. The gyms and training facilities are also amazing, he says, making his experience of playing for a Japanese team a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To watch the interview with Makazole and much more, tune into The Embassy of Japan in South Africa’s web series ‘Sharing the Sun’ which airs every Thursday on the YouTube Channel (JAPANinSA).
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