Japan ready to host Asia's first Rugby World Cup. Tournament kicks off Friday

The Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan will see world heavyweight teams clashing with each other from 20th September. The tournament will kick start with hosts Japan taking on Russia in the first-ever World Cup game to have ever been played on Asian soil. This marathon competition will see 20 teams fighting amongst themselves over 48 matches with the common aim of clinching the title. 12 different venues across the country will host World Cup games.

The entire rugby community throughout the world is surprised by the way Japan came out of Rugby hibernation to leave a mark on the sport's most coveted global tournament. Compared to the leading Rugby teams, Japan stands nowhere near the big giants. For decades, they have remained in the shadows as far as the international game is concerned. However, from this week until the 2nd of November, all the limelight will be on the Land of the Rising Sun.

Japan's rise in the Rugby stage started in RWC 2015, when the Japanese team stunned the South Africans after beating the latter in a crucial encounter. It was then that the Rugby fraternity's focus started shifting towards the home of the 2019 RWC.

Quite astonishingly, Japan lacks a professional Rugby culture. Even the biggest league in the country comprises of corporate teams. These teams have a pool of players that originally work in factories and the manufacturing industry, as a whole. In spite of the absence of a thoroughly professional framework, it is Japan's dedication and determination that helped them land the RWC host status.

According to CNN, most Japanese Rugby players originally work 8-hour shifts in their companies. Recently, a change was noticed in the country's Rugby structure, which allows these players to work less hours at their office and spend the rest of the time in the training field.

As per reports, 21% of Japan's population has an interest in Rugby, a number way below the 70% mark in South Africa and the rest of the Rugby world. Nevertheless, ticket sales have been healthy, as far as this Rugby World Cup season is concerned. So far, almost 85% of the 1.8 million tickets have already been sold. According to estimates, about 600,000 people will attend the event to witness Asia's first mega Rugby event.