ULTIMATE CRUSH: Waseda University Rugby, Leadership and Building the Strongest Winning Team in Japan [Deluxe Edition] [Paperback]

Katsuyuki Kiyomiya (Author), Ian Ruxton (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2010

(Paperback) SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION TO CELEBRATE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019 BEING AWARDED TO JAPAN.The true story of Katsuyuki Kiyomiya's miraculous five years (2001-06) coaching Japan's top university rugby team, written by the coach himself as the bestselling "Kyuukyoku no Shouri" (pub. Feb. 2006), translated by Ian Ruxton. Kiyomiya's record over five years is: Played 70, Won 62, Drawn 1, Lost 7 with wins over Toyota Verblitz, New Zealand Universities, Oxford and Cambridge. Tipped as a future coach of Japan, in March 2006 he became head coach of Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's Top League. The tragic sub-plot is the murder in Iraq in 2003 of rugby player-diplomat Katsuhiko ("Katsu") Oku who invented the ULTIMATE CRUSH slogan. Reviewed in Rugby World, February 2007 issue. (This Paperback is also on amazon and other retail websites. The Hardcover and Download are only available on lulu.com.)

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

My purpose in translating this book was to let the world know about Japanese Rugby. There is almost nothing in English on the subject, and I was disappointed as a long-term resident of Japan and rugby fan that the 2011 Rugby World Cup will not be held here. Here's hoping that Japan's bid for 2015 succeeds!

About the Author

Ian Ruxton is a professor of English at Kyushu Institute of Technology in Kitakyushu city, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. He researches the life and letters of Sir Ernest Satow and has published several books about Satow. He has also translated "Japanese Students at Cambridge University in the Meiji Era" available on all the amazon websites.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: lulu.com (January 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430303212
• ISBN-13: 978-1430303213
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 11 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,581,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great insight into a fantastic coach, January 15, 2007

By 

Ian C. Ruxton (Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: ULTIMATE CRUSH: Waseda University Rugby, Leadership and Building the Strongest Winning Team in Japan (Paperback)

I was delighted when Kiyomiya-san (then 39 years old) agreed to my producing this translation of his bestselling Japanese book published in February 2006. Make no mistake, he is a brilliant rugby coach. Already in only his first season as a Top League coach (2006-7) he took Suntory Sungoliath up to second place in the league from mid-table in the previous year. In his second season Suntory Sungoliath won the Top League final, beating close rivals Sanyo Wild Knights 14-10. (Sanyo got revenge in the All-Japan championship.)

Kiyomiya is a superb man-manager and thinker about the game, and he also handles the media very well. (He admits that he uses the media to influence his own players and the opposing team and coach. In this way he is like Eddie Jones, who has been advising Suntory for several years, and has never been averse to a bit of mental sparring with his opposite number before big games! Ask Sir Clive...;-)

Mr. Kiyomiya is a true professional, intelligently combining the most advanced scientific methods with non-scientific motivational techniques. He is meticulous in his analysis of games, and rigorous in his assessment of players. He always has the enjoyment of the fans at the forefront of what he tries to do, and the "Kiyomiya effect" has galvanised the Top League and made it so much more exciting. Crucially, he considers himself a fan as well as a coach, and he is determined to regain for rugby the popularity and status it once had in Japan.