Customer Reviews

ULTIMATE CRUSH: Waseda University Rugby, Leadership and Building the Strongest Winning Team in Japan

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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.