Japan has opened a new stadium for the 2019 Rugby World Cup on the site of a school that was destroyed by a devastating tsunami in 2011.
Two Japanese teams faced off on Sunday in a memorial match in the small coastal city of Kamaishi to honour victims of the deadliest disaster in Japan’s recent history.
The Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium will host two matches in next year’s World Cup, which will be played at 12 venues around Japan.
“People in Kamaishi were able to regain their hope through rugby,” said junior high school principal Kenji Sasaki.
“I personally feel like I’m dreaming.”
The 6,000-seat stadium, the only new one built for the World Cup, stands on the former grounds of an elementary school and a junior high school.
Another 10,000 temporary seats will be added for the two World Cup matches in September and October of 2019.
“I’m very grateful that I’m able to be involved in the reconstruction of the town,” Yamaha’s star fullback Ayumu Goromaru said.