As part of the team’s annual New Zealand training stint, this year’s group includes hooker Shintaro Fukuzawa, flanker Kosei Miki, and fly-half Masahiro Kitamura, who have all headed to Invercargill. Meanwhile, prop Gaku Shimizu and scrum-half Kippei Taninaka are based in North Otago. All five players are taking part in local club competitions and training sessions with provincial representative squads.
Invercargill, located at the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island – the “South of the South” – is where Fukuzawa and Kitamura have joined the Invercargill Blues, while Miki is representing Pirates Old Boys (POB).
While most players usually depart for New Zealand after the end of Japan Rugby League One, Fukuzawa arrived earlier than usual, in late April.“There was a shortage of hookers at the Blues, and they asked if I could come early. They said it would also give me more game time. Plus, I only had one match left in the Mirai Match series back home,” he explained. The opportunity prompted a swift rescheduling of his departure.
“At first, everyone helped me a lot, walking me through things step by step. The coaches were constantly by my side during training, which really helped me adjust quickly to the new environment,” he added.
Initially, Fukuzawa stayed in a team official’s home, but after Miki and Kitamura arrived, the three began living together. They now train with both their respective clubs and the Southland provincial squad.
Kitamura became a father shortly after arriving in New Zealand.“I didn’t have any trainings or matches at the time, so I was able to witness the birth via FaceTime,” he said. “I still talk to my family every day over video call. It’s only been three weeks, but my child already seems so much bigger.”Kitamura admitted he initially hesitated about leaving his pregnant wife, but her support made all the difference: “She encouraged me and told me to go for it. I’m really looking forward to seeing them again.”
Miki, meanwhile, is working hard on his own with POB. He had been studying English before arriving but still found the first couple of weeks challenging.“In Japan, foreign players tend to speak slowly and clearly for us, but here, I’m the only Asian player on the team. No one really adjusts how they speak, so both everyday conversations and training instructions assume you understand everything. At first, listening was even harder than speaking, but I’m finally starting to get used to it. I think I’ll really start enjoying it from here on.”
Fukuzawa is also adjusting to a completely different scrummaging environment.“In Japan, we have detailed discussions on how to set up the scrum. Here, it’s pretty much live from the get-go. It might be partly because it’s a club team, but the scrums are totally freestyle,” he laughed.
With winter approaching in the Southern Hemisphere, rain has turned pitches into muddy bogs, and sometimes there aren’t even ball boys at matches.“You have to chase after the ball yourself when it goes out of play, wipe off the mud, and then throw it in – it’s not easy,” said Fukuzawa.
Kitamura, who’s been playing fly-half and fullback, is also dealing with New Zealand’s infamously slippery fields.“You can’t get much grip, and you’re always in danger of slipping when kicking or running. But you still have to perform at your best no matter the conditions. It really makes me appreciate how good we had it in Japan.”
On June 21st, Fukuzawa and Kitamura’s Blues faced off against Miki’s POB in a head-to-head matchup. POB, who currently sit top of the standings, won 44–27. The regular club season wraps up at the end of June, with playoffs beginning in July. Since the Blues did not qualify for the playoffs, Fukuzawa and Kitamura are now focusing fully on training with the provincial squad.
Southland’s provincial team recently welcomed former Verblitz forwards coach Nathan White as co-head coach. Performance coach Jason Price is also involved – familiar and trusted faces for the Japanese trio.
Each player has clear goals for the rest of their stay. “For me, it’s improving game control and the kicking game,” said Kitamura. “And whenever I see space, I need to react instantly. That’s something I want to stay conscious of no matter what team I play for.”“I want to develop adaptability – the ability to perform even when I’m suddenly thrown into a new team setup. That’ll be key for provincial rugby and it’s an experience I could never get in Japan. I want to actively communicate and grow through this,” said Miki.“For me, it’s attack. That’s my strength, and I want to sharpen it even more against bigger-bodied players. Defense is still an area I need to work on too – I want to become the kind of player who can really throw himself into contact,” said Fukuzawa.
On an off-week, the three Invercargill-based players took a trip to Queenstown to unwind and met up with Shimizu and Taninaka from North Otago. With the new season in Japan looming, their Southern Hemisphere challenge continues.
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