On November 22, the day after the Green Rockets Tokatsu match, a preseason match that also served as the annual fixture against the Hino Red Dolphins was held at the Red Dolphins Ground in Hino City. Before the match, the customary OB game was played, and young former players like Masakatsu Hikosaka and Mitsuru Furukawa—both of whom retired two seasons ago—were also present.
With the “current players” the team struggled early on against the opponent’s powerful mauls near the try line, but they scored 12 tries across both halves and secured an 80–28 victory.
Scrum-half Kippei Taninaka came on as a substitute for the second day, following his appearance in the Green Rockets game. He played the previous day’s game at 30 minutes in the second half, and the Red Dolphins game at 20 minutes into the second half. Now in his third year with the team, it was his first appearance as a Scrum-half.
“I feel that my thinking and movement have really become those of a Scrum-half. People around me say the same.”
During his time at Teikyo University, he contributed to the team’s University Championship win as a Wing and Fullback, but he had experience as a Scrum-half even before that. He had been advised to consider Scrum-half as his future position during his Gosei Jitsugyo days, and he also played Scrum-half in his first two years at university.
“What Coach Takeda (Gosei Jitsugyo) and Coach Iwade (Teikyo University) told me back then is now really paying off.”
From May this year, he traveled to New Zealand and played at the Valley Club in North Otago along with Prop Gaku Shimizu. Before leaving, he spoke with joint coaches including Ian Foster and decided that he would commit fully to playing Scrum-half this season.
After the club season ended, Shimizu—who had been living with him—returned to Japan. Taninaka continued living on his own and gained further experience by playing as part of the North Otago HB squad in the Heartland Championship, a tier below the NPC, together with Kenta Iemura, who was there on assignment from Shizuoka Blue Revs. He played 11 matches until the end of the tournament.
“After coming back to Toyota, I’m able to communicate with the foreign players better than before. I think the tough experiences over there really helped.”
Verblitz scrum-half’s has strong depth. Last season, all four—Aaron Smith,Kaito Shigeno、 Ryang Jongchu and Kaisei Tamura—appeared in League One. Every day is a grind to catch up and surpass them. That’s why, first and foremost, he wants to get on the field and build playing time as a Scrum-half.
His strengths are the speed that earned him selection to the Japan Men’s Sevens Olympic team and his left-footed kicking. He is also the tallest among the Scrum-halfs.
“I feel I was able to make my case over these two days, so I hope I can make the squad for the match against Kobe on the 29th. Even if not, there’s still time before the season starts, so I’ll keep working hard.”
On his right wrist, he still wears a white armband that reads “PARIS 2024.”
“It was just too frustrating (the results), so I wear it to remind myself never to forget that feeling.”
Being able to play at Stade Français, packed with 80,000 spectators during last year’s Olympics, is a lifelong treasure. And the competitive fire that ignited there continues to drive Taninaka forward today. (Yuko Morimoto)
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