2011 Rugby World Cup Press Conference in Tokyo

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

I just got back from the 2011 Rugby World Cup Press Conference in Tokyo. It was pretty much a success. Since basically everyone else who was there was from old media (TV & print) I thought I had better use the Internet and my blogger advantage to tell you good folks what happened at the event at least a day before the antique media gets around to it...

I mean, what's the point in inviting a blogger if they don't blog immediately, right?

The event was held at Tepia Hall 4F. Tepia Hall is next to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Aoyama in Tokyo. The closet subway station is Gaienmae (exit 3). The event started at 2:30 pm and ended at 3:30 or so.

The guests included the New Zealand Ambassador to Japan, Ian Kennedy; Jason Hill the head of New Zealand Tourism; John Kirwan the most famous Kiwi rugby player in history and head coach of the Japanese national team, the Cherry Blossoms; and the Japan team current representative player, Fumiaki Tanaka.

John Kirwan, head coach of Japan's National Rugby team gets award from children 

The event started with a short speech by the ambassador to Japan, Ian Kennedy, followed by another speech and a list of data presented by Jason Hill. (Wow! New Zealand representatives can speak Japanese! The people the USA sends over never can!)

Some of the interesting points about the Rugby World Cup 2011 are:

* It is the world's third largest sporting event (soccer is #1)
* This will be the 7th World Cup
* In 2015 the WC will be held in England; in 2019 in Japan
* There will be 48 matches in 45 days with 20 teams
* Opening match is Sept. 9 at Eden Park featuring New Zealand vs. Tonga
* 1.65 million tickets will be sold
* Plus New Zealand is safe and the most desirable place to visit on earth (I can attest to that!)

After Jason Hill gave his speech, the guest of honor appeared. John Kirwan took the stage to answer questions and give his take on the World Cup.

Since John Kirwan took over as coach of Japan Rugby, the Japanese Rugby team has improved by leaps and bounds. Japan used to be ranked #19 in the world, but with John Kirwan (JK as he is affectionately called) at the helm, they have shot up to #12 in rankings.

That's amazing.

JK says that Japan must do well this World Cup in order to qualify for the 2015 World Cup in England and that is the goal for the Japan team and JK's personal goal too.

John Kirwan answering reporter's questions

Well, that and doing well against the All Blacks, New Zealand's team who is hungry for a World Cup victory - and will be extremely tough to beat - especially since they are playing at home.

When I asked JK what his purpose was when the Japan team takes on the All Blacks in their second game at the World Cup,  JK said that no matter what, that after the game is over, win or lose, the All Blacks must respect the Japan team...

He also said that if Japan can beat the All Blacks that he would be satisfied and retire right there on the spot. I reckon that would motivate his guys!

Good luck to John Kirwan, the Cherry Blossoms and well done to New Zealand and New Zealand Tourism for a very interesting and well done event!

Go Japan! Go New Zealand!

NOTES:

The Official Site of the 2011 Rugby World Cup here.

New Zealand Tourism here.

If you fly to New Zealand, I whole-heartedly recommend Air New Zealand!

How blogging got me invited to this great sports event!

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Keywords: John Kirwan, All Blacks, Mike Rogers, Rugby, 2011, 2011 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand, Fumiaki Tanaka, Cherry Blossoms, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Marketing Japan

2011 Rugby World Cup Shows That Blogging Does Pay!

Blogging does pay. If you stick to it and make the conscientious effort to stay on subject, focus, and to update your blog everyday, it will pay off. Sometimes it's hard to keep going, but it's the ones who persist and persevere - in any field - that are the ones who make it. Blogging is no different.

I have written two blogs with tips on how your blog can get better rankings and traffic. Read here and here.

Today I was give a massive compliment by a very well respected business leader in Japan named Jason Hill. Jason Hill is the director of New Zealand Tourism for Japan. He is also the chairman of the Association of National Tourist Bureaus and Representatives in Japan (ANTOR). Jason arranges huge promotions for New Zealand in Japan. He is the guy who is responsible for the 300% increase in Japanese visitors to New Zealand in the last year so, as you can guess, Jason is a mover and a shaker.

Tomorrow, Jason and New Zealand Tourism are holding one of the biggest promotions in recent memory. The event is the Japan kick off for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. A World Cup that the Japanese team will appear in! Everyone will be there; all the famous old school media in Japan (print, TV and radio) and even the new kids, Yahoo and crowd.

This is a big deal!

Let me stop here and tell you some more background. A man named John Kirwan is a former All-Black player (you know, the New Zealand Rugby team that just completely destroys everything in its path like Godzilla does). Anyway, John Kirwan is the most famous Rugby player in New Zealand history. Now, John Kirwan is now the coach of the Japanese national Rugby team, the Cherry Blossoms.

ALL BLACKS DOING THE HAKA (SEE VIDEO BELOW!)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand, the Cherry Blossoms will appear. This is an incredibly impressive deal for Japan and a source of national pride. It is so exciting for Japan to play at this Rugby World Cup and to even appear on the same field as the All Blacks. The last time they played the New Zealand team, score was something like: All Blacks 1,240 -  Japan 2 (well, it wasn't quite THAT bad, but it was a stomping!)

Now, with John Kirwan as coach of the Japanese team, Japan has a real shot at getting some respect and making a great showing! And the Japanese, of course, are getting real excited about this!

Anyway, tomorrow is the kick-off press conference in Tokyo for the 2011 World Cup. Jason Hill, the boss of New Zealand Tourism, is in-charge of this mass media event press conference featuring John Kirwan. All the major Japanese mass media will be at this event and Jason actually invited me to come because he said, "You are a blogger."

2011 Rugby World Cup PR Video

Can you believe that? All the old school major Japanese media will be there at this event with their press passes and camera's and hats... And, representing the blogosphere, will be little old me!

Actually, not only is this a huge honor for me, but it is a huge honor and acknowledgement for the Internet and all bloggers as a whole!

My countrymen! Our Internet and blogging efforts are being recognized!

I wonder if I should show up at the event like that old Three Stooges show? Remember the one where they snuck into the press conference and Larry and Moe walked in with a button that said, "Press" and, after them, Curly showed up with a button that said, "Pull!"

HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE ALL-BLACKS DOING THE HAKA!

I guess this just shows that our blogging and SMM efforts are starting to get some influence and "pull." So, if you are blogging, remember that there are people reading, even if it may not seem that way.... Keep it up and the rewards will come.

That is the ultimate compliment for a blogger; to be invited and recognized. Here they are running a huge press conference to kick off the Rugby World Cup in 2011 in New Zealand, and they think well enough of me to invite me to that event? Wow! I'm so happy and excited! I'll write about the event tomorrow and tell you all about it!

The Official Site of the 2011 Rugby World Cup here.

New Zealand Tourism here.
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Keywords: Haka, All Blacks, Rugby, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Rugby World Cup, 2012, Cherry Blossoms, John Kirwan, Jason Hill, Marketing Japan, New Zealand, Mike Rogers, Tourism, blog, blogging, SMM