Japan turn to Maori tree god to lift spirits

After a sobering defeat by the All Blacks last Friday, Japan spent a night away from rugby for a little time on Sunday with a 2,000-year-old Maori god.

Two days after their 83-7 loss to New Zealand in Hamilton the Brave Blossoms visited the sacrosanct tree, Tane Mahuta, on the west coast of the North Island.

The name in Maori means 'Lord of the Forest' and it is the oldest kauri tree in the world. It is also the sister tree of Jomon Sugi on Yakushima island in Japan, a world heritage site estimated to be 5,000 years old.

The team arrived after dark and with Tane Mahuta illuminated by torch and starlight, listened to guide Koro Carmen tell its story. After a minute's silence he left the team with a message: "Trying times are not the time to stop trying."

Ahead of Japan's Pool A match against Tonga in Whangarei on Wednesday, coach John Kirwan said it was important to have a day away from rugby.

"Today is our spiritual day. We can practise and train all we want, but if you don't stop and respect our past and our future, then our spirits will be dead," Kirwan told the crowd at the welcome at Hokianga.

A fresh start

"There's a favorite Maori saying that I always take with me, 'To have confidence and hope in the future you must first stand on the shoulders of the past'.

"Tonight for us, it's about being with the land, with the sea, with the mountains but especially with the people from Hokianga. This is where New Zealand started."

Where New Zealand started is where Japan's Rugby World Cup will truly begin. After losing to the All Blacks and France, Kirwan reiterated his team's goal for the tournament, which is to beat Tonga and Canada so they can finish third in the group.

That would automatically qualify Japan for RWC 2015 in England, as well as pave the way for a second Asian team at rugby's international showpiece.

During a made-for-postcard sunset welcome ceremony by the beach at Hokianga, Kirwan thanked the people of the Northland region for helping organize Japan's spiritual tour.

Hope through hardship

As a gesture of appreciation - and dedication to the victims of the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes - the entire Japanese squad rose to their feet, breaking out in song to the tune of 'Sukiyaki'.

The lyrics to the Japanese song is one of hope and inspiration through hardship.

"Thank you for the welcome." Kirwan said. "I know that a lot of people have gone through a lot of effort [to make this happen].

"The only way we can repay you is by going out there and smashing those Tongans on Wednesday night."