The Japanese women’s 7-a-side rugby team, Sakura Sevens, is currently training in Nagato City for the Paris Olympics!

Open Practice and Welcome Ceremony Held

From Tuesday, August 15 to Tuesday, August 22, the Japanese women's 7-a-side rugby team, Sakura Sevens, has been training in Nagato City for the Paris Olympics. Today (Friday, August 18), an open training session and welcome ceremony was held at the Yamane Stadium Tawarayama in the Tawarayama area.

Public Practice

Many people, mainly from the local community, came to watch the powerful play of the "Sakura Sevens" team members.

Welcome Ceremony

Mayor Ehara Nagato and other local businesses and organizations were in attendance. We welcome all the players.

Nagato City Mayor Tatsuya Ehara addresses the players.

Tatsuo Nakamura, President of the Yamaguchi Prefecture Rugby Football Association, sends words of encouragement.

Local companies/organizations provided the teams with specialty products from Nagato City.

Akinori Suenaga (front row, center), president of Fukagawa Chicken Farmers Cooperative, and Hiroyuki Tanabe (front row, left), managing director of the cooperative, present a "Choshu Kuro Kashiwa" brand chicken.

Takashi Fujita, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fujimitsu Co., Ltd. presenting "Cheese Koron," a bite-sized fish cake snack.

Mr. Michitei Ikenaga, General Manager of Nagato General Headquarters, Yamaguchi Agricultural Cooperative Association, presents Nagato Yuzukichi, a Yamaguchi original citrus fruit.

Takashi Suzuki, head coach of the Japan Rugby Football Union, expresses his gratitude.

In addition, the "Sakura Sevens" presented Nagato City with a signed uniform.

The open practice and welcome ceremony ended with a commemorative photo with ceremony attendees and spectators, as well as interviews. Good luck to the Sakura Sevens!