The Story of Rugby Town Kamaishi

Kamaishi is not just a place where rugby is played.
It is a town where rugby became hope.

Rugby in Kamaishi began with steelworkers.
Through dedication and teamwork, the local team became one of the strongest in Japan in the 1970s and 80s.

In the 1980s and 90s, Japan’s steel industry began to decline.
The blast furnace in Kamaishi was shut down, and corporate teams across the country faced restructuring.

The Nippon Steel Kamaishi rugby team also came close to disbanding.
But the people of Kamaishi would not let their rugby disappear.

In 2001, the team was reborn as a community club — Kamaishi Seawaves RFC.

As the team searched for a new identity beyond the company system, the town was struck by the devastating tsunami of 2011.

Players became volunteers, working side by side with local people in rescue and recovery efforts.
Support arrived from across the world, connected through rugby.

From that moment, a bold idea emerged:
to bring the Rugby World Cup to Kamaishi — as a symbol of recovery, and as a message of gratitude to the world.

In 2019, the Rugby World Cup brought the world to Kamaishi.
The stadium was built not just for sport, but as a message of hope.
Today, rugby is part of everyday life here.
When you walk this town, you are not just visiting a stadium.
You are walking through a story.