Shipping Rugby League: NYK v MOL　海運ラグビーリーグ、日本郵船対商船三井

Traditional fixture draws former players from both companies beneath full cherry blossom

伝統の一戦、満開の桜の下で両社OBも参集

The traditional fixture of the Shipping Rugby League, made up of Japanese shipping companies, between NYK and MOL was held on March 29 at the Yokogawa Musashino ground in Musashino, Tokyo.

On the day, with cherry blossoms in full bloom heralding the arrival of spring in Japan and in warm weather of 20 degrees Celsius, both teams produced committed performances as corporate amateur sides. MOL won this season’s match 34-12.

At the after-match function attended by the referee, the captains of both teams exchanged words of encouragement, saying, “Let’s play here again next year.”

(This article is available in the same form to both free and paid members.)

海運ラグビーリーグ、日本郵船対商船三井

伝統の一戦、満開の桜の下で両社OBも参集

　日本の海運会社で構成する海運ラグビーリーグの伝統の一戦である「日本郵船VS商船三井」が3月29日、東京都武蔵野市の横河武蔵野（Yokogawa Musashino）グラウンドで開催された。当日は日本の春の到来を告げる桜の花が満開となる気温20度の温かな気候の中、両チームは社会人チームとして必死のプレーを繰り広げた。今シーズンの結果は34-12で商船三井が勝利。レフリーを交えたアフターマッチ・ファンクションでは、「また来年、ここで戦いましょう」と両チームのキャプテンが互いにエールを送った。

（本記事は無料会員、有料会員ともに同じ内容のものをお読みいただけます）

Shipping Rugby League: NYK v MOL

Traditional fixture draws former players from both companies beneath full cherry blossom

The traditional fixture of the Shipping Rugby League, made up of Japanese shipping companies, between NYK and MOL was held on March 29 at the Yokogawa Musashino ground in Musashino, Tokyo.

On the day, with cherry blossoms in full bloom heralding the arrival of spring in Japan and in warm weather of 20 degrees Celsius, both teams produced committed performances as corporate amateur sides. MOL won this season’s match 34-12.

At the after-match function attended by the referee, the captains of both teams exchanged words of encouragement, saying, “Let’s play here again next year.”

(This article is available in the same form to both free and paid members.)

■ Former NYK president and chairman Kusakari in attendance

On the day, Takao Kusakari, who has served as president and chairman of NYK as well as vice chairman of Keidanren, also attended the match as an alumnus of the NYK rugby team.

Kusakari played rugby as a member of the team at Hibiya High School in Tokyo, which advanced to the semi-finals of the Tokyo qualifying tournament. Hibiya High School later saw players two years his junior go on to compete in the National High School Rugby Football Tournament (Hanazono) as Tokyo representatives.

From NYK, Hiromitsu Kuramoto, a former vice president of the company who also served as president of Yusen Logistics, was also present to support the team. Kuramoto is a graduate of the Keio University rugby team and, during his playing days, was active as a hooker and a back-row forward.

■ Former MOL players also gather

On the day, a large number of former MOL players also came to support the team.

I (Hirofumi Yamamoto) myself also participated in the Shipping Rugby League as a member of the MOL rugby team around 25 years ago. On this occasion, I had the opportunity to meet former MOL teammates with whom I had played at the time, and we spoke nostalgically about those memories.

In the match itself, the first half ended in a closely contested manner, but MOL, which was superior in individual ability in both forwards and backs, gradually extended its lead and maintained that advantage until the end.

The Shipping Rugby League has a long history, and in the past the number of participating teams reached six to seven companies. Although the number of teams has declined over the past 20 years, NYK, MOL and K Line have sustained the league, and the traditional fixture continues.

海運ラグビーリーグ、日本郵船対商船三井

伝統の一戦、満開の桜の下で両社OBも参集

　日本の海運会社で構成する海運ラグビーリーグの伝統の一戦である「日本郵船VS商船三井」が3月29日、東京都武蔵野市の横河武蔵野（Yokogawa Musashino）グラウンドで開催された。当日は日本の春の到来を告げる桜の花が満開となる気温20度の温かな気候の中、両チームは社会人チームとして必死のプレーを繰り広げた。今シーズンの結果は34-12で商船三井が勝利。レフリーを交えたアフターマッチ・ファンクションでは、「また来年、ここで戦いましょう」と両チームのキャプテンが互いにエールを送った。

（本記事は無料会員、有料会員ともに同じ内容のものをお読みいただけます）

■日本郵船の草刈・元社長・会長も観戦

　当日は日本郵船の社長・会長、日本経団連副会長などを歴任した草刈隆郎（Takao Kusakari）氏も日本郵船ラグビー部OBとして観戦した。

草刈氏は東京の日比谷高校時代にラグビー部員として、東京都予選の準決勝まで進出したチームでプレーした。日比谷高校は、草刈氏の2学年下の後輩が全国高等学校ラグビーフットボール大会（花園）に東京都代表として出場した。

　日本郵船からは他にも、同社の元副社長で郵船ロジスティクス社長などを務めた倉本博光（Hiromitsu Kuramoto）氏も応援に駆け付けた。倉本氏は慶応大学ラグビー部出身で、現役時代はフッカーや第3列の選手として活躍した。

■商船三井のOBも集結

　当日は商船三井のOBも応援に多数駆けつけた。

私（Hirofumi Yamamoto）自身も今から25年ほど前、商船三井のラグビーチームの一員として海運ラグビーリーグに参加していた。今回は当時、一緒にプレーしていた商船三井のOBの方とお会いする機会となり、懐かしく当時の思い出を語った。

　当日の試合は、前半は拮抗した展開で折り返したものの、フォワード、バックスともに「個の力」で上回る商船三井が徐々にリードを広げ、最後までそのリードを守った。

　海運ラグビーリーグは長い歴史を持ち、かつては参加チームも6-7社に上った。過去20年でチーム数は減少したが、日本郵船と商船三井、川崎汽船がリーグを守り、伝統の一戦は続いている。