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The Prime Minister in Action
Courtesy Call from the Japanese National Team for Rugby World Cup 2015 in England
October 21, 2015
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (3)
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from the Japanese national team for Rugby World Cup 2015 hosted in England, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“I am sure that the Japanese public was thrilled by your performance in the World Cup.
In particular, in the match against South Africa, when many people thought that it would no longer be possible for Japan to win, you resolved yourselves to never give up, right until the very end, and achieved a dramatic victory. I believe that you truly showed us that, if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.
After that match, I went to the United Nations and held many summit meetings with the prime ministers and presidents of various countries. The first thing they all did was to congratulate me on Japan’s victory. This made it all the more clear to me that your win against South Africa truly had a powerful impact throughout the world.
I hope that, with Rugby World Cup 2019 on the horizon, your achievements will encourage many children to start playing rugby themselves. Let me once again offer you my heartfelt congratulations.”
