Weight of Tradition

著者：株式会社ミラック光学　代表取締役 村松 洋明

The 100th anniversary match of the inter-university rivalry, the “Traditional Meiji vs Waseda game” was held on Sunday, December 1st at the National Stadium in front of a crowd of over 40,000 people.

Whenever one side was expected to have the advantage, the result would often turn out to be the opposite ; it was said that there was a demon at the National Stadium leading to unexpected mistakes and chances and many fierce battles worthy of a “duel of the soul” and dramatic endings have been born from this traditional bout, making it a memorable contest.

When I was a freshman in college (aged 18), I watched the “legendary snowy Meiji vs Waseda game” from the stands. In the midst of a fierce battle with steam rising from scrum, I was so moved and fell in love with Meiji rugby (a way of life that goes beyond sport) that the team refused to attempt a penalty kick to tie the score in added time of the second half and stuck to their beliefs until the very end.
Since then, I have been watching every Meiji vs Waseda game from the stands for the past 37 years.
Every year at the end of the year, when I buy the following year’s calendar or planner, the first thing I do is write “Meiji vs Waseda game” on the first Sunday of December and then I start planning my schedule for the year.
I would write down my honeymoon dates when I was younger and now the schedule of business trips. I always prioritize the “Meiji vs Waseda game” and shift other dates. The “Meiji vs Waseda game” is a treasure in life for me.

I have been going to the National Stadium every year to support Meiji University through good and bad times from the time when Meiji was said to be its golden age and long, long period of the decline.
This is not a simple habit. It has become a “signpost in my life” since that shock I experienced when I was 18 years old. It may be the place to look back, while watching the games, whether I have not forgotten that feeling of “moving forward” and I am trying to keep challenging myself without giving up with my going back to my roots every year.

This year’s 100th game was a great one, typical “Meiji vs Waseda game”.
I hear that the late Meiji coach, Kitajima Chuji never said “Beat Waseda” before a game.
Instead, he always told his players to play a good game.
Kitajima’s sayings, including his teaching to fight with respect for Waseda University, are all simple yet condensed with something special.

Unfortunately, Meiji University Rugby Team came in third in the inter-university competition, but now the real battle begins in the university championship (tournament) and they will face a series of extremely tough matches.
I hope that they will do whatever it takes to get revenge on Teikyo University, who defeat Tokai University, Tenri University of Kansai champion suffered a humiliating defeat by more than double score at the beginning of the year, and have another decisive “duel” with Waseda University in the final.”dog eat dog era” looks good on Meiji University.

Even if Meiji were to be forced into a humiliating scrum, the current Meiji University would be able to handle it with changing their strategy without being too particular.
In a knock-out university championship, if they don’t win, even if it’s by one point, it’s over.
This year’s Meiji has many “strengths”.
I expect Meiji strategy to win with play the game with shrewdness without forgetting their “Meiji pride”.

Good fortune to the Meiji University Rugby Club !