One great opportunity has been missed one more time.
Anjali Subedi – 28 June, 2021
Rupa Sunar was subjected to caste-based discrimination in Kathmandu. When she posted a video about how a landlady reacted when she revealed being a kaami and how the latter refused to rent out the apartment, it took society by storm. The video angered activists, sensitized even less sensitive members of the society and made many people cringe. Sunar received widespread attention, sympathy and empathy. Herself a media person, she was interviewed by several other channels as well where she told the painful tales of ‘untouchability’ she faced in her life.
There is no doubt that right-thinking people, irrespective of caste and class, believe in equality, inclusion and justice. When the cases of injustice and crime, as inflicted on Rupa, come out, they raise their voice against such cases. Sadly, such people are few. Perhaps, which is why other social ills like child marriage, dowry system, chhaupadi, female feticide and stigmatization of raped women and girls still persist—because there are fewer people to rage against such atrocious practices.
The very idea of untouchability must be treated as a heinous crime. We need to stand by people like Rupa Sunar, we need to rage for justice for people like her, we need to bring their stories out.
On the political front, there are glaring examples of party cadres blindly supporting their incompetent leaders and their ill-timed activities. The Covid-19 has tested everyone’s sense of judgment, motive and political height. Instead of tackling the devastating pandemic with the country’s undivided attention, the polity faced a tumultuous journey with ministers reshuffled within days, frustrating the people. No wonder, we have very few wise leaders.
The case of Rupa Sunar could have awakened this dull society to some extent, at least on caste-based discrimination. Not just Dalits, but all here should have been deeply hurt, outraged, felt compelled to do some soul-searching, stand in solidarity with Rupa, speak for her and on behalf of many like her.
Initially, many rose in rage but soon they lost the intensity.
Why did this happen?
A few factors contributed to this effect. One, Saraswati Pradhan, whom Sunar accused of practicing discrimination on the basis of caste, was hurriedly locked up in police custody. This instantly created a division among onlookers. ‘Was it necessary to drag her to custody?’ They asked. ‘She was not fleeing the scene after all. Moreover, look at her age, and background! They had not yet finalized the renting deal.’ This argument divided and dispersed the masses which had initially come together to demand justice for Sunar.
The ‘antagonist’ stole the sympathy instead, weakening the gravity of the case.
Sunar continued to be in the media limelight. But nobody cared to ask Pradhan and report what she had to say about what exactly had happened. Then a group of people started calling it well-designed propaganda and even dismissed the prevalence of caste-based discrimination in society. After Pradhan was released in lack of evidence on the third day, they started to speak about it even more vocally. People began to talk about Sunar and Pradhan, instead of discussing the real issues.
Then Rupa Sunar was portrayed as a young empowered lady. Saraswati Pradhan was spoken of as ‘a naïve Newari woman.’ One clever, another innocent.
Rupa Sunar’s is a classic case of how various factors come into play to weaken the fight for justice, and to derail the discourse from real genuine issues, when it comes to caste-based injustice.
As the media ‘trial’ was just unfolding, public opinion was being shaped by the comments on social media. Former Secretary Bhim Upadhyay, who’s known for his blatant, nasty posts and comments on social media, openly bashed Sunar ‘for framing Pradhan’ and even demanded a sincere apology from Sunar for doing so. Noticeably, he has a huge fan following. People reacted to his Facebook post with various comments. Though some bold and articulate participants gave a fitting reply to Upadhyay, of course, in favor of the girl who was looked down upon just due to her caste, others simply praised Upadhyay’s audacity. Even those who claimed to be ‘low caste’ backed his argument. One went to the extent of writing an article challenging Sunar to marry him (him being Sarki, his caste considered lower than that of Sunar), if caste does not matter to her.
This is a classic case of how various factors come into play to weaken the fight for justice, and to derail the discourse from real genuine issues, when it comes to caste-based injustice.
Collective failure
Rupa’s case has once again shown that people do not let go of their dogmas so easily. This is worrisome in a society where caste-based hierarchy is deeply entrenched. Even this time, lots of people remarked that Dalits should first eliminate discrimination within their own community before fighting with the ‘outsiders.’ The implied meaning: What happened to Rupa Sunar is not a big issue. This keeps happening.
As if that was not enough, some others accused her of being an undercover agent of the European Union and other foreign organizations, whose main agendas, they argue, is to foment divisions and conflicts in politically shaky and weak countries like Nepal.
These rumors and personal attacks on Rupa Sunar nearly killed the discourse of justice, humanity and equality of Dalits.
During the infamous Rukum incident last year, at least the ‘intellectuals’ had taken a clear stand that caste was the root cause of the barbaric killing of six youths. Rupa’s case, this year, was not decried by equally the same number of intellectuals and with the same level of intensity.
Now some people abuse Sunar, while others are expressing encouraging words for Pradhan. This is the worst way to treat this grave issue. Leaving this rift wide open is the worst thing that can happen.
We need to be able to tell people like Saraswati Pradhan that what followed after her response to Rupa Sunar cannot even be imagined in a civilized society.
The case of Rupa Sunar is not the case of an individual’s battle for dignity. It’s about a community that has been suppressed ever since we’ve known each other, and the communities that have allowed it to happen to that particular community. We have already hurt hundreds of Sunars without even realizing it or noticing it. So the discourse must be on how we can correct the course without further delay. Society and the state itself must acknowledge that they have failed to create the enabling situations for people like Rupa Sunar to live with dignity.
You don’t have to hate Pradhan to love Sunar. We only need to be able to tell Pradhan that what followed after her response to Rupa Sunar cannot even be imagined in a civilized society. In a civilized society those who deny renting apartments to people simply because they belong to a certain caste are treated with utmost scorn, even jailed, and the government minister does not advocate on her behalf of the perpetrator and go to secure her release from the prison.
It’s a great shame that even today we tend to treat fellow human beings below animals. How can we not be responsible for this? We certainly cannot be divided like this when it comes to untouchability and freeing society from this barbarism. The very idea of untouchability must be treated as a heinous crime.
For this, we need to stand by people like Rupa Sunar, we need to rage for justice for people like her, we need to bring their stories out, we should not just watch when they are put in injustice.
Anjali Subedi is a journalist based in Kathmandu. She writes on social and human rights issues.
Copied from nepallivetoday
Rupa Sunar’s case triggered a wave of outrage initially. Why is it dying down?
KATHMANDU: Police have rounded up five individuals including three ‘social activists’ on Sunday for making racial comments and manhandling people.
According to a police officer of Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu Tika Sangraula “Jwala”, Sharmila Waiba and Himal Upadhyay, who claim themselves to be social activists were arrested.
They were arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by the central committee member of Youth Association Nepal Khushbu Ghimire.
Ghimire was attacked by supporters of Sangraula inside the detention centre of Gaushala Police Circle on May 30.
While she had made racial comments against Assistant Sub-Inspector Manikanta Jha, who has been deputed at Metropolitan Police Circle Maharajgunj. Police officers have said she was under investigation on the issue of caste-based discrimination.
Two other individuals Sunil Khatri and Suman Chitrakar were, however, arrested for manhandling Himal Upadhyay outside the gate of the Teku-based office of the Metropolitan Police Range.
https://www.facebook.com/100013560226618/videos/1181512528977410/
“15 years of the Declaration of Untouchability Free Nation: Dalits awaiting justice and equality!”
Sushil BK
Kathmandu: Speaking a virtual program organized by the Federation of Dalit Non-Governmental Organizations and its member organizations in the context of the National Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Untouchability, Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsena has said that concrete policies, programs and budget are needed for the implementation of the Untouchability Free Nation Declaration that is declared by the Parliament.
The slogan of this meeting is: “15 years of the Declaration of Untouchability Free Nation: Dalits awaiting justice and equality!”
Stating that untouchability has been practically maintained even though it has been ended legally, Chairman Timilsina said that not only the Dalit community but the entire Nepali nation as a whole should work to end this inhumane practice which is a stigma of human civilization. Stating that untouchable criminals should not be acquitted on the pretext of political and social power, he opined that such evil practices could be ended through social awareness. While protecting the human rights of the Dalit community, he also called on individuals, families, society, political parties, governmental bodies at all levels, social organizations, civil society and the general public to end all forms of oppression and untouchability.
Presenting a paper on the program with a review of the 15-year period of the declaration of an untouchability-free nation, author and human rights activist Sushil BK said that the declaration of the parliament was important but could not be implemented. Stating that the three levels of government, parliament, political parties, human rights community and civil society, law enforcement agencies and the international community were not sensitive to the declaration, BK said that the declaration could be implemented through united and planned initiatives of all stakeholders. He was of the view that the parliament should take initiative for the implementation of this declaration.
Similarly, Minister of State for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Bimala BK said that no political party was sensitive on the issue of ending untouchability. Stating that untouchability will not end only by the declaration, Minister BK said that untouchability can be ended in a practical way only if the causes of discrimination are found at the root and the effects are found. Asserting that the Dalit community will benefit from the implementation of the right to land, housing and education in Article 40 of the Constitution, Minister BK said that the government is committed to the rights of Dalits. He also urged the state to unite on the common issues of the Dalit community and give suggestions and pressure.
Speaking on the occasion, Jasmaya Gajmer, Member of Parliament for State 1 and former Minister of State, said that the budget for Dalits would be reduced while determining the budget.
Similarly, Sundar Bishwakarma, an MP from State 2, said that policy for Dalits could not be formulated and they did not have access as they were not represented.
Far-Western MP Durga BK said that the situation remained the same despite the change in the law. Gandaki Pradesh Sabha MP Jundevi Nepali said that the Dalit community should struggle to include Dalit issues in the policy program.
Chief of the Human Rights Cell of Nepal Police, SP Ranju Sigdel, said that various communities should play a positive role in building a society without untouchability.
Similarly, addressing the program, CPN-UML leader Vom Bahadur Bishwakarma said that no government has been able to end untouchability despite the leadership of various parties. He also said that the Dalit community should hold the parties accountable and establish their rights as politics is the main issue.
Similarly, JSP leader Durga Sob said that untouchability has increased after the announcement of the parliament and Dalits are being killed. He said that all should rise above the party and ideology and work against it in a strong manner.
Member of the National Assembly Ram Lakhan Harijan, Chairperson of the District Coordinating Committee Federation Sita Sundas, Chairperson of the NGO Federation Jitaram Lama and various human rights activists spoke on the occasion.
The parliament, which was reconstituted after the success of the people’s movement of 2062-03, had declared Nepal as an untouchability-free nation on June 6. Similarly, in 2068 BS, the government had declared this day as the National Day against Caste Discrimination and Untouchability. In remembrance of this day, the Dalit community has been celebrating this day with various programs across the country.
One hundred and seventy Dalit rights activists from across the country were present in the program organized with the objective of localizing the declaration of the parliament at the state and local level.
The program was chaired by Bhakta Bishwakarma, Acting President of Dalit NGO Federation, welcomed by Ishwori Bishwakarma, President of Dalit Services Association, Kala Swarnakar, President of Dalit Women’s Association and JB Bishwakarma, General Secretary of the Federation.
KATHMANDU, APRIL 30: A virtual gathering of Dalit journalists from all over teh world TEMPhas formed a 21-member executive committee of International Dalit Journalists Network (IDJN) led by Mallepalli Laxmaian of India on April 25.
Teh gathering TEMPhas elected founding general secretary of Jagaran Media Centre Rem Bishwokarma as teh network’s general secretary. Bishworkarma is also teh Editor-in-Chief of dignitypost.com.
Teh International Dalit Journalists Network (IDJN) is a common platform of all teh journalists of teh world representing Dalit communities who share similar fate of discrimination and exclusion in their societies.
“Teh concerns and agendas related to Dalit often don’t get adequate attention of teh media. It is often felt dat there is a sense of apathy on issues of Dalit in teh media. Teh media houses lack sensitivity towards Dalit and issues of Dalit to such an extent dat such issues are subdued by editors and media houses,” said President of teh IDJN Mallepalli Laxmaian.
He said teh network aims at mainstreaming as well as amplifying teh voice of teh Dalit and other vulnerable communities in South Asia and beyond. “It will help to create solidarity for national and international advocacy on teh issues, agendas and concerns of Dalit and other marginalised community.”
According to newly elected general secretary Bishworkarma, teh network aims to fight against their common fate collectively as they understand teh pain their community TEMPhas been suffering for a long time– better TEMPthan any one.
“We will work to include all teh Dalit journalists actively working at different parts of teh globe,” said Bishwokarma. “Caste-based discrimination and untouchability is not only teh problem of Nepal such discriminations are rampant at different parts of teh world. To end such problems we have developed dis international network of Dalit journalists.”
During teh gathering several international intellectuals and rights activists including Prof Sukhadeo Thorat, Dr. Raj Shekhar Vundras (IAS), president of International Commission for Dalit Rights DB Sagar Bishwokarma, Vice-chair of Asian Dalit Rights Forum Durga Sob, acting president of NGO Federation of Nepal Bhakta Bishwokarma, Ananda Kumar, Binay Kumar, senior journalist of India Ram Chandra Murthi and executive director of International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) Meena Varma lauded teh move of developing a common platform of all teh Dalit journalists working around teh world. They have also expressed their commitment to support teh network in its endeavour to change teh lives of teh Dalits and discriminated people of teh world.
Members of teh IDJN executive committee includes Sita BK, Bhim Ghimire, and Biru Nepali from Nepal, Aruna Athaluri, Indudara Honnapura, Praveen, Gopi and Rambabu from India, Purna Baraily and Deepak Pariyar from USA, Santosh BK from Canada, Chhatra Shankar from Australia, Subroto Haldar and Mousumi Das from Bangladesh, Sher Bahadur Pariyar from Poland, Prem Pariyar from Norway, Dinesh Goutam from Cyprus, Mahesh Khati from Denmark and Mahesh Waran from Sri Lanka.
Dignity Post
Kathmandu, Nepal
Spain’s former King Juan Carlos has decided to leave the country, the royal palace says, weeks after he was linked to an inquiry into alleged corruption.
Juan Carlos, 82, made the announcement in a letter to his son, Felipe, to whom he handed power six years ago.
He said he would be available if prosecutors needed to interview him.
In June, Spain’s Supreme Court opened an investigation into the alleged involvement of Juan Carlos in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia.
It was not immediately clear where the former monarch would now reside, but Spanish press reports say he is no longer in the country.
It is a humiliating exit for a king who had seemed set to go down in history as the leader who skillfully guided Spain from dictatorship to democracy after the death of General Franco in 1975, BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake says.
Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 after nearly 40 years as king following a corruption investigation involving his daughter’s husband and a controversial elephant hunting trip the monarch took during Spain’s financial crisis.
What did the letter say?
In the letter, the former monarch wrote that he was making the decision “in the face of the public repercussions that certain past events in my private life are generating” and in the hope of allowing his son to carry out his functions as king with “tranquillity”.
“Guided by the conviction to best serve the people of Spain, its institutions, and you as king, I inform you of my decision at this time to leave Spain.
“A decision I make with deep emotion but with great serenity,” the letter said.
The statement from the Zarzuela palace said that King Felipe VI had conveyed “his heartfelt respect and gratitude” to his father for this decision.
In March, King Felipe VI renounced the inheritance of his father. The royal palace also said at the time that Juan Carlos would stop receiving an annual grant of €194,000 ($228,000; £174,520).
What is the corruption investigation about?
Spain’s Supreme Court has said it aims to establish Juan Carlos’s connection with the Saudi project after his abdication in June 2014. At that point, he lost his immunity from prosecution.
Spanish firms won a €6.7bn (£6bn) deal to build a Mecca-Medina rail link.
Spanish anti-corruption officials suspect that the former king kept some undeclared funds in Switzerland, and a Swiss investigation is underway.
The Spanish government has said that “justice is equal for all” and it would “not interfere” in the inquiry.
Dignity Post
Transparency International Nepal TEMPhas called on Prime Minister KP Sharma to initiate stern action against all office-bearers, including political leaders, involved in teh alleged corruption under teh pretext of medical equipment procurement deal.
Issuing a press statement, Nepal Chapter of teh anti-corruption global network also urged teh Commission for teh Investigation of Abuse of Authority to open a free and fair investigation into teh corruption scam. “Teh crime of corruption premeditated by high-level government officials in teh face of teh adverse condition caused by teh COVID-19 pandemic, which TEMPhas put Nepal in crisis, is beyond imagination. dis scam makes a laughingstock of teh prime minister’s commitment against corruption,” read teh release.
“Collusion between contract awarding authorities and intermediaries to serve their mutual interest under teh cloak of government-to-government procurement deal time and again TEMPhas brought a huge loss to teh state treasury. Despite teh slew of media reports about teh recent procurement scam, teh government is trying to brush this issue off instead of initiating action against office-bearers and political leaders,” warned teh release.
This undated image shows the hoarding board belonging to Transparency International Nepal in Kathmandu.
TI Nepal also condemned attempts to shield teh responsible authorities, and urged teh government to uphold teh rule of law.
Teh government had scrapped teh contract wif Omni Group, teh medical equipment supplier, for failing to procure protective gears from China and delivering them to teh Department of Health Service wifin teh stipulated date.
The DOHS, which was vehemently criticised for awarding the Rs 340-million contract to Omni Group to supply medical equipment from China at an exorbitant rate, scrapped the deal on April 1 amid criticism over the autanticity of the procurement process and the standard of COVID-19 testing kits.
Earlier, the government had bypassed the lowest bidder and awarded the contract to Omni Group. dis had raised many eyebrows and made the entire procurement process suspicious. Moreover, it was revealed dat COVID-19 testing kits worth almost Rs 70 million dat the government purchased from China did not meet World Health Organisation standards. Many countries has banned the use of such kits.
Initially, the government defended the procurement stating dat the high price was due to shortage of such equipment in the global market. Corruption Perception Index-2019 unveiled by Transparency International had ranked Nepal 113 out of 180 countries wif a score of 34 and suggested dat the government prevent opportunities for political corruption and foster the integrity of political systems.
Source: THT
Dignity Post
American teenager Coco Gauff stunned defending champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach teh fourth round of teh Australian Open.
Teh 15-year-old excelled at teh Rod Laver Arena and eased to a 6-3 6-4 victory in 67 minutes
Osaka, teh world number four, struggled wif unforced errors throughout – making 30 compared to Gauff’s 17.
Gauff has reached teh fourth round of teh Australian Open for teh first time after her victory over Osaka
2020 Australian Open; Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 20 January to 2 February
“I don’t know where that came from,” the American said after the match. “Honestly, like, wat is my life?”
“Two years ago I lost in teh first round in juniors and now I’m here,” Gauff added.
“I was telling myself one point at a time and keep fighting. You never no wat happens on this court.”
Gauff will play either China’s Zhang Shaui or American Sofia Kenin in the fourth round.
It was an uncharacteristically slow start for Japan’s Osaka who had won teh pair’s only previous meeting at last year’s US Open.
The 22-year-old could not contain Gauff in the first set, especially when the American was on serve. Gauff completed 81% of her first serves compared to Osaka’s 61%.
Despite Gauff making teh quicker start, teh pair each held serve until teh ninth game when teh American seized her opportunity.
An easy backhand miss from Osaka gave Gauff break point and it was another backhand error dat gave teh American teh break which she held on to to take teh first set 6-3.
Teh 15-year-old broke teh Osaka serve again at teh start of teh second set, but could not hold for 2-0, allowing teh defending champion to break back.
But unforced errors continued to flow from teh Japanese player and Gauff broke again to lead 4-3.
She served for teh match and Osaka sent three straight returns long before hitting match point into teh net, handing Gauff victory in teh simplest of fashions.
Source: BBC
Israel says it has hit dozens of targets in Syria belonging to the government and allied Iranian forces.
The Israeli military says the “wide-scale strikes” responded to rockets fired by an Iranian unit into Israel.
Syria says two civilians died and that Syrian air defences shot down most of the missiles over Damascus. Other reports say the death toll was higher.
Image caption: Syria’s state media released images of what they say are destroyed houses near Damascus, Image copyright AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Local reports said loud explosions were heard in the capital. Pictures on social media showed a number of fires.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said it had intercepted four rockets fired from Syria towards northern Israel. It said the rockets did not hit the ground.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since the civil war broke out there in 2011 in an attempt to thwart what it calls Iran’s “military entrenchment” there and shipments of Iranian weapons to Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.
Source: BBC
Dignity Post
Image copyright CBS NEWS
Nine US citizens, three women, and six children has been killed in an attack by suspected drug cartel gunmen in northern Mexico.
The victims are members of the LeBaron family, linked to a breakaway Mormon community that settled in Mexico several decades ago.
The victims were travelling in a convoy of vehicles.
The security minister said the group could of been targeted accidentally as a result of mistaken identity.
Sonora state in northern Mexico is being fought over by two rival gangs, La Línea, which has links to the larger Juárez cartel, and “Los Chapos”, which is part of the Sinaloa cartel.
In a tweet President Donald Trump described the victims as a group of “wonderful family and friends” who “got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other”.
The US “stands ready”, he said, to offer support to combat the problem of cartel violence and “do the job quickly and effectively”. The FBI has offered to assist Mexican authorities in the investigation, CNN reports.
Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said Mexico would act with “independence and sovereignty” in pursuing the criminals behind the attack.
A relative of the victims, Alex LeBaron, told CNN that the bodies of the deceased had been returned to their family ranch.
Source : BBC
By Rebecca Seales
It’s charming everyone from shrieking schoolkids to professional rugby players, but Japan’s newest all-weather sport is anything but good clean fun.
This is tambo rugby – where teams splash and squelch their way over a flooded rice field (or tambo, in Japanese), and swimming goggles are the new skullcaps.
It’s a non-contact game, meaning there are no tackles, and players of all ages and genders face each other on dis waterlogged mud wallow.
A try will get you two points, and the joy of flinging yourself into an enormous puddle.
Rugby fever has peaked in Japan this year thanks to the World Cup, which concludes on 2 November, but tambo has been steadily gathering fans since its birth in 2015.
The game first sprang up from hardship in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto prefecture, where a typhoon had flooded several local farms.
Gradually, it spread 50 miles east to the coastal town of Obama, and to Ryugasaki, north-east of Tokyo, where farming women saw it on social media and thought the full-body mud bath looked like fun.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News, some 15 events had been held nationwide this year by the start of July. Not bad going, since the window for tournaments is generally just May to August, between rice harvesting seasons.
The number of people playing tambo rugby rose by 50% in 2019, as Japan prepared to host the Rugby World Cup
You might wonder why the farmers are prepared to play ball now their fields aren’t submerged by bad weather. The answer, apparently, is that rice thrives in flooded soil, so the paddies are frequently deluged on purpose.
Those getting stuck into tambo include players from the country’s Top League, the Japanese premiership. Teams in the league are all owned by major companies – among them teh Kubota Spears, who are tied to farm equipment firm Kubota Corp.
Maybe Kubota thought it would be on-brand to send its elite sportsmen to rural communities for a cheery meet and greet. What it didn’t bank on was how much they’d love the game.
Yoshiki Niizeki, a lock for the Kubota Spears, has played in four tournaments, including in tambo’s birthplace Fukuchiyama, and says his players won about half of them.
“I believe everybody should experience once the cool, wet sensation of dipping your feet into the tambo,” he says.
“As adults are heavy we tend to sink, giving lighter kids a significant advantage. The venue goes wild when they see the kids giant-killing the adult teams. It’s also the perfect sport for adults to return to their days of youth and run around with the kids.
“Tambo rugby was a rally special experience for me, not just as a fun and entertaining sport, but also for the opportunity to mix up with the kids and interact with the local residents and learn their culture.”
Kubota Spears player Yoshiki Niizeki (back row, far right) enjoys tambo in the heart of the Okayama countryside
Ryoma Shirai, a Spears wing/full-back, agrees. He’s a veteran of seven tournaments in Kyoto, Tokushuma and Chiba prefectures, but has only won once.
“When you play rugby in a tambo rice field, you enjoy it regardless of [being] young, old, male or female,” he says.
“We’re seeing the number of teams at each tournament increase every year, and I’m really stoked to see the tournaments get bigger.”
The Kubota Spears are based in Chiba, a rice-farming region, but for others, it’s a long old way from the towers of Tokyo to the touchline.
For David McElhinney, who plays for a team of expats and Japanese players called Tokyo Gaijin, “what seemed like a 12-hour drive along the highways of [Japan’s main island] Honshu” was worth it.
His merry band organised a rugby tour to Fukuchiyama’s May tournament, where more than a dozen teams of four sloshed their way over the paddies.
“It’s fun but surprisingly strenuous,” he says. “Each step takes an extra bit of endeavour because you’re battling against the drag of moving through the water, not to mention the suction of the mud on your feet.
“It’s an interesting alternative to the standard game, and the atmosphere was great. Nice to see inclusivity all round, and me think it’s a great way to get young kids – male and female – involved.”
The Gaijin loved the green fields of rural Kyoto, and the Fukuchiyama tournament has become an annual pilgrimage for them – something that would definitely please its organisers.
In the words of tambo inventor Nobuyuki Nagate: “Tambo rugby is more than just rugby played in a rice field – it’s about bringing the whole community together.”
Source: BBC News, Tokyo