• Players from Fuwaku Rugby Club at a training session for the senior over-70s team in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture. All photos: AFP
    Players from Fuwaku Rugby Club at a training session for the senior over-70s team in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture. All photos: AFP
  • Yasutake Oshima, 85, second left, with teammates from the Fuwaku Rugby Club, which was created in 1979
    Yasutake Oshima, 85, second left, with teammates from the Fuwaku Rugby Club, which was created in 1979
  • Oshima, 85, stretches at his home in Chigasaki in suburban Tokyo
    Oshima, 85, stretches at his home in Chigasaki in suburban Tokyo
  • Senior citizens in Japan are encouraged to play full-contact rugby
    Senior citizens in Japan are encouraged to play full-contact rugby
  • Senior rugby enthusiasts train at the Fukasawa Multi-Purpose Sports Plaza in Kamakura
    Senior rugby enthusiasts train at the Fukasawa Multi-Purpose Sports Plaza in Kamakura
  • Rugby is seen as a great way for older players to keep fit and bonded to a community
    Rugby is seen as a great way for older players to keep fit and bonded to a community
  • The sport is also seen as an effective way to keep senior citizens active and mentally engaged
    The sport is also seen as an effective way to keep senior citizens active and mentally engaged
  • Rugby enthusiast Yasutake Oshima shows a picture he took in Scotland in 2008
    Rugby enthusiast Yasutake Oshima shows a picture he took in Scotland in 2008
  • The Fuwaku rugby club was created in 1979 and is one of about 150 clubs in Japan that stage competitive full-contact matches for players over the age of 40
    The Fuwaku rugby club was created in 1979 and is one of about 150 clubs in Japan that stage competitive full-contact matches for players over the age of 40
  • At a match between two over-60s teams at the Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park in Tochigi
    At a match between two over-60s teams at the Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park in Tochigi
  • Clubs use different colour shorts to identify players, depending on their age
    Clubs use different colour shorts to identify players, depending on their age
  • Yasutake Oshima during line-out practice at Fuwaku Rugby Club
    Yasutake Oshima during line-out practice at Fuwaku Rugby Club
  • Senior citizens prepare for a match in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture
    Senior citizens prepare for a match in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture
  • Fuwaku players during a match in Tochigi prefecture
    Fuwaku players during a match in Tochigi prefecture
  • Senior citizens are encouraged to take up rugby for their mental and physical welfare
    Senior citizens are encouraged to take up rugby for their mental and physical welfare
  • A match between two over-60s teams at the Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park
    A match between two over-60s teams at the Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park
  • Players over the age of 70 during a training session at the Hodogaya Rugby Stadium in Yokohama
    Players over the age of 70 during a training session at the Hodogaya Rugby Stadium in Yokohama
  • Senior players have many clubs to choose from with about 150 hosting competitive full-contact rugby matches for players over the age of 40
    Senior players have many clubs to choose from with about 150 hosting competitive full-contact rugby matches for players over the age of 40
  • The Fuwaku Rugby Club is one of many in Japan that stages matches for older men
    The Fuwaku Rugby Club is one of many in Japan that stages matches for older men
  • Players during a training session at the Fukasawa Multi-Purpose Sports Plaza in Kamakura
    Players during a training session at the Fukasawa Multi-Purpose Sports Plaza in Kamakura
  • Yasutake Oshima at prayer in his home in suburban Tokyo
    Yasutake Oshima at prayer in his home in suburban Tokyo
  • A match between seniors in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture
    A match between seniors in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture
  • Rugby is an increasingly popular sport in Japan, which hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup
    Rugby is an increasingly popular sport in Japan, which hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Photo essay: Rugby helps Japan's elderly citizens stay active


  • English
  • Arabic

When you think of rugby, mental well-being is not likely to be one of the first things that comes to mind.

But in Japan, the full-contact sport has become a unique and effective way to keep a often forgotten section of society engaged – older men.

Rugby is a popular sport in Japan and has approximately 125,000 registered players. About 10,000 of these are veterans – players aged 60 or over.

The game is seen as a great way for older players to stay fit and bonded to a community. It has thus become an important outlet for those who may be living alone.

Yokohama Football Club was the first club in Japan, set up in 1866. However, participation was largely restricted to British and American traders and service personnel.

The Japanese began to get involved at the turn of the 20th century and played their first representative matches in the 1930s.

The Japanese national ruby team, also known as the Cherry Blossoms, have taken part in every Rugby World Cup and made a massive statement in 2015 when they conjured a last-minute 34-32 win over South Africa.

Hosts in 2019 – the first time the World Cup was staged in Asia – Japan produced further upsets by beating Ireland and Scotland to top their pool and reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

They lost to eventual champions South Africa but it was a significant moment in the sport and nation's history.

Now, they head to France for the 2023 World Cup. Japan kick off their Pool D matches against Chile – who are also making their debut – in Toulouse on September 10 before taking on England, Samoa and Argentina in the rest of group play.

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
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Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

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TEAMS

US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
Charley Hoffman*, Phil Mickelson*

International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day 
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim
Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin
Emiliano Grillo*, Anirban Lahiri*

denotes captain's picks

 

 

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Results

5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi

7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle

7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.

ENGLAND TEAM

England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph

MATCH INFO

Norwich 0

Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')

Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)

ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS

Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)

Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens

Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Updated: September 01, 2023, 6:01 PM