Like tennis star Naomi Osaka and NBA player Rui Hachimura, Japan's rugby team offers a diverse and slightly different look for an insular but changing country.
Of the 23 players who earned Japan's historic first appearance in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, only 11 were born to Japanese parents.
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Japan players and management celebrate after defeating Scotland 28-21 in their Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)
A Japan fan cheers during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Kotaro Matsushima is chased by Scotland's Chris Harris, left, and Stuart Hogg, during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Kenki Fukuoka scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium against Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoJae Hong)
The rest were a mix of nationalities with various ties to Japan, who held out Scotland 28-21 in a thrilling match before a partisan crowd of 68,000 at Yokohama Stadium.
Japan players and management celebrate after defeating Scotland 28-21 in their Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)
"I believe (the team) can be a mirror of this Japanese society," Hideto Itami said in English alongside his wife Chikako at the match. "Gradually, we have so many foreigners as a part of Japanese society."
Fans held up signs that read "We Are One Team" to celebrate the milestone victory, and the rest of Japan is becoming convinced. There was criticism of the amount of foreigners when the squad was announced in August, and that has died down as the team has gone on an unprecedented winning run through its pool.
The win against Samoa last weekend drew a record TV audience in Japan of 46.1% on free-to-air Nippon Television. Local media said it was the most-watched sporting event of the year in Japan, surpassing Osaka's win in the Australian Open final. That mark was expected to be shattered on Sunday night, with the promise of a quarterfinal next weekend against two-time champion South Africa.
A Japan fan cheers during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
Flyhalf Yu Tamura, the leading scorer in the tournament, was born to Japanese parents, along with winger Kenki Fukuoka, who has four tries in three matches.
Several players are eligible for Japan because of rugby's three-year residency rule, including South Korean-born Jiwon Koo, New Zealand-born Luke Thompson, and Australia-born James Moore.
Captain Michael Leitch was born in New Zealand with Fijian heritage, but came to Japan to study when he was 15 and speaks Japanese better than English. He's the face of Japanese rugby, and his sponsors have placed him in media everywhere.
Japan's Kotaro Matsushima is chased by Scotland's Chris Harris, left, and Stuart Hogg, during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
Winger Kotaro Matsushima was born in South Africa to a Japanese mother and a Zimbabwean father.
And Jamie Joseph — a former New Zealand forward — switched to play for Japan in 1999 and now coaches the Brave Blossoms.
To be fair, Scotland had several non-Scotland-born players.
Japan's Kenki Fukuoka scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at International Stadium against Scotland in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP PhotoJae Hong)
Some children in Japan with one non-Japanese parent have often been bullied and called "hafu" from the English word "half." The demeaning term could fall out of use as more and more Japanese have a non-Japanese-born parent and immigrant roots.
"I'd like all Japanese people to understand the changing of Japanese society," Itami said, with the Chinese characters meaning "To win" painted on his right cheek. "We do not need to care if the blood is purely Japanese or not. If they understand the Japanese way, that's all that's needed."
His wife had "I Love Japan" painted on her left cheek and was wearing a good-luck charm from a Shinto shrine.
"Honestly, many younger people — even Japan-born — sometimes do not understand our history or our culture," Imani said.
Japanese Asuka Mitachi stood nearby, watching as women in kimonos and men in kilts passed by as she returned to her seat. Some Japanese women wore tartan plaid skirts, topped off by Japan's red and white jersey. Many carried fans that opened to reveal the word "Try."
"We're a very international team," Mitachi said. "Very much the future. The future of Japan is international."
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talked to his team about being prepared to bleed as New England entered its first playoff game since the 2021 season.
Then, shortly after Milton Williams sacked the Chargers' Justin Herbert on Sunday night to secure the Patriots' first playoff victory in seven years, Williams celebrated with a head-butt of Vrabel.
It knocked the first-year coach backward and bloodied his lip.
“The big dogs come out in January. I think Milt took that to heart,” Vrabel said. “He came over and got me pretty good. But that’s what happens.”
Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter, and New England's defense roughed up Herbert as the Patriots beat Los Angeles 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Andy Borregales kicked three field goals for the Patriots (15-3), who hadn't won in the postseason since their Super Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Houston in the divisional round.
In his playoff debut, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards.
“We made plays when we had to do it,” Maye said.
He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the Chargers (11-7) couldn't capitalize on those turnovers.
New England held Los Angeles to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six times, with one of those resulting in a lost fumble that set up the Patriots' TD.
“It's on us, what we do. I've been saying that all season,” Williams said. “We can control the game. If we do what we need to do up front, we're going to win.”
This is the second straight season in which the Chargers have lost in the wild-card round. Herbert finished 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his team's leading rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 in the playoffs.
Herbert was just over a month removed from surgery to repair a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand.
“There was no issue,” Herbert said. “I just have to do a better job holding on to the ball.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said his quarterback wasn't 100 percent.
“He’s a warrior. He just gives it everything he has, all the time,” Harbaugh said, acknowledging that Herbert was limited by his hand injury. “It’s an issue, but he doesn’t flinch, like a warrior would.”
The last time the Chargers failed to score a TD in the playoffs was their 21-12 AFC championship game loss to the Patriots during the 2007 season.
The Patriots drove into the red zone on their first possession of the third quarter, but the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De'Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.
After Los Angeles punted, Maye connected on a pass to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. But New England settled for a 39-yard field goal that stretched their lead to 9-3.
Early in the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard pass to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to set up his precise 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in front 16-3.
The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
Los Angeles had one final possession, but it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Williams on fourth down.
“It’s playoff football. It’s going to get ugly. It’s going to get nasty. But you’ve got to keep going,” Williams said.
The opening quarter had lots of action, but it took until early in the second quarter for the Patriots to end a scoreless stalemate.
With New England pinned inside its own 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a pass intended for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.
Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.
The Patriots took over and got some breathing room via a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.
Thirteen plays and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales' 23-yard field goal.
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left in the first half with a toe injury but returned. ... CB Christian Gonzalez left in the second half with a head injury.
Chargers: End of season.
Patriots: Host either Houston or Pittsburgh next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss celebrates after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, left, catches a pass next to Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) and carries it in for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) celebrates a tackle in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings, rear, in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
