User:Yoshihiro Demi Sakata

Yoshihiro Demi Sakata (1942- ) Born on September 26, 1942 in Osaka

Yoshihiro “Demi” Sakata was born in 1942 and started playing rugby at secondary school before going on to play for Doshisha University, at the time the leading rugby nursery in Japan. In 1967, in his second year at university, he won the first of his 16 caps for Japan.

A left-wing of real pace and tenacity, he became a regular feature in the Japan team at the end of the 1960s and scored 13 tries in an international career that lasted six years. Indeed, four of those scores came in a memorable international against the Junior All Blacks in 1968. Voted one of the five best players in the world in 1969, he was voted as one of the five best players in the world (together with Jo Maso and Walter Spanghero of France and Sid Going and Wayne Cottrell of New Zealand) by the New Zealand Rugby Almanac and was invited to play for Canterbury in NZ the following season.

During that season he was selected for NZ Universities and also played for NZ Barbarians. He retired from the national team in 1973 and carried on as coach of Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, where he was a professor in the department of Sport Education. After his retirement from the University in 2012-13, Sakata has appointed as the president of the Kansai Rugby Football Union (one of three major regional unions in Japan).

Rugby Career •	Yoshihiro Sakata commenced playing for Rakuhoku High School in Kyoto in 1959 and played for the school first XV until 1961. His debut for the school first team was delayed due to shortages of playing fields. •	In 1961 he joined the Doshisha University RFC also in Kyoto, for which he played on the wing until his graduation in 1965. •	He was a member of the University team who won the inaugural Universities “NHK Championship” in 1961． •	He played for the Doshisha University team who won the “All Japan Championship” in 1963. •	In 1965 he joined the Kintetsu Railway RFC in Osaka, playing also on the wing and won the “Japan Corporations Championship” in 1966, 1967, 1969 and 1974. •	He was a member of the Kintetsu RFC team who won the “All Japan Championship” in 1965, 1967 and 1974. •	He was selected for the Japan National team in his second year at Doshisha University but failed to make the tour to Canada due to an injury. •	Sakata made his international debut against NZ Universities in 1967, already established as one of the finest players in his position in Japanese rugby. •	He represented his country, Japan Universities and Kansai District Union against several visiting overseas sides. •	During Sakata’s time in the National team 1967-1973, Japan played 38 matches against international opposition of which JRFU awarded caps for 16. Sakata played in 16 of these 18 matches.

International appearances record: 12/03/1967 Japan 3 v NZ Universities, Osaka 21/03 1987 Japan 8 v NZ Universities 55, Tokyo 03/06/1968 Junior All Blacks 19 v Japan 23, Wellington 08/06/1968 NZ Universities 25 v Japan 16, Wellington 09/03 1969 Japan 24 v Hong Kong 22, Tokyo 18/01/1970 Thailand 11 v Japan 42, Bangkok 08/03/1970 Japan 6 v NZ Universities 16, Tokyo 15/03/1970 Japan 14 v NZ Universities 28, Osaka 22/03/1970 Japan 32 v British Columbia 3, Tokyo 29/03/1970 Japan 14 v NZ Universities 46, Tokyo 24/09/1971 Japan 19 v England XV 27, Osaka 28/09/1971 Japan 3 v England XV 6, Tokyo 11/11/1972 Japan 16 v Hong Kong 0, Hong Kong 06/10/1973 Wales XV 62 v Japan 14, Cardiff 13/10/1973 England U23 19 v Japan 10, London 27/10/1973 France 30 v Japan 18, Bordeaux

Playing Career Highlights •	He played in the sensational match against the All Black Juniors in Wellington, when his record four (4) tries helped Japan record a historic 23-19 win •	Overall he scored 12 tries on the 1968 NZ tour, of which five (5) against Poverty Bay •	He played against the touring England XV in 1971 when Japan came tantalisingly close to major upset (lost 6-3) •	He took a sabbatical during his Company to be able to experience New Zealand rugby in 1969. During this year he played for Canterbury University, Southland Universities, Canterbury Provincial team and New Zealand Barbarians •	He appeared for Canterbury against West Coast, Mid-Canterbury and Wellington in 1969 •	He played for New Zealand Barbarians captained by Colin Meads, against New Zealand Maoris in 1969, when he scored two tries. •	He played and scored a try for a Cantabrians XV against the All Blacks returning from their 1973 tour •	He scored a try in his final international match against France at the end of Japan’s 1973 European Tour. •	He came out of retirement at the age of 34 to play against the visiting University of Canterbury. The match attracted a large crowd who came to bid a fond farewell to their hero. Sakata was carried off the field shoulder-high by his former University of Canterbury teammates.

Coaching Career •	He has been the Manager & Head Coach of Osaka University of Health and Sports Sciences team until his retirement in 2012-13. •	With Sakata at the helm, Osaka University won the Kansai Regional University League five times and reached the last four of the University Championship three times •	He coached Japan team on their 1979 tour of New Zealand •	He coached Japan A against the All Blacks in 1987 •	He coached Japan Universities in 1988 Awards and Honours •	Elected by the NZ Rugby Almanack as one of the the five outstanding players of the year, - alongside W. Cottrell (Canterbury), Sid Going (North Auckland), Walter Spanghero (France) and Joseph Maso (France) in 1969. •	Elected Honorary members of the Cantabrians Rugby Football Club in 1973 •	“White Bearer” Sport Award of the Year by Daily Sports Newspaper in 1973 •	Sports Award of the Year by the Asahi Shimbun Newspaper in 1975 •	One of the global Rugby Stars chosen by the FFR to promote the 2007 RWC •	Guest of honour at the Canterbury RFU’s 125th Anniversary Celebrations in 2004 •	Nominated as a Rugby Legends at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France •	Inducted the IRB Hall of Fame No.51 in 2012 What NZ Rugby Almanac said Yoshihiro Sakata (Doshisha University and Japan), along with others in the side, demonstrated on the tour of New Zealand the high potential as Rugby players of the Japanese. In fact, several of the team already possess that quality which places them in the top grade. Not the least is Yoshihiro Sakata, whose performances in New Zealand entitle him to be considered as one of the best wing-three quarters to play on our fields. “Speedy, good handler and most intelligent player, Yoshihiro Sakata was an attraction wherever he appeared, and rightly so.” “Leading players (1968 New Zealand Tour) were Y. Sakata, a wing moulded in the R. A. Jarden lines, and who scored four tries against New Zealand Juniors.”