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Macnaughtan, Helen (2020) 'From the Witches of the Orient to the Blossoming Sevens: Volleyball and Rugby at the Tokyo Olympics.' Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, 18 (4).

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Abstract

At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics the Japanese women’s volleyball team, nicknamed the ‘Witches of the Orient’, defeated the Soviet Union to win the gold medal. This article charts the story of the Witches journey to the Olympic final and draws parallels with the post-war growth of men’s rugby in Japan and the performance of the national team the ‘Brave Blossoms’ at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. As in 1964, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will showcase Japanese technology, creativity, culture and hospitality, but will also highlight the necessity for greater acceptance of diversity in Japanese society through the power of sport.

Item Type: Journal Article
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of Finance & Management
ISSN: 15574660
Date Deposited: 23 Mar 2020 12:26
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/32390

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