Katsuyuki Kiyomiya
Encyclopedia
is a notable Japanese rugby union coach, formerly of Waseda University RFC (2001-6) and now (since 2006) of Suntory Sungoliath
. Many in Japan hope he will coach the national side in the future.
on July 25, 1967 and after a juvenile delinquent period was advised to play rugby to give his life some direction by a junior high school teacher. Since that time he has been interested in, and passionate about, education. (He has also founded the WASEDA CLUB NPO
in Tokyo to encourage the interest of children in many sports, and the Oku-Inoue Fund for the children of Iraq.)
and played rugby there and won the university championship when captain in his fourth year at the university. His position was flanker or No. 8.
After graduation he started work at the Suntory beverage company in 1995 and played rugby for them. He is not able to drink alcohol.
leading them to three university championships in five years, including successive championships in 2005 and 2006, and he has now returned to Suntory Sungoliath
in the Top League
as their full-time professional head coach.
In his first season as coach of Sungoliath his team was second in the league behind Toshiba Brave Lupus
, after losing narrowly 10-12 to their Fuchu city rivals in a 'Fuchu derby'. In the Microsoft Cup
Final 2007 Suntory lost on the last play of the game after injury time had finished. The final score was 13-14 in favour of Toshiba.
After a game against Yamaha in September of the 2006 Top League season which Suntory lost, Kiyomiya used the term "necessary loss" in his blog, by which he meant that it was a game Suntory had to lose for the team to be in a position to challenge for the league and championship. This concept has also been adopted by John Kirwan in coaching Japan at RWC 2007.
In the opening game of the 2007-8 season Kiyomiya's Suntory gained revenge, beating Toshiba 10-3 on October 26, 2007 under lights at Chichibunomiya. After the game coach Kiyomiya declared that his team would win all the remaining league games and the championship. They in fact lost two and drew one, but won the fifth Microsoft Cup
and so became champions of the Top League
for the first time in 2007-08.
, a team which included stars such as Troy Flavell
and Filo Tiatia
in the 43rd Japan Championships. This was the first time ever that a university team had defeated a Top League
team, though Waseda also defeated Toshiba, a company team, when Mr. Kiyomiya was a student player.
On February 24, 2008 Suntory Sungoliath
coached by Kiyomiya-san defeated Sanyo Wild Knights
in the final of the Microsoft Cup
to become the champions of the 2007-08 Top League.
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...
. Many in Japan hope he will coach the national side in the future.
Early life
He was born in Osaka prefectureOsaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
on July 25, 1967 and after a juvenile delinquent period was advised to play rugby to give his life some direction by a junior high school teacher. Since that time he has been interested in, and passionate about, education. (He has also founded the WASEDA CLUB NPO
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
in Tokyo to encourage the interest of children in many sports, and the Oku-Inoue Fund for the children of Iraq.)
Player
He played for All-Japan High Schools and captained the team in his third year at Matta high school in Osaka. He attended Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
and played rugby there and won the university championship when captain in his fourth year at the university. His position was flanker or No. 8.
After graduation he started work at the Suntory beverage company in 1995 and played rugby for them. He is not able to drink alcohol.
Coach
From 2001-6 he was a very successful coach of Waseda University Rugby Football ClubWaseda University Rugby Football Club
Waseda University R.F.C. was founded in 1918. It is one of the top rugby union clubs for students in Japan, together with Kanto Gakuin University RFC, Keio University RFC and Doshisha University RFC....
leading them to three university championships in five years, including successive championships in 2005 and 2006, and he has now returned to Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...
in the Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
as their full-time professional head coach.
In his first season as coach of Sungoliath his team was second in the league behind Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
, after losing narrowly 10-12 to their Fuchu city rivals in a 'Fuchu derby'. In the Microsoft Cup
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
Final 2007 Suntory lost on the last play of the game after injury time had finished. The final score was 13-14 in favour of Toshiba.
After a game against Yamaha in September of the 2006 Top League season which Suntory lost, Kiyomiya used the term "necessary loss" in his blog, by which he meant that it was a game Suntory had to lose for the team to be in a position to challenge for the league and championship. This concept has also been adopted by John Kirwan in coaching Japan at RWC 2007.
In the opening game of the 2007-8 season Kiyomiya's Suntory gained revenge, beating Toshiba 10-3 on October 26, 2007 under lights at Chichibunomiya. After the game coach Kiyomiya declared that his team would win all the remaining league games and the championship. They in fact lost two and drew one, but won the fifth Microsoft Cup
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
and so became champions of the Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
for the first time in 2007-08.
Notable Victories
On February 12, 2006 Coach Kiyomiya's Waseda defeated Toyota VerblitzToyota Verblitz
Toyota Verblitz is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. Verblitz is a conflation of verde and blitz . The team is owned by Toyota Jidosha and is separate from, and not to be confused with, the Toyota Industries Shuttles rugby team, owned by Toyota Industries...
, a team which included stars such as Troy Flavell
Troy Flavell
Troy Vandem Flavell is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Bayonne in the French Top 14. Flavell has won 22 caps for New Zealand, and mainly plays lock. He is known for his power in the scrum and his repeated foul play...
and Filo Tiatia
Filo Tiatia
Filogia Ian "Filo" Tiatia is a New Zealand international rugby union footballer, who used to play as a back-row forward and occasionally lock Ospreys....
in the 43rd Japan Championships. This was the first time ever that a university team had defeated a Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
team, though Waseda also defeated Toshiba, a company team, when Mr. Kiyomiya was a student player.
On February 24, 2008 Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...
coached by Kiyomiya-san defeated Sanyo Wild Knights
Sanyo Wild Knights
Panasonic Wild Knights is a Japanese rugby union team based in Ōta city, Gunma prefecture which plays in the Top League. Inspired by Tony Brown at fly half , it dominated the league in the fifth season and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.All-Japan Champions:...
in the final of the Microsoft Cup
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
to become the champions of the 2007-08 Top League.
External links
- Mr. Kiyomiya's blog (Japanese only)