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The Fuwaku Club origins - It started in 1948, while Tokyo dealt with the aftermath of World War II. Some middle-aged men in a bar were reportedly reflecting on their younger days as rugby players, and they decided to get a team together to help add purpose and strength to their lives again.

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The name - It's said they named their team the Fuwaku Club after a Confucian saying: Forty is the age free from vacillation. The Japanese word "Fuwaku" means over 40.

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Their motto - "At any time, until the end of time." And they stick to it! From the age of 40, players are welcome at any time, and many really do intend to play until their time is over.

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It's a commitment - Being a member of Fuwaku is demanding, involving tours and games all year round. The older they get, the more time members are ready and able to dedicate to rugby.

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There’s no hiding your age - The teams are divided by the colors of their shorts. White shorts are for those in their forties, blue for fifties, red for sixties, yellow for seventies, purple for eighties, and gold for the nineties.

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More seniors are joining - It’s said that while there are decreasing numbers of players on the young end of the club (40s-50s), the number of players in their 70s is growing.

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Entire teams of octogenarians - In recent years, there have been enough older players to hold games with two teams comprised solely of over-80s players, like in April 2016 at Hanazono Stadium in Osaka.

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Meet the oldest active player in the club - The 86-year-old Ryuichi Nagayama is currently the oldest active player in Fuwaku, but he’s still younger than some members.

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They battle, but they’re all on the same team - Nagayama said that during the game they tackle and battle, but afterwards they just enjoy themselves. "We talk about how each other plays and no one gets angry about how we played. The atmosphere is great.”

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Bonds are formed across age - One player spoke of how they all benefit by making friends of different ages, and that they not only play together, but they eat together, and their families will join in too. "It's great fun."

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Health risks - As a doctor, Nagayama is certainly aware of the risks associated with playing a high impact sport at his age.

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There have been injuries - "Since I joined Fuwaku Club, I have broken ribs many times and broke my collarbone too," Nagayama said dismissively.

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He adjusts where he needs to - He said that there are many other health-related concerns that occasionally pop up, like when he noticed an irregular pulse, but he simply took medicine to adjust. "I can't stand not playing. That's it."

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The club is well aware of the risks - The Fuwaka website gives detailed advice on health precautions, as well as links to a life insurance company.

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But the health benefits are more significant - Getting seniors to stay active together is immensely beneficial for both their physical and mental health.

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Combating elderly loneliness - In a country where there is a lot of concern regarding the loneliness among the elderly, rugby offers a complete social life.

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Helps to cope with loss - Since its inception, over-40 rugby continues to add purpose and meaning to lives, especially those that have seen loss. As Nagayama said, "This may sound strange, but I have lost my wife years ago and now I would say I don't mind dying playing rugby."

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It's not just a game - You have to consistently stay healthy to play, you have a circle of friends to keep you company along the way, and you set goals for the future. "In short, there is nothing but rugby (for me)," Nagayama said.

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It spread across Japan - Fuwaku was the only club of its kind when it started, but now it's one of approximately 150 Japanese clubs, one in every prefecture, that get seniors out on the field, tackling each other.

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10,000 veteran players - Fuwaku's General Manager Mitsuaki Okajima estimates that there are around 10,000 veteran players currently playing at clubs across Japan. His club alone has 300 players competing across all age categories.

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It went international - In 1971, a Canadian named William Dunbar met with some Fuwaku members during a business trip to Japan. Inspired, he brought the concept of over-40s rugby back to British Columbia, and helped arrange a tour for the Fuwaku team the following year.

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Over-40 clubs in BC were born - The clubs bore names like Old Stylers, Evergreens, Ebb Tide, and Twilighter. As these clubs got larger, they divided further, and in 1991 the Pacific Northwest Over 40 Rugby Union was established.

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Communication beyond words - Despite language boundaries, the sport has already united many Canadian and Japanese seniors, and fostered friendships that have extended far beyond the field.

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It's not (all) about winning - Toshiyuki Nakai, a member of the Osaka Gentlemen over-40 rugby club, explained, "When I played rugby when I was younger, I was always focused on victory or defeat. Of course, winning and losing is also important in senior rugby, but we put a high value on making friends after the game."

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Fostering cross-cultural respect - Nakai added that after they finish "the battle," the team associations fall away and everyone praises and respects their opponents, building "ties that span countries and cultures."

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Important when considering British Columbia’s history with Japan - The post-WWII internment of Japanese Canadians has marred the relationship between the two countries. This senior rugby league, formed in Japan in the aftermath of WWII, has been a significant step in healing some of those wounds.

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Rugby World Cup hosts - Twenty nations will come together in Japan for the 2019 World Cup, from September 20 to November 2. This will be the first time the tournament is held in Asia.

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Japan is more than ready - A player on BC's over-40s team Ebb Tide said one thing stands out when it comes to playing in Japan: their hospitality. "The Japanese hosting is superior to any other club hosting that the Ebb Tide has experienced on tours," he said.

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Changing the way we look at seniors -

Many people think old age warrants a quiet, calm life, but the Fuwaku Club has highlighted an alternative that changes everything.

See also: Undeniable reasons to be excited about getting old.

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