Shogo Mukai was the coach of the Japan national rugby union team

Japan national rugby union team

The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...

 during and prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup

2003 Rugby World Cup

The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...

. As such he must take a great deal of credit for the exciting and attractive brand of rugby which the team played at that time, which was very popular with many fans, not just Japanese ones. Nevertheless, the team did not win any games, extending the unsuccessful record of Japan in all the tournaments since the first one in 1987. (The only win so far was under Hiroaki Shukuzawa

Hiroaki Shukuzawa

was a successful rugby coach of the Japan national rugby union team until now. As a player, he was capped three times by Japan as a scrum-half, and he also advised the Japan Rugby Football Union. He held important posts as a banker also....

 against Zimbabwe in 1991, with a 12-12 draw by Japan under John Kirwan against Canada in 2007.)

Coca Cola West Japan

Mukai has been coaching at Coca Cola West Red Sparks

Coca Cola West Red Sparks

Coca Cola West Red Sparks RFC is a Japanese company-owned rugby union team based in Fukuoka city, Kyūshū...

 in Kyūshū

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

 since April 1, 2004 and guided them to promotion to 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 2006-7 season with the help of former Japan captain Andrew McCormick

Andrew McCormick

Andrew McCormick is a New-Zealand-born Japanese rugby union footballer.The son of All Black Fergie McCormick, McCormick was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School and came to Japan to play for Toshiba Fuchu in 1992...

 who was captain of Toshiba when Mukai coached them.

External links

• Shogo Mukai on the Coca Cola West Japan website