I used to play rugby at junior high and high school, so it is natural for me to be interested in Japan high school rugby tournament, which takes place around new year's holidays.

I went to high school in Kyoto, so it is again natural for me to support the high school representinng Kyoto prefecture. Fushimi Kougyo high school, or Fushi-Ko, which was model of  popular TV drama in the 1980s, continues to be a good team and most often represents Kyoto prefecture for the tournament. Fushi-ko has so far won the tournament four times and the runner-up last year. But recently, Kyoto-Seisho high has become a strong contender for Fushi-ko in Kyoto qualification tournament. For several years, Fushi-ko could not get Kyoto representation in two consecutive years.

This year(2008-2009), Kyoto-Seisho is the high school representing Kyoto. Although Kyoto-Seisho plays well in Kyoto qualification tournament, it is Fushi-ko that plays well in national tournament. But this year, Kyoto-Seisho has progressed to semi-final on January 5. Perhaps this is the first team from Kyoto that go to semi-final of national tournament besides Fushi-ko for 20-30 years. 

Kyoto has a lot of high schools that has history of rugby such as Doshisha high, Rakuhoku, Hanazono high, Highashiyama. While I am glad that relatively new-comer Kyoto-Seisho plays well in national tournament, I am a bit sad that those mentioned above can't play well for some time. 

Anyway, I hope Kyoto-Seisho will become winner of this year's national tournament, and hope more that those talented players do not go to paly in universities in Kanto region, but in Kansai region, especially Doshisha university.