![Brave Blossoms challenging old ideas of what it means to be Japanese | Japan rugby union team | The Guardian Brave Blossoms challenging old ideas of what it means to be Japanese | Japan rugby union team | The Guardian](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bf58c2b7c2c5525acc5593dc7a5266083086fd0b/0_245_2652_1592/master/2652.jpg?width=1200&height=1200&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&s=a4731c928c23e25748085e9c6e9c7a3c)
Brave Blossoms challenging old ideas of what it means to be Japanese | Japan rugby union team | The Guardian
![Japan's Luke Thompson is stretched by a teammate during a training session in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Japan play South Africa in a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday Oct. Japan's Luke Thompson is stretched by a teammate during a training session in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Japan play South Africa in a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday Oct.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2MHW30C/japans-luke-thompson-is-stretched-by-a-teammate-during-a-training-session-in-tokyo-japan-thursday-oct-17-2019-japan-play-south-africa-in-a-rugby-world-cup-quarterfinal-on-sunday-oct-20-ap-photomark-baker-2MHW30C.jpg)
Japan's Luke Thompson is stretched by a teammate during a training session in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Japan play South Africa in a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday Oct.
![Luke Thompson of Japan during the Japan team training camp in Tokyo, Japan on September 2, 2019. Credit: FAR EAST PRESS/AFLO/Alamy Live News Stock Photo - Alamy Luke Thompson of Japan during the Japan team training camp in Tokyo, Japan on September 2, 2019. Credit: FAR EAST PRESS/AFLO/Alamy Live News Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2MJ4XYT/corrects-date-photo-taken-luke-thompson-center-and-his-teammates-of-japan-national-rugby-union-team-warm-up-during-their-captains-run-prior-to-the-rugby-world-cup-pool-a-game-between-russia-and-japan-in-tokyo-thursday-sept-19-2019-ap-photoeugene-hoshiko-2MJ4XYT.jpg)