Quote

Japan is a great nation. It should begin to act like one.

I've always said that playing rugby in Spain is like being a bullfighter in Japan.

I come from a country that lives and breathes rugby, and I didn't think there would be anywhere else in the world that could be the same. But New Zealand takes it to another dimension. It's extraordinary how much passion Kiwis have for the game.

The real reform Japan needs is decisive politics when we face issues that need to be decided.

I believe it is important that we Japanese write a constitution for ourselves that would reflect the shape of the country we consider desirable in the 21st century.

Every rugby player in Australia and New Zealand or wherever they are from wants to play in the World Cup, and I am no different.

I definitely want to play rugby at the top level, international rugby.

The more that Japanese players go to the big leagues to play and succeed, the more that will serve to inspire young kids in Japan to want to become baseball players when they grow up.

I think it is the responsibility of anyone involved in politics to always think of what Japan can do to contribute more to the peace and stability not just of Japan and the region but of the entire world.

I think it's inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic and that would reflect the reality that New Zealand is a totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom.