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Rugby World Cup Japan Official Mascot "Rangie" Announced
The Rugby World Cup 2019 (RWC2019) Organizing Committee held an official mascot unveiling event to promote the Japan tournament at Meiji Memorial Hall in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on January 26.
This marks the first time a mascot has been adopted for the tournament since the 1999 Wales event.
The Japan tournament (hosted by World Rugby) will be held from September 20 to November 2, 2019, across 12 cities (12 venues) nationwide, featuring 20 participating teams. The opening match (Japan vs. Europe representative) will take place on September 20 at Tokyo Stadium, while the final will be held on November 2 at Yokohama International Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture. As the first tournament held in Asia and outside traditional rugby nations, it is attracting global attention.
The tournament vision is "Connect Create Go Forward." The catchphrase is "ONCE IN A LIFETIME."
The inaugural tournament was held in New Zealand and Australia in 1987 and has been hosted by different countries every four years since. The 2015 tournament in England saw the Japanese national team defeat South Africa, significantly boosting rugby's popularity domestically.
The announced official mascot is the unit named "Ren-G" (English: Ren-G). Its white hair represents the parent "Ren," and its red hair represents the child "G." It is modeled after the lion, an imaginary sacred beast believed since ancient times to bring happiness and ward off evil. Its face is shaped like a rugby ball, and its form resembles a renjishi (linked lion dance) or shishimai (lion dance).
RWC2019 Executive Director Rob Abernathy stated, "We hope the mascot will create bonds connecting the people of Japan, rugby, and the values of rugby. Ren-G will visit various locations across Japan to share information about the tournament, and we believe it will be warmly welcomed by everyone."
Organizing Committee Secretary General Akira Shimazu said, "After nearly two years of work, our long-awaited mascot is finally here. We aimed for one that embodies rugby's core values: 'Dignity,' 'Passion,' 'Unity,' 'Discipline,' and 'Respect.' We expect Rengi to work in tandem with local government mascots. We look forward to loving Rengi together with everyone."
Shogo Miyata, Director of the Organizing Committee's Commercial Bureau, revealed that Renge was selected from the final 50 entries. He cited reasons for its selection, including "its roots in kabuki, the culture of the host country," and "the story of the lion dance, which embodies love and trials, aligning strongly with rugby's core values."
World Rugby is now considering developing licensed merchandise featuring Renge.
Official Tournament Website:
https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/
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