#42 Koga, Run around the Big World!
For the families of Kubota Spears players from overseas, I will try to translate one article into English.
Although my English is too poor, I hope them and you enjoy it.
Run through League One!
A fan cuts inside a potential Rookie of the Year.
On the night after completing his hard running regimen before returning to the field, Kohga Nezuka, a rookie of Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay, took his seat for my interview with a crisp expression on his soft demeanor.
He played in 4 pre-season matches, scoring 3 tries, and also showed off his talented assists and tackling skills, earning high hopes from the Orange Army.
I asked Nezuka 30 questions to find out what he is really like.
(Interview date: January 11, 2022)
To make people smile with my rugby
1. How was training today?
It was tough because I did Bronco* yesterday and today for two days in a row.
I'm looking forward to next week becaue I've finished my final check.
*Bronco: An endurance test.
2. How were you feeling for the opening round?
This is my first season at the top level, so I wanted to play rugby in the opening round.
One of the reason is that I want to raise my publicity, other is that I simply want to play a match as soon as possible.
-What was behind your desire to raise your publicity?
The reason why I continue to play rugby is that I want more people to smile through me.
I believe that in order for people to enjoy the game, it is better to have players they know in the game than players they don’t know. For that reason, I saw the opening match, which would attract a lot of attention, as the perfect opportunity.
-How did you feel when you were injured in a preseason match and could not make the opening game?
The timing was right as I was finishing up well, but I played well in the match in which I was injured, and it gave me the confidence to play rugby at the top level.
It was good that I was able to switch from that confidence to thinking that the best thing to do was not to rush into a game but to do a thorough rehabilitation and get better before playing in a game.
3. What made you want to let your audience smile?
When I was in the upper grades of elementary school, I was restricted from exercising due to a heart disease called arrhythmia.
At the most severe state of the disease, I had to go to school for several months with a pacemaker, a medical device that beeped an alarm if I overexerted myself.
When I was diagnosed as healed in the examination before entering junior high school and the restriction on exercise was lifted, I enjoyed being able to move and began to think about rugby, "If I can make it this far, I want to do it all".
I believe that this episode is the reason why I am here today.
(Since then, there have been no abnormalities in his medical examinations.)
Photo 2: Kohga Nezuka
-Birthday: September 15, 1998 (age 23)
-Born in Hyogo Prefecture
-Height: 173cm / Weight: 82kg
-High School: Tokai University Gyosei
-University: Hosei
-Team: Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay (Joined in 2021)
-Position: Center, Wing, Fullback
-Nicknames: Kouga, Corgi
Dancing with the "family"
4. Who was the first senior player who took care of you when you first joined the team?
I think Hiroyuki Yamazaki was the first. I've been got closer with him since I was selected for Junior Japan as a university student.
Shunta Koga also has the same name "KOGA", so we had a connection before I joined the team, and he used to pick me up and drop me off for a while.
-How do you usually interact with them?
Hiro-san (Yamazaki) uses honorifics for what I say, then, in response, the atmosphere is "no way!". This has become our "Royal Story"(lol).
Although on the team, Hiroaki Sugimoto is the "real" Hiro-san, there are two Hiro-san for me (lol).
5. When do you feel that you have become a member of Spears?
When I actually played a game and scored a try, everyone came running up to me, and I thought, "I'm in Spears!".
This is one of the good things about Spears.
Immediately after I joined the team, there was a time when I couldn't play on the field, so after team practice started this season and I was able to play rugby, including contact, I started to really feel it.
6. Have your impressions of Spears changed before and after you joined the team?
My impression of the team has improved even more, as it is a really kind and warm team with a stronger sense of family than I thought before I joined.
7. Who are the players from overseas that you get along with?
I mostly mess around with the players of the backs.
The locker next to me in the clubhouse is G (Gerhard van den Heever), next to him is Nard (Bernard Foley), Crotts (Ryan Crotty), and diagonally across from him is Lappies (Pieter "Lappies" Labuschagne).
The front, back, left and right are players from overseas, so I tease them there.
-You've been posting pictures of your friendship on Instagram, too.
DB (David Bulbring) and I shared a room during the Oita training camp, and since it was before Christmas, we talked about where we were going for Christmas and what kind of date we had in Japan, which brought us closer.
I am able to communicate with all the players from overseas.
-It's great that you have been able to establish good communication with players from overseas who are far apart in age and position since your first year.
As Jarod (Arai, interpreter) and I are the same age, we became good friends, which was probably a big factor of it.
Immediately after joining the team, we spent a lot of time together, and I became friends with the players from overseas who came to Jarod.
Even outside of rugby, if I didn't know what they were saying, I would call Jarod, and on my days off, when I was playing with Jarod, the players from overseas would come and join us, and I think that's how we became friends.
8. When you joined the team, was there anything that surprised you about Spears?
Compared to universities, I was surprised to find a team with such a loose hierarchy in rugby (lol).
I was surprised when I realized that the looseness was due to the fact that there was respect for each individual rather than hierarchy.
-I can feel the good atmosphere of your team.
Maybe it's because there are players from overseas, there's a lot of laughter and so full of energy in the team all the time.
Basically, Opeti (Opeti Helu) dances by himself all the time, and Nard and Crotts sometimes join in.
Among the Japanese players, Kevin-san (Kazuhiro Gouya) also dances a lot, and Kevin and I often joke around together.
Photo 3: A scene after practice.
From left to right: Shota Nakata, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Tadaki Matsushita, Shintaro Nagatomi, and Koga Nezuka.
One of the reasons for the Spears' popularity is that they get along well with the staff without barriers.
9. Did you adjust your weight after joining the team?
I originally played as #13 in university, and went back to the back-three in my 4th year of university, and dropped my weight from 87 kg to 82-3 kg. I'm still trying to keep my weight to be able to play the back-three.
10. What was the first thing you adopted after joining the team?
Unlike in the past, top level rugby is rugby that requires knowledge.
This is also the time when the rules for kicking have changed, so I am working hard to incorporate kicking into my strengths.
11. What do you want to refine in Spears?
I've only played in Junior Japan as a sophomore in university, and this is the first time since my first year of university that I've played WTB in my real job.
I would like to become more familiar with the perspective of a WTB (wing) and be able to call on others to help, so that I can show my own colors.
12. What is the appeal of playing CTB (center)?
In my opinion, CTB is the hardest position in the backs' lineup, as it is the one where it can defend well and put its body on the line.
I have the image of a player who can run with movements similar to a FL (flanker), and many of the CTB are from overseas, so I think CTB is the hardest position in the backs.
13. What is the appeal of playing WTB?
WTB is the position where it can score the most tries from the outside, but it is not an easy position to play and it is very important to have a good sense of smell to score. I think a WTB who can score tries is an attractive player.
14. What is the appeal of playing FB (fullback)?
I think FB is the most free position. Whether it is attacking or defending, it is always behind everyone else. It is a position that requires knowledge, skill, and sense because it is not always in a certain place.
15. What is your best position?
If I were bigger, I would play CTB.
I've always liked tackling and other bouncy defenses, so I was also considering FL in high school.
Considering my concussion experience in my third year of university and my size, I think it would be difficult to play CTB now, but I feel that CTB was a good fit for me as far as my sense of smell in defense is concerned.
When I played WTB in the preseason matches, I was able to contribute a lot to the team through defense, so I'm glad that my experience as a CTB was connected to that.
"Go! Kohga! Go!"
16. How do you feel, frankly, after experiencing practices and games?
The most important thing is that I have to use my head. I realized that up until university, I had been working with a kind of groove or intuition. I was thinking in some areas, but more than that, I feel that at the top level, there is a lot of thought that goes into each and every play, and the knowledge is completely different.
17. How did you feel when you were selected to play in the pre-season match?
I was most happy to finally be able to play rugby here.
I'm sure there will be people in the Spears who have never seen me play before, so the biggest part of me was looking forward to seeing how much I could show them.
18. What was the most impressive play in the preseason match?
I played in the second half of the game against Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, and was able to score a try from a lineout.
I think its try was made with the first touch with the ball properly as an attacker...I think. I'm not sure about those parts...I'll watch the video again, but I think it was my first touch.
19. Please tell us about the situation at that time.
It was my first try as a member of company team.
I could hear the voice of Takuro-san (Takuro Takahashi) from behind me all the way, and I was thinking "I'm so happy!" as I ran to the try.
-What was his voice like?
He said, "Go, Kohga!".
It was a voice that I felt was cheering me on. I could hear it all the time while I was running.
Shunta-san also said, "Inside! I'm on the inside!", but he was in the same position as our opponents (lol).
I was thinking about them as I was running, and then I scored my first try, and everyone gathered at me and hugged me for blessings. I was really happy, and that was the most impressive feeling. During the game, I sometimes get heated and sometimes I get too happy and high, but at that time, I could hear Takuro-san's voice and it made me calm down a little.
Photo 4: A preseason try in which he used his speed and steps to leave the defense in his wake.
My strength is my overwhelming communication skills
20. If you had to give yourself a score after joining Spears, what would it be?
(Out of 10) 6!
-No, that's a too tough grade!
My play itself was good, but I got injured, so it was a shame....
-If you hadn't gotten injured?
I would be an 8 or 9. There were times when I couldn't play the way I wanted to. But considering my personal life outside of rugby, including communication...I'd give it a 7 (lol).
21. What would you say is the best thing about you among the new players?
I can talk the most.
I think I'm good at communicating and expressing myself.
22. What do you work hardest at in your company?
The job I was going to work hardest on is no longer available due to infection control measures, so I am working hard on making posters to be displayed at the plant.
I am also working hard to communicate with the new plant manager.
23. Are you a person who controls your motivation?
I'm a show-off, so I sometimes get excited before a game, thinking, "If I can play like this, I'll be really excited today".
I can get into the game with high spirits before the game.
-How about during practice?
When I have a tough practice, I think of sushi or a sauna to cheer myself up.
My favorite sushi is hamachi. Hamachi is the best ever.
I often go out to eat sushi with my comtemporary Masaya Tamaki.
24. Do you have a favorite coffee bean?
I like Guatemalan or Mandarins, espresso type dark roast.
The more astringent, the better.
"Trust" is our forte
25. What is your most memorable experience as a student, besides rugby?
I've been playing only rugby for a long time, so I don't know...memories. I was happy to be able to wear the Japanese jersey overseas for the first time as a representative in university. I played my first U20 match against the All Blacks. I think it was a good experience for me....I guess I am just talking about rugby after all (lol).
26. What words from your coaches have stuck with you the most so far?
I take everything to heart, so I can't really say which one is the best.
However, I still remember the words of a coach who took me under his wing when I was a junior high school student at a Hyogo School Selection Team. In a two-on-one situation, I passed to my teammate and both times they were made "knock-on", so I didn't pass the third time and went for it myself. That's when he said, "If you don't trust teammates, you can't play rugby! You're over as a player!". I was scolded with all my might, and my heart burned.
Even now, I think that trust is important in rugby.
-"Trust" is a key word at Spears as well.
In Spears, we praise each person by calling them "Kubota Man". This is one of the strengths of us.
We have respect for each person, and we try to get to know each other. As we can think, "This member would be.", we can play based on trust.
I do feel that trust is an indispensable element for a strong team.
27. What are the good things about Spears that only you have noticed?
Spears focuses on the reserve members, by calling them "Wings", who are often referred to as the "B team" in other teams.
-So the name has changed from "Bolts" until last season?
Yes. I think it's cool that the Wings are "the wings of the team, supporting the team and flapping their wings", which I think is a better fit than the Bolts. That said, I'll do my best to be a member not be the Wings.
-Is there a unique way to view non-members in Spears?
Until university, the coaches often focused on the A team. But Spears appreciates that we wouldn't be what it is today without the Wings. We look at the team as a whole, and are aware that "we can't be a strong team unless the rest of the A team works hard". That's why I think the B team is not practicing for the A team, but rather, while doing the moves of our virtual opponents, they are challenging themselves to practice with the thought, "Let's overtake the A team! Let's beat the A team!".
This virtuous cycle of taking care of the Wings as a team and the Wings trying to respond to that is a characteristic of a good team, and I think it is the strength of Spears.
Photo 5: Hard tackling using his speed is one of Nezuka's charms
Be deep and graceful, and be yourself!
28. Please tell us the origin of your name.
The kanji "koh" means deep and broad-minded, and "ga" means graceful, elegant, and noble.
My parents wanted me to be a graceful and deep person.
29. You mentioned "Be yourself" as your motto. What is your personality?
The first is "having the most fun". Another point is, regardless of rugby, joking around with others is the easiest way for me to get close to them and is my own way of communication. Even if he thinks, "What the hell are you?". I respect him even outside of rugby, and if I know his personality and distance, I will come close to him as far as I can. This is who am I.
30. What is the most appealing aspect of Spears rugby?
People. (Quick answer)
There are many people who are attractive individually. No matter what time of day it is, except during games, when we're in the Spears, we can only take pictures of smiling faces.
I think that's what makes us attractive to the fans.
"It was fresh to be interviewed by a fan, and it's also one of the good things about the Spears that we can connect in this way.", Nezuka smiled.
Nezuka answered all the questions I had prepared, some immediately and some taking a while. Rather than mulling it over in the depths of his mind, he dove like a diver and shared the answers he had found in the depths of the ocean.
His League One debut will be against Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on Saturday, February 19, Section 6.
Let's have the Spears' #11 play to make us smile on February 19.
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