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"We want to become a unique team that people can look up to."

Kae Chigita, 3rd year student School of Sport Sciences

After the press conference announcing the launch of the women's division, a commemorative photo was taken in front of the Okuma Memorial Hall, which holds special meaning for the group.

​The Waseda University Women's Rugby Football Club (hereafter referred to as the Women's Division) was launched in April 2024. It was initiated by a strong desire of students to play rugby at Waseda. The four who spoke up were Chigita Kae, Ran Kunitani (3rd year, School of Political Science and Economics), Mei Teraya (3rd year, School of Sport Sciences), and Miyu Okamoto (2nd year, School of Sport Sciences). One of them, Chigita, who is currently the captain of the Women's Division, has been playing rugby since she was 5 years old. She felt that she wanted to broaden the base of women's rugby and increase the options, so she worked hard to start the process of establishing the Women's Division. We spoke to her about the appeal of rugby, how the Women's Division was launched, and her future goals.

--What motivated you to start playing rugby and what attracted you to it?

When I was 5 years old, influenced by my father and older brother who were players, I started attending Setagaya Rugby School. To tell the truth, I hated rugby until I was in the fourth grade of elementary school (laughs). Since players were selected regardless of gender, the competition was fierce, and I often felt disheartened, and sometimes I would come home crying. At that time, my team coach told me, "It's okay to have confidence," and I was able to play in my own style even in the games, and I started to enjoy rugby more and more.

Receiving instruction from a coach on the Setagaya grounds. When she was in sixth grade and attended Setagaya Rugby School, she won the national championship (Senkita is second from the left).

I think the charm of rugby is packed into the phrase "One for All, All for One." I don't think there's any other sport where you put your body on the line for someone else, and because you're hurting during the game, you feel a strong emotional connection between teammates. Also, the contrast between the bravery of the players when they enter the field and the family-like warmth when they leave is also appealing. Rugby requires comprehensive physical ability and thinking skills, such as the ability to jump, throw, run, and kick, and you can push yourself to the limit if you want to. The depth of this sport is also the reason why I've been able to enjoy and continue playing rugby until now.

A photo of the team when they participated in the East Japan Tournament as a member of the Tokyo Rugby Team during their junior high school days (from the far right, Kunitani and Chigita, who became friends after playing in a match in elementary school). From junior high school onwards, they began to train with both the Tokyo Rugby Team and the Setagaya Rugby School at the same time.

--Why did you decide to study at School of Sport Sciences at Waseda University?

Actually, I was thinking about going to another university, but when I was thinking about it, my father recommended Waseda University's School of Sport Sciences. When I looked into what kind of school it was, I thought it would be a lot of fun to learn about sports from various perspectives. Since my life revolves around wanting to work hard not only in sports but also in my studies, I chose Waseda University to broaden my horizons beyond rugby. I was interested in looking at sports from a business perspective, so I am currently studying in the sports business course.

-Have you been thinking about starting a girls' club even before you enrolled?

I hadn't thought about it. However, when I thought about continuing to play rugby at university, I realized that there were very few universities where women could play rugby, and that many girls quit after high school, which I felt was an issue. There are no professionals in women's rugby to begin with, so when you enter society, you have no choice but to continue playing while working.

Chigita being interviewed

So I've always thought that in order to increase the number of women playing rugby, we need to increase the number of options that people can look to for the future. So I thought that if Waseda University could have a team that could produce women who could be successful both as players and as members of society, more people would want to continue playing rugby at university, and so I wanted to create a women's team.

So how did the women's division get started?

Ran and Mei, who I knew from the beginning, were also attending Waseda, so the three of us had been talking about starting a women's rugby club since we entered the university, but there was a female Alumna rugby player who had been wanting to start a women's club before us. With the help of that person and seven or eight other people who play women's rugby at Waseda, we were able to connect with Yanagisawa Makoto (graduated from School of Education in 2003), a former member of the Waseda University rugby club and current head of the women's club.

We repeatedly told Yanagisawa that we wanted to increase the number of teams in the current women's rugby world that can achieve academic and athletic excellence, that by creating such a team at Waseda, women who play rugby would have more options, and that women do not even have the opportunity to wear the highly valued red and black (※1). As a result, our thoughts were conveyed, and Yanagisawa negotiated with the rugby football club and the university, and the women's team started in April 2024. We aim to be a unique team that can work hard at a high level in both studies and sports, and that people will look up to.

(※1) This traditional uniform can only be worn by the 15 players who play in Waseda University Rugby Football Club matches.

A photo taken in September 2019 of Chigita (right), who was a member of Yokogawa Musashino Artemi Stars Youth during their high school days, and Teraya (left), who was a member of a different team. A commemorative photo of an exchange match held at Musashino Track and Field Arena.

--Is there a game or incident that left a lasting impression on you during your activities so far?

The most memorable match was the Taiyo Life Women's Sevens Series 2024 Promotion Tournament (※2) held in May 2024. It was the first match that the women's team won, and it was a very valuable victory, so I was really happy.

(※2) This tournament determines the right to participate in the Taiyo Life Women's Sevens Series, the highest level tournament in women's seven-a-side rugby.

Chigita (third from the left) embraces his teammates after their first victory in the promotion tournament.

Also, at the first practice of the women's team, which included four beginners, I remember one member crying in pain when she tackled for the first time. It's not often that you bump into something hard or fall in your everyday life. But they joined the team because they wanted to play rugby, and their eagerness to practice even after that is truly inspiring. It's because of members like that that this team exists, and thanks to the careful guidance of head coach Yokoo Chisato (graduated from School of Social Sciences in 2015), who has Olympic experience, they have improved so much that people around them now say they can't tell the difference between experienced and beginner players.

A photo with the women's team members at their usual practice spot, Kamiigusa Ground.

-Finally, what are your goals for the future?

Our goal as a team is to win the Taiyo Life Women's Sevens Series 2025 Promotion Tournament to be held in 2025 and join the Taiyo Life Women's Sevens Series from 2026. Another goal is to become number one in Japan in the Women's College Sevens 2025, the 12th University Women's Seven-a-side Rugby Football Tournament, which determines the best university in Japan.

Personally, I will work hard every day to grab the chance to be selected for the Japanese national team. As captain, I'm not the type to lead the team strongly, but I want to be the unsung hero who inspires the team with my play so that everyone can do their best during the game and creates an environment where everyone can concentrate on rugby off the pitch.

Chigita plays at Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium during the Taiyo Life Women's Sevens Series 2024 Promotion Tournament.

No. 886

Interview, text and photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Watanabe Shino, 3rd year student School of Education

【Profile】

A photo of her and team member Okamoto-san (left) when they went to Singapore. They have played together since their days at Setagaya Rugby School, and are childhood friends who are like sisters to her.

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Denenchofu Futaba Gakuen High School. Her hobby is traveling, and she went to Singapore in July 2024. On her days off, she also went to Mount Fuji with her family to collect delicious water. The club's official website lists her special skill as tidying, but it seems that the club members are skeptical.

Waseda Women's Rugby Football Club Official Website: https://wurfcwomen.com Official X: @rugby_waseda Official Instagram: @wurfcwomen