The Waseda University Rugby Football Club was founded on 7 November 7 1918. Seii Inoue, the club founder as well as the first captain, wrote down how the club was established on that day in the club journal, “Waseda Rugby Football No. 4”.
“On 7 November 1918, our rugby football club was born. After graduating from Kyoto Doshisha Junior High School in March 1916, I enrolled in the preparatory course of commerce at Waseda University. Japanese rugby at that time was still in the early developmental stage. Only Keio, regarded as having the roots of rugby in Japan, had regularly-scheduled matches with YC&AC in Tokyo. There was KR&AC in the west, while Daisan High School and Doshisha in Kyoto held matches with Keio. Living in these modern days, I do hope that Waseda and Keio will compete in rugby by holding matches just like baseball so that they can develop their rugby skills. I also could not ignore my sorrow that there was no such brave sport like rugby at Waseda. Therefore, bringing a rugby ball I had cherished since my childhood with me, I started playing rugby by using that ball with my schoolmates. This was the beginning of rugby at Waseda.”
He wrote this essay when the publication of this journal was planned for the 25th anniversary of the club foundation. This journal was supposed to be published in October 1940, but the outbreak of the World War II prevented the publication. However, this essay contains an enormously valuable record which was written directly by the club founder. This fact alone moves us to have great appreciation for the significant mark made by forerunners of Japanese rugby.
“When the rugby club was officially approved by the athletic department (present Athletic Center), it was named ‘Waseda University Rugby Football Club'. Keio's rugby club is also currently known as ‘Rugby Football Club' by many people. The same applies to that of Waseda as it was called Rugby Football Club at its birth. When the football (soccer) club was approved afterward, the rugby club changed its name to Rugby Football Club and the football (soccer) club changed its name to Association Football Club.” (Source: “Study of the History of Rugby at Waseda”)
“On 7 November 1918, our rugby football club was born. After graduating from Kyoto Doshisha Junior High School in March 1916, I enrolled in the preparatory course of commerce at Waseda University. Japanese rugby at that time was still in the early developmental stage. Only Keio, regarded as having the roots of rugby in Japan, had regularly-scheduled matches with YC&AC in Tokyo. There was KR&AC in the west, while Daisan High School and Doshisha in Kyoto held matches with Keio. Living in these modern days, I do hope that Waseda and Keio will compete in rugby by holding matches just like baseball so that they can develop their rugby skills. I also could not ignore my sorrow that there was no such brave sport like rugby at Waseda. Therefore, bringing a rugby ball I had cherished since my childhood with me, I started playing rugby by using that ball with my schoolmates. This was the beginning of rugby at Waseda.”
He wrote this essay when the publication of this journal was planned for the 25th anniversary of the club foundation. This journal was supposed to be published in October 1940, but the outbreak of the World War II prevented the publication. However, this essay contains an enormously valuable record which was written directly by the club founder. This fact alone moves us to have great appreciation for the significant mark made by forerunners of Japanese rugby.
“When the rugby club was officially approved by the athletic department (present Athletic Center), it was named ‘Waseda University Rugby Football Club'. Keio's rugby club is also currently known as ‘Rugby Football Club' by many people. The same applies to that of Waseda as it was called Rugby Football Club at its birth. When the football (soccer) club was approved afterward, the rugby club changed its name to Rugby Football Club and the football (soccer) club changed its name to Association Football Club.” (Source: “Study of the History of Rugby at Waseda”)