Waseda founded its rugby club under Keio's instruction. Desiring to practice rugby with Keio that served as the forerunner, Waseda longed to hold a rugby match against Keio. Back in those days, matches were suspended in every sport between both of these universities because of some trouble related to the cheering at their baseball games. This issue also made it difficult to hold a rugby match. However, the passionate ruggers of both universities and their strong will provided a spark for holding a rugby match, achieving the first memorial Waseda-Keio rivalry at the Mitatsunamachi sports field on 23 November 1922.
This match gave us the following episodes that have been handed down to subsequent generations: (1) A thaw was finally brought about by this match leading to holding matches in every other sport. (2) Spectators had to wear their school uniforms or Japanese hakama skirts, while any type of cheering other than applauding was prohibited. This served as a precedent, and since then, applauding has been the only approved cheering manner for rugby matches. (3) Genichi Nakamura, who was called a great manager for Waseda, did weather research at a local weather station and picked a day with the least amount of rain, 23 November, set as the date for the Waseda-Keio rivalry.
This match gave us the following episodes that have been handed down to subsequent generations: (1) A thaw was finally brought about by this match leading to holding matches in every other sport. (2) Spectators had to wear their school uniforms or Japanese hakama skirts, while any type of cheering other than applauding was prohibited. This served as a precedent, and since then, applauding has been the only approved cheering manner for rugby matches. (3) Genichi Nakamura, who was called a great manager for Waseda, did weather research at a local weather station and picked a day with the least amount of rain, 23 November, set as the date for the Waseda-Keio rivalry.