Reform of School Educational Systems and Starting Various Tournaments

Prince Chichibu, who had significantly contributed to development of rugby since pre-war periods, assumed the presidency of Japan Rugby Football Union. The Tokyo Rugby Stadium (present Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium) was completed, while the Kyushu Rugby Football Union was established.
In 1949, the Daisan High School rugby team was dismissed because of the reform of school educational systems, and the National Junior High School Rugby Tournament changed to the National High School Rugby Tournament. In 1951, the Kyushu-Asahi invitational rugby match (predecessor of the Japan Rugby Championship) and the 1st New-System University Tournament (predecessor of the Regional Inter-University Rugby Football Tournament) were held.
Prince Chichibu passed away on 4 January 1953, and on 22 the same month, Chairman Yoshihiro Takagi also passed away as if following the prince. We lost two great leaders in this year.