Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) in action against Ireland in the pool A match at the Rugby World Cup in Shizuoka. Photo: AFP Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) in action against Ireland in the pool A match at the Rugby World Cup in Shizuoka. Photo: AFP
Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) in action against Ireland in the pool A match at the Rugby World Cup in Shizuoka. Photo: AFP
Tim Noonan
Opinion

Opinion

In the scrum by Tim Noonan

Kotaro Matsushima and his electric play is leading Japan forward both on and off the pitch

  • Japan’s star winger is far from a social activist, even though his feats inspire the plight of the ethnically mixed in the country

Tim Noonan
Tim Noonan

Updated: 9:51pm, 5 Oct, 2019

Why you can trust SCMP
Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) in action against Ireland in the pool A match at the Rugby World Cup in Shizuoka. Photo: AFP Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) in action against Ireland in the pool A match at the Rugby World Cup in Shizuoka. Photo: AFP
Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) in action against Ireland in the pool A match at the Rugby World Cup in Shizuoka. Photo: AFP
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Tim Noonan

Tim Noonan

Tim Noonan has been crafting uniquely provocative columns for the SCMP and SMP for more than a decade. A native of Canada, he has over 20 years’ experience in Asia and has been a regular contributor to a number of prominent publications, including Time magazine, Forbes, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune and The Independent.