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From Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Yokohama
Red and white stripes dogs in newspaper scrum caps, wigs, tops along with a smile. Always a grin.
Japan might have qualified by beating Scotland for a World Cup quarter-final but their lovers long ago secured their position .
It hasnt been a simple 48 hours to the nation. The largest typhoon at 61 years of japan sifting through numerous areas leaving at least 23 people dead.
On Sunday morningthe sky had cleared, Japan and the sun shone revealed the resilience it can take to reside in a country constantly battered by natural disasters.
Among fans, discuss turned to if the team World Cup game against Scotland would go.
Videos on social websites on Saturday had shown the Japan team wading through water to get into the area at their training floor that was flooded.
Regardless of the pitch, the Scottish Rugby Union had made his feelings clear on a rescue and Japan head coach Jamie Joseph demanded respect saying they were desperate to perform too.
Pictures on the information of streets submerged in flood water and also houses with roofs blown off created play seem submerged and impossible flooding plains around the stadium didnt look promising.
There was not any need for uncertainty given the creativity of the Japanese. The scene was safe and therefore was built on stilts. The game would go ahead.
The scenes in Yokohama should put those thoughts, although some could have contested the choice to bring the championship into a nation where extreme weather may make matches unplayable.
Fans flocked to the 72,000-capacity ground hours before kick-off along with was that the ray of pleasure the nation needed following the typhoon.
More and more red and white shirts gathered. A sense of history was from the atmosphere and the locals knew it lengthy queues formed for programs along with the product shop.
Japan could have been going to seal a place at the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time and everybody needed a souvenir.
No catalyst was required at this championship, although A historical win against South Africa at the 2015 World Cup has been the catalyst for greater interest from the Japan group four decades back.
Japan shirts have been sold out at stores across the country and the television viewer for Sundays match has been a estimated people.
The World Cup could have turned into a place, if this game was cancelled. However, the jeopardy about not or whether it would be performed, together with the fact that everyone was made to devote the previous 24 hours inside for their own safety, intended supporters were ecstatic to be there.
The time spent indoors clearly gave fans time to plan their outfits a soccer shirt is simply not sufficient for Japanese fans.
You will find kimonos, wigs in the colours of the Japan flag and even rugby earrings on show.
And of course a buff who has got celebrity status at this World Cup by painting shirts on his torso at games, Bak-san, made an appearance.
A rendition of Flower of Scotland broke out, as fans waited at front of the floor and it wasnt Scottish fans filmed.
The feeling of anticipation improved as the gamers surfaced on the pitch. A moments silence was held in memory and the poignancy was transported through to the Japanese national anthem.
The television cameras showed faces in the audience as they staged the sombre tune with a degree of emotion not seen in this a reserved and culture.
Chants ofNipponbroke out straight after kick-off and every hit was fulfilled except for tackles, with a huge cheer.
Every time the Brave Blossoms captain – a hero in his nation ever since then win from South Africa – so much as approached the ball a long cry ofLeitch would ring outside.
Scrum penalties obtained sent the audience and it was not only those within the stadium invested in turn and each twist of the game.
In Oita, where England and Wales will perform with their quarter-finals, pubs were full of screaming fans, while at the end, fans streamed into the middle of the street in celebration at Tokyo Shibuya crossing.
Japan were a team with a country behind them and those within the stadium at Yokohama made themselves noticed.
There were howls of pain because Scotlands Finn Russell went for the very first attempt then shrieks of delight when Japan drew level with Kotaro Matsushimas score.
Japanese fans had won many hearts, but also on the pitch Japan play a loveable new rugby also and yet the other glorious pun meant Keita Inagaki was the guy.
Kenki Fukuoka, that was finally given his man of the match award by fellow athletic great Naomi Osaka, scored two and it felt obvious that Japan had earned a place in the previous eight.
However, WP Nels try for Scotland seven minutes after ramped up spirits and the anxiety reached their lowest level following a defence.
The audience regrouped and willed Japan on, roaring relentlessly to its last five minutes of the game. Before the ball has been kicked into the racks they counted the five seconds down and they burst into tears flames and, in some cases.
The answer to the triumph from players and enthusiasts showed that this match was more closer to a World Cup final than the pool game for Japan.
The celebrations continued for half an hour fans chanted the name of their country in response and later fulltime as the team pushed up to bow to each side of the stadium.
Before forming a ring and singing, perhaps not needing their time around the pitch to 27, the players assembled for a photograph.
Using Leitch performing the talking eventually, just seven players have been left kneeling at a huddle. And since they eventually left the pitch, it turned out having a wave to the audience.
It has been a trying 48 hours to the Japanese people, but people in Yokohama on Sunday were still smiling. And now they have even more reason to.
Japan World Cup success over Scotland to reach the quarter-finals for the very first time is.
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