- Title: Japan's stifling humidity in the Rugby World Cup spotlight
- Date: 15th August 2019
- Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) PLAYER DURING TRAINING PLAYERS DURING TRAINING PLAYER USING HIS SHIRT TO WIPE SWEAT OFF HIS FACE TWO PLAYERS WALKING WITH THEIR SHIRTS OFF TWO PLAYERS CROUCHING AND TALKING ON THE FIELD PLAYER TAKING A SIP FROM A BOTTLE PLAYER SITTING DOWN HOLDING A PLASTIC BAG FILLED WITH ICE PLAYER HOLDING THE PLASTIC BAG FILLED WITH ICE VARIOUS OF PLAYERS DURING A TACKLING DRILL VARIOUS OF PLAYERS DURING A SCRUMMAGE DRILL PLAYERS PRACTISING A LINEOUT PLAYER CATCHING A RUGBY BALL DURING A LINEOUT DRILL WITH THE BALL THEN PASSED TO ANOTHER PLAYER WHO KICKS IT TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 8, 2019) (REUTERS) DERMATOLOGIST TOMOKO FUJIMOTO EXPLAINING SWEATING TO A PATIENT FUJIMOTO USING HER RIGHT LITTLE FINGER TO POINT TO A SWEAT CHART (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SWEAT EXPERT DERMATOLOGIST, TOMOKO FUJIMOTO, SAYING: "This year, the temperature suddenly went up from July to August and so currently the number of heat stroke patients is increasing. The human body can't accommodate sudden change of environment. So, in order for your sweat gland to work, you need to train them, same as exercising or training at a gym." YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) FORWARD PLAYERS PRACTISING A SCRUM BACKLINE PLAYERS PRACTISING A RUNNING MOVE TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 8, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SWEAT EXPERT DERMATOLOGIST, TOMOKO FUJIMOTO, SAYING: "Athletes, especially those coming from overseas to this high temperature, high humidity environment, they need to train one to two months in advance to avoid experiencing heat stroke. So, it makes sense that they come early and move to get used to the environment." YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) PLAYERS PRACTISING A LINEOUT TO BACKLINE DRILL A FORWARD PLAYER PRACTISING A CRASH BALL THREE PLAYERS DRINKING FROM BOTTLES BOTTLES ON THE FIELD PLAYERS HAVING A DRINK FROM A BOTTLE A ROUND THERMOMETER MEASURING THE TEMPERATURE ON THE GROUND SHUICHI AKIHIRO, 49, RUGBY HEAD COACH AND KATSUHITO OGURA, 40, EMERGENCY LIFE SAVING SPECIAL INSTRUCTOR, NIPPON SPORT SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (NSSU), TALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE FIELD (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) NIPPON SPORT SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (NSSU) RUGBY HEAD COACH, SHUICHI AKIHIRO, 49, SAYING: "In terms of hydration, by the time you feel thirsty, it is too late. Therefore (I tell the players that) before getting thirsty, (they need to take) water. For salt, trainers always carry salt and so sometimes they provide salt (to the players)." PLAYERS DURING A HUDDLE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) NIPPON SPORT SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (NSSU) RUGBY TEAM CAPTAIN, TAIGA ISHIDA, 21, SAYING: "I take some salt and eat sour plums. I personally like fruits so I try to have them (to avoid getting heat stroke)." SWEAT ON ISHIDA'S FOREHEAD ISHIDA JUGGLING A RUGBY BALL VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WALKING OFF THE FIELD TWO PLAYERS TAKING A SIP FROM BOTTLES PLAYERS AFTER TRAINING TWO PLAYERS TAKING A SIP FROM A WATER FOUNTAIN
- Embargoed: 29th August 2019 11:52
- Keywords: Rugby World Cup Japan Humidity
- Location: YOKOHAMA AND TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: YOKOHAMA AND TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001ASBWHMN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: This year's Rugby World Cup, the first to be hosted in Asia, will provide many unique challenges but one of the biggest might be Japan's varied climate.
With the September 20 to November 2 tournament being held during Japan's typhoon season with high humidity still a factor in the Japanese autumn, teams are preparing for stifling, sweaty conditions.
According to Tokyo-based dermatologist Tomoko Fujimoto, an expert in perspiration, the earlier teams arrive in Japan the better, in order to acclimatise properly. Fujimoto believes arriving a month or two in advance makes the most sense.
Nippon Sport Science University's rugby team train early in the morning to avoid the hottest hour of the day. Even so, temperatures often surpass 30 degree Celsius.
(Production: Yoko Kono) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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