Shogo Mukai

Shogo Mukai (向井昭吾, born October 2, 1961) was the coach of the Japan national rugby union team during and prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup. As such he must take a great deal of credit for the exciting and attractive brand of rugby which the team played at that time, which was very popular with many fans, not just Japanese ones. Nevertheless it must be noted that the team did not win any games, extending the unsuccessful record of Japan in all the tournaments since the first one in 1987. (The only win so far was under Hiroaki Shukuzawa against Zimbabwe in 1991, with a 12-12 draw by Japan under John Kirwan against Canada in 2007.)

Coca Cola West Japan

Mukai has been coaching at Coca Cola West Red Sparks in Kyūshū since April 1, 2004 and guided them to win promotion to the Top League for the 2006-7 season with the help of former Japan captain Andrew McCormick who was captain of Toshiba when Mukai coached them.

ee also

* Hiroaki Shukuzawa
* John Kirwan

External links

* [http://www.ccwj.co.jp/rugby/members_staff.html#staff05 Shogo Mukai] on the Coca Cola West Japan website