Edward Bramwell Clarke

Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke (1875-1934) introduced rugby union to students at Keio University in Japan in 1899, with help from a fellow Cambridge University graduate named Tanaka Ginnosuke. Clarke wanted to give his students something constructive to do to avoid them idling and wasting "the lovely autumn weather", and rugby which he had enjoyed as a student was what he decided to pass on to them.

Clarke was born in Yokohama, the son of a baker. He taught English and coached rugby at Keio from 1899 to 1910, after which an injury to his right leg forced him to give up playing. In 1913 he moved to a teaching post in Kyoto at the Third High School, and he became a professor of the literature department of Kyoto Imperial University (now Kyoto University) in 1916. He continued to work there until his death in 1934. Clarke was an excellent academic, who met Lafcadio Hearn.

Further reading

For the historical background in detail see 'Britain's Contribution to the Development of Rugby Football in Japan 1874-1998' by Alison Nish, Chapter 27, "Britain & Japan: Biographical Portraits ", Volume III, Japan Library, 1999 ISBN 1-873410-89-1

See also

*Anglo-Japanese relations
*Japan national rugby union team
*Japan Rugby Football Union
*Walter Weston - who introduced the sport of mountain climbing to Japan