Japanese actress to carry World Cup trophy onto field at Twickenham

I have nothing against Tao Okamoto, but what does she have to do with rugby?

I would rather see a member of the Japan women's national rugby team help carry/present the trophy, particularly given that the team won this year's women's Asia Rugby Championship (May of this year) for their first time ever. They certainly deserve more recognition.

http://www.worldrugby.org/news/73234

Sensato; agreed / warms my heart to see kids and ordinary fans being able to participate in their heros events

Can't she do it in 2019?

If John Eales is one, surely the other one has to be Sean Fitzpatrick.

If for some bizarre reason they need a Japanese lady to do it, there are much more appropriate choices as Sensato pointed out above.

It could be a respect due move she being Japanese but a star as opposed to a sports star. Just my two cents worth.

If for some bizarre reason they need a Japanese lady to do it,

@HollisBrown

I am fairly certain that a Japanese person is being given the honor because Japan will be playing host to the next Rugby World Cup. This will give the event more coverage in Japan, and help pave the way for its success in 2019.

I have nothing against Tao Okamoto

You might if you've watched 'Hannibal'

could think of a dozen more qualified Japanese to carry it. what has she got to do with Rugby even sport for that matter!?

If John Eales is one, surely the other one has to be Richard Loe.

Well maybe not.....

As Sensato says, the reason is in the last line of the article.

Well, seeing as I do not know many movie stars accept Ken Watanabe ... I can only say .. who is she?

@Sensato I thought that must be the reason, but surely there will be much more devoted to that at the closing ceremony (as they usually do in the Olympics).

If they've decided they want a Japanese person to help carry out the trophy, and that person should be female, then I don't really understand how they come up with Tao Okamoto (unless she's a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton - in which case sport has really started to lose touch with reality).

The captain of the Japanese ladies rugby team would've been most appropriate, however just in terms of 'sport' Saori Yoshida, Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa, Kimiko Date, are all internationally recognized and would be more appropriate choices than Tao Okamoto.

Even Yoko Ono, Haruko Arimura (Minister for Gender Equality), and Jenson Button's missus would've been less random choices than Tao Okamoto.

Nice! However I think what they should be focusing on is getting rid of those horrific local choirs that sing the national anthems. I have truly never heard worse renditions of the anthems than those English choirs..

I guess she was chosen because Japan hosts the next World Cup but she isn't exactly a household name in Japan or England I think like John Eales is to rugby fans. It is in England, please choose one of the many English babes!

It is in England, please choose one of the many English babes!

The "English babes" are unfortunately unavailable. They have all been back training at their clubs for the last month, and for the RFU therein lines the problem.

Yeah seems a daft choice, she should be working at the Motor Show!

Lots of grumbling here.

I wonder, which Japanese woman would be a better choice for this event if not this one?

A kind of recognition of the Brave Blossoms performance but also that next World Cup is to be held in Japan. Makes sense.

Don't care for Rugby....but live in the UK....I just think it's great A Japanese woman is doing it !

Can totally see the connection!

/sarcasm

forget Jon Eeels - pls let OKAMOTO san carry our trophy in !

Japanese actress to carry World Cup trophy onto field at Twickenham

A well-chosen beauty. Better than some Arashi pretty boy. Looking forward to the final

that never happened

Definitely didn't happen. What's up with that?