Reg recognised by Japanese government
Reg Clark, CEO of Rhino Sport & Leisure Ltd, was recently awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Japan government for services to UK-Japan relations in Education and Sport.
He is, he says: “particularly proud of the Oxford Kobe Scholarships which have seen more than 70 Japanese postgraduate students at Oxford University since 1994” and, alongside many others, the celebrations of the life and honouring the memory of Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku, a rugby pioneer killed in 2003 while leading Japan’s contribution to the UN postwar reconstruction programme in Iraq.
Katsu was a diplomatic scholar at Hertford College Oxford, becoming the first Japanese national to be awarded a rugby Blue. He was a leading light behind the foundation of London Japanese RFC and credited with initiating Japan’s ambitions to host the Rugby World Cup.
Reg describes Katsu as “a truly remarkable man – energetic, dynamic, intensely sociable and missed greatly by all who knew him” and dedicated the award to him as “it is in a real sense very much about him.”
Hayashi Hajime, ambassador of Japan to the UK, said: “This year marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic loss of Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku. He was a man of passion - he not only devoted himself to the reconstruction of Iraq and international peace, but also to deepening the Anglo-Japanese relationship while serving as a Counsellor at our Embassy in London. It is no exaggeration to say that rugby was what shaped his passion. Two decades since his death, his legacy lives on in the hearts of many people, including those who play in the Oku Memorial Trophy rugby matches.
“I would like to extend my deep respect and sincere appreciation to Mr Reg Clark for his friendship with Ambassador Oku and for his dedication to organising the Oku Memorial Trophy since 2004. Through his endeavours he has brought into tangible effect Ambassador Oku’s zeal for bringing together the people of our two countries, especially the younger generations. In this regard, may I express my heartfelt congratulations on the conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (Kyokujitu Soko Sho) on Mr Clark for his outstanding contribution to promoting cordial relations between Japan and the UK through rugby and education.”
Katsu attended Itami High School and Waseda University where he played for the university rugby side. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was seconded to the two-year diplomatic course at Oxford. His diplomatic career included postings in Tehran, Washington and London, from where in 2003 he was seconded to Iraq. On November 29th he was killed with his diplomatic colleague and driver in a random insurgent attack South of Tikrit.
During his career Katsu became a well-known representative of Japan in World Rugby circles –credited at the time of the Rugby World Cup in 2019 as the person who first proposed and initiated the JRFU’s ambition to host the tournament. He was also a pioneering member of London Japanese RFC during his first spell in London post-Oxford.
Reg said: “Katsu was the most lively, energetic and engaging of people – a wonderful friend and above all a great family man. All of us lucky enough to have known him still miss him terribly and as always at this time of year our thoughts are first and foremost with his family.”
This year’s 20th memorial rugby games were played in Richmond on November 25th and Itami High School played the following day. At Richmond Athletic Ground there was a three-way tournament involving London Japanese, Kew Occasionals and Hertford & Balliol, as well as a contest between London Japanese Veterans, the Commons & Lords and Kew Occasionals Veterans.
For more stories like this, sign up to our monthly newsletter Touchline.
