HK rugby team offer hope to those in need in Japan
Posted on May 19, 2012, Saturday
SUSHI MAKING: Cade Lee, Salom Yiu and Keith Robertson rolling a maki sushi together with two local Japanese volunteers at an activity organised by Second Harvest Japan for victims of the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami.
KUCHING: Ahead of their all-important HSBC Asian 5 Nations clash with Japan, the HSBC-sponsored Hong Kong men’s rugby team took time out from their training to engage in a community activity, offering hope and courage to residents of Ishinomaki, one of the most seriously affected cities in Japan by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Organised by Second Harvest Japan, the country’s national food bank, five members of the Hong Kong team, Cado Lee, Salom Yiu, Charles French, Mark Wright and Keith Robertson joined in with a group of local volunteers in Tokyo to make maki sushi rolls, which were taken by Second Harvest Japan staff later last night to Ishinomaki.
Although it was well over a year ago since the catastrophe, the images of the tragedy and the happenings on March 11, 2011 still remain vivid in many of the locals’ minds.
Cado Lee was humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to give something back to the community.
“I remembered feeling so sad when the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. I thought about helping but being only a student, so far away in Hong Kong, I was not sure what I could have done that would have an impact.
I am so glad to have been given this opportunity through HSBC A5N to contribute. Rugby is my passion but I never thought that through it, I would be able to give something back to those in need. I hope the people in Japan continue to stay strong and are aware that people around the world are thinking of them”, he said.
Maki sushi (rolled sushi) consists of rice and other ingredients rolled together with a sheet of seaweed, or nori.
A common food item in Japan, it is the ultimate comfort food for the Japanese. While sushi is no stranger to those from Hong Kong, it is certainly the first time these Hong Kong players have tried making them.
“It is way harder than it looks!”, Salom Yiu commented.
“We had fun today learning to make sushi, and it is great to know our efforts are going to help those who need it.
Rugby is about courage, integrity and hope and today, in addition to organising food supplies for residents of Ishinomaki, we have brought these values with us, and we hope they can embrace these values, and continue to support each other.”
The 2012 HSBC Asian 5 Nations, the region’s premier XV’s rugby tournament, sees Japan take on Hong Kong in a Top Division game this week.
Japan will be crowned champions should they win this eagerly anticipated match.
Travelling alongside this exciting competition, the HSBC ARFU Coaching Tour will arrive later yesterday for a weekend of rugby coaching.
An introductory session for 50 dads and their sons will be held today at Prince Chichibu Stadium while on Sunday, the tour will work with 100 eight to 13- year-olds in a mini rugby session.
The coaching tour was active in Hong Kong and Macau earlier this week, having conducted four workshops for 150 students aged seven to 14.
It has eight stops over the duration of the 2012 HSBC Asian 5 Nations with additional workshops scheduled over the HSBC Asian 7 Series later in the year.
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