Reuters Insider - Rugby World Cup: Japanese pub chain at the ready
22/02/2019 13:57
Click the following link to watch video: https://share.insider.thomsonreuters.com/link?entryId=1_gzrrbjm3&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2019:newsml_OVA2NWLMZ_930&pageId=ReutersNews Source: Reuters Insider Description: Thousands of fans are expected to arrive in Japan for the Rugby World Cup later this year, with some local pubs ready to cash in. Francis Maguire reports. Short Link: https://reut.rs/2GW1pVy Video Transcript: 400,000 Rugby fans are expected to turn up in Japan this summer for the World Cup. Finding a place to drink shouldn't be an issue but tracking down somewhere to watch again might be. Most bars are venues known as izakayas where people sit and chat and don't watch sport. Some of these bars said they won't screen games during the World Cup while others are ready to cash in. This chain of British-style pubs in Japan known as Hub is one place ready to serve rugby fans. When British people come and their teams are playing, they'll go and see those games but I expect they'll be staying in Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya. And I hope they'll come and visit the pub in between games. A study by Japan Rugby 2019 predicts the World Cup could bring in $1.9 billion to the economy. It's a boost Hub's president has seen before when Japan co-hosted the 2002 Football World Cup. It was here he got a taste of western drinking habits. We found in 2002 that foreigners drink in the daytime whereas the Japanese drink at night. So, we've decided to pen the bar from noon and we'd like to offer a casual setting for people to drink from lunch time. Hub has encouraged its staff to take up English lessons for fans due to arrive in the country for seven weeks later this year. The World Cup runs from September 20th to November 2nd