LONG READ Kazuki Himeno: ‘Eddie gave me a task - to be the world's best back-rower’

At a time when Eddie Jones’ coaching style has been put under the microscope, Japan’s talismanic back-row Kazuki Himeno is hoping to prove a motivational method still lurks beneath the madness.

Himeno, a vital cog in the Brave Blossoms team that made history on home soil at Rugby World Cup 2019 and subsequently captain of the squad in France last year, remains his country’s most talented player.

But Jones has grander ambitions for the former Highlander. Forced to sit out the majority of the international calendar due to an elbow injury that required surgery, the Australian took the pressure of the armband off Himeno but set him a challenge: to become the best back-rower in the world.

“In the spring campaign I had a meeting with Eddie, and he agreed to me having the operation on my elbow,” Himeno tells RugbyPass.

“My focus was to get my body back to 100 per cent and now, in the autumn season, I’m back with the team.

“Eddie gave me a task for me to become the world’s best back-rower and that’s one of my goals as well to become that, to conquer that goal.

“So, I feel that’s the task that I’ve got from the coach, and that’s the goal I’m really aiming for. Now I’m just focused to become the best me.”

I want to just really meet his standards. I want to meet his expectations, to really become number one.

Himeno, who turned 30 in July, was still a university prospect when Jones ended his first stint as Japan coach, leaving for England following the 2015 World Cup.

And the inherent faith Jones has shown in his abilities certainly carries weight. “That definitely gives me confidence that he believes that I can do it,” Himeno adds.

“I want to just really meet his standards. I want to meet his expectations, to really become number one. So, all I have to do is train hard, work hard in every game.”

Since returning to the Japan back row in the 64-19 defeat by the All Blacks at the end of October, Himeno has set about proving that he is up for the challenge.

In his three Test appearances of 2024, the 30-year-old is averaging more than 13 carries, for 35 metres, and 10 tackles per match while beating six defenders and winning turnovers against both France and Uruguay.

His best performance of the autumn came, perhaps unsurprisingly, against Los Teros last weekend when his early try and work on both sides on the ball – 13 carries and 15 tackles completed – were crucial to a morale-boosting 36-20 victory in difficult circumstances.

“Having a win definitely gave us more energy and more confidence,” Himeno says of a result secured despite Warner Dearns’ 66th-minute straight red card, when the Japanese lead was only six points.

“I feel like personally, every game I’m really improving my performance and now all I have to do is just become consistent from training and in all games.”

The mood within the Japanese camp has been lifted by that win in Chambery last weekend and Himeno is in good spirits as he chats over Zoom, via an interpreter.

Although not confident enough yet to converse fully in English, he is able to follow the questions and his translated answers, providing some reassuring nods as they are being relayed.

Playing for the Highlanders, which is a team with lots of history and a really high skill set, it really built my confidence to play now.

Later he will offer an, unnecessary, apology that he was not able to conduct the interview without the need of a translator, but it is clear his spell at the Highlanders on New Zealand’s South Island has left a mark.

As Himeno’s performances did on those connected to the Super Rugby franchise back in 2021.

“That was one of my really good experiences playing rugby,” Himeno says. “Learning rugby in a different culture, learning a language, it really expanded my knowledge of rugby.

“And playing for the Highlanders, which is a team with lots of history and a really high skill set, it really built my confidence to play now.”

Himeno was named rookie of the year in that pandemic-impacted Super Rugby season three years ago, but he believes he is a better player now than he was then.

“Then I could only play No.8, and my body was a bit heavier, bigger,” he suggests. “[I had] a bit more power but I definitely lacked speed, and my range of plays were a bit more limited just playing No.8 and I feel like I had a lower work-rate.

“Comparing to now, I have a wider range of plays. I can cover seven and eight, I have better skills now, I’ve lost weight which means I’ve increased my speed. I have a higher work-rate now. Body condition wise, I feel stronger at the moment.”

So, where does he feel he is in his quest to be the best back-rower in the world?

Compared to the other tier one countries’ back-rowers, I have the same skill set. I have talent, I have confidence, and I believe I can become number one.

“I can’t really tell where I’m standing at the moment, but I definitely have confidence that I can become the world’s number one back-rower,” Himeno says.

“Compared to the other tier one countries’ back-rowers, I have the same skill set. I have talent, I have confidence, and I believe I can become number one.

“But at the moment, I’m not sure where I stand. There are a couple of areas I still need to improve, so I just keep focusing on every day to improve myself.”

The next stage on which Himeno will get to test himself is the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, where the Brave Blossoms take on England this Sunday.

Following narrow defeats to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa this month, pressure is growing on the hosts and their somewhat beleaguered head coach Steve Borthwick.

But it still represents a huge challenge for what is a young, inexperienced Japan team. Only eight of the match-day 23 selected to play Uruguay last weekend had won 10 caps or more prior to kick-off.

Himeno was the most-capped player in what was his 35th Test for the Brave Blossoms.

By contrast, 12 players who featured for England against the Springboks had won at least as many as Himeno. Six had 50 caps or more to their name.

“The team needs more experience, more game time, more games and starting from the New Zealand [match], we really had a good experience,” Himeno says.

“Especially for the younger players coming to Europe, for some of them it’s their first international tour, so just the experience of playing against New Zealand, France, Uruguay has built more and more confidence over the weeks.

I do feel a bit more responsible not having those senior players around me. I have to show leadership as well

“Our goal is to really show our learnings over this year, and to show everything on [the pitch] this weekend.”

Although he is no longer captain, Himeno has felt a duty to help the youngsters in the squad make the step up to international rugby. Especially in the absence of some totemic figures, such as Michael Leitch, Keita Inagaki and others.

“I do feel a bit more responsible not having those senior players around me. I have to show leadership as well,” he says.

“But on the other hand, it’s important that the younger players show more initiative to have those leadership roles.

“So, I’m kind of giving more guidance, helping them out rather than showing real strong leadership.”

Sunday will be the third time Himeno runs out at Twickenham to face England, dating back to a 35-15 defeat in November 2018 in which Japan gave their hosts – and Jones – a real scare.

Japan led 15-10 at half-time six years ago, with their No.8 front and centre, and as boos rained down in south-west London, it looked for a moment as though the Brave Blossoms might go on to record their first victory in the fixture.

That dream disappeared as England crossed the whitewash three times in 18 second-half minutes, but Himeno and his current team-mates will be hoping to sprint out of the gates similarly this weekend.

“We’re aiming to take the lead from the start, and the first half will be really important for us and for the game,” the back-row admits.

It was Japan who were caught cold when the teams met in Tokyo in June, as England ran in four first-half tries en route to a 52-17 victory.

But that was England’s last Test win, and the hosts will line up on Sunday on a run of five successive defeats. Does that provide Himeno with a glimmer of hope?

We know that England are really strong with their maul, their scrum, their ruck, the short carries around the ruck. So those are the areas that we really need to dominate.

“Our challenge is definitely the physical battle,” he suggests. “We would like to keep using our strengths, our skills and speed.

“But our biggest challenge is to stop their momentum, [them] winning the physical battle. We know that England are really strong with their maul, their scrum, their ruck, the short carries around the ruck.

“So those are the areas that we really need to dominate. Don’t let them get momentum from those areas.”

That is not only the conundrum facing Japan this weekend but is a puzzle this young team must solve if the Brave Blossoms are going to return to the highs of 2019.

In the first few years of Himeno’s international career, which started in 2017, it looked as though Japan could unsettle the traditional order of the game. He became the embodiment of the team’s potential.

But myriad factors, both external and internal, have conspired to check the momentum generated five years ago as the Brave Blossoms have stagnated.

The fact Himeno has won only 35 Test caps hints at one of the major issues facing a nation too big to send full teams to regional competitions, yet still too raw at the elite level.

“I think it’s important that the players gain that Test match-level experience,” Himeno says, as he weighs up what needs to be done. “For example, at the moment [Bordeaux flanker] Tevita [Tatafu] and [Toulouse scrum-half] Naoto Saito are playing overseas and so they’re experienced at that Test match-level of rugby.

“Back in 2019 we had the Sunwolves team playing Super Rugby, we had more opportunities to play that Test-match level. I’m not saying League One [in Japan] isn’t meeting that standard, but League One can become better to really meet that Test match level as well.

“This year the Japan team have played 10 games, which is one of the highest number we’ve played in the last couple of years. That was really positive, especially for the young players coming into international level rugby for the first time.

“So, [gaining] experience is definitely the best energy to really build up this team.

“For me personally, what I can improve, what I can do to help the team is just to become the best version of myself. Becoming the number one back-row in the world means being a role model for the team, and having the younger players really follow my back.”

Whatever happens in Twickenham on Sunday, those young Japanese players could have no better example to aspire to than their talismanic No.8.