Are the Backstreet Boys popular in Japan?

Backstreet Boys hit 'I Want It That Way' inspiring Japan's World Cup journey

By Online Editors

1195 days ago

Japan have revealed the Backstreet Boys’ biggest hit as the soundtrack to their World Cup campaign.

The Brave Blossoms close every training session with the American boy band’s 1999 classic ‘I Want It That Way’, in a bid to relieve tension but also tighten squad bonds.

Scrum-half Yutaka Nagare revealed the unusual custom as Japan gear up to take on Ireland in Shizuoka on Saturday.

“We sing the Backstreet Boys song as a group,” said Nagare.

“We do it after training and meetings, just to get unified – it brings us together.”

Continue reading below…

Halfback Nagare enjoyed his World Cup debut, stepping off the bench as Japan overwhelmed Russia 30-10 to open the first global battle in Asia.

The 27-year-old admitted, now he has had a taste of the competition, he only wants more of the same.

“I only got a short game time but it was really my dream come true, something I really strived for,” said Nagare.

“So I’m really pleased I made it and in front of a big crowd for the opening game.

“It really is a once in a lifetime competition. We never know if the World Cup will ever be back in Japan.

“It’s hard to explain how we feel about that, except to say we know we’ve got to take our chance while it’s here.”

Eddie Jones is expecting the United States to provide a tough challenge for his England side in their World Cup meeting in Kobe on Thursday. #RWC2019 #ENGvUSA https://t.co/S0ZZCIWIRj

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 25, 2019

The Japanese public have thrown their support behind the home heroes just as much as they have proved fine and patient hosts with the hordes of foreign fans.

But, despite the clear feel-good factor for the hosts, scrum coach Shin Hasegawa admitted the pressure to return victories is mounting.

“Yes we’ve always felt the pressure, but since the World Cups started we’ve been going to different camps, different cities where World Cup events have been held,” said Hasegawa.

“We’ve had 15,000 people turn up to one of our training sessions to support the team, and that means everything to us.

“At this World Cup the people of Japan are accommodating and helping all the people visiting from overseas too.

“For the prosperity of the Japanese team we really need to win to fulfil expectation, but we’d also like to enjoy that pressure.”

– Press Association

In other news:

'We do it after training and meetings, just to get unified - it brings us together': Japan reveal they sing Backstreet Boys' classic 'I Want It That Way' in bid to relieve tension and tighten squad bonds at World Cup

• Japan's soundtrack to the World Cup campaign is the classic 'I Want It That Way'
• The Brave Blossoms close every session with the American boy band's 1999 hit
• The hosts sing it in a bid to relieve any tension but also tighten squad bonds 
• Japan scrum-half Yutaka Nagare revealed the unusual custom on Tuesday 

Published: 21:46 AEDT, 24 September 2019 | Updated: 21:55 AEDT, 24 September 2019

Japan have revealed the Backstreet Boys' biggest hit as the soundtrack to their World Cup campaign.

The Brave Blossoms close every training session with the American boy band's 1999 classic 'I Want It That Way', in a bid to relieve tension but also tighten squad bonds.

Scrum-half Yutaka Nagare revealed the unusual custom as Japan gear up to take on Ireland in Shizuoka on Saturday.

Yutaka Nagare has revealed Japan's soundtrack to World Cup campaign is: 'I Want It That Way'

'We sing the Backstreet Boys song as a group,' said Nagare.

'We do it after training and meetings, just to get unified - it brings us together.'

Half-back Nagare enjoyed his World Cup debut, stepping off the bench as Japan overwhelmed Russia 30-10 to open the first global battle in Asia.

The 27-year-old admitted, now he has had a taste of the competition, he only wants more of the same.

'I only got a short game time but it was really my dream come true, something I really strived for,' said Nagare.

'So I'm really pleased I made it and in front of a big crowd for the opening game.

Japan sing Backstreet Boys' classic in a bid to relieve tension but also tighten squad bonds

'It really is a once in a lifetime competition. We never know if the World Cup will ever be back in Japan.

'It's hard to explain how we feel about that, except to say we know we've got to take our chance while it's here.'

The Japanese public have thrown their support behind the home heroes just as much as they have proved fine and patient hosts with the hordes of foreign fans.

But, despite the clear feel-good factor for the hosts, scrum coach Shin Hasegawa admitted the pressure to return victories is mounting.

The Brave Blossoms are gearing up to take on Ireland in Shizuoka on Saturday at the World Cup

'Yes we've always felt the pressure, but since the World Cups started we've been going to different camps, different cities where World Cup events have been held,' said Hasegawa.

'We've had 15,000 people turn up to one of our training sessions to support the team, and that means everything to us.

'At this World Cup the people of Japan are accommodating and helping all the people visiting from overseas too.

'For the prosperity of the Japanese team we really need to win to fulfil expectation, but we'd also like to enjoy that pressure.'

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