Oku Memorial Trophy Rugby event
2021/11/27
On 27 November 2021, the Oku Memorial Trophy Rugby event took place at Oxford. This is the event which has been taking place since 2004 on a day close to the time when Ambassador OKU Katsuhiko* tragically lost his life in Iraq in November 2003 whilst working for the UN post-war reconstruction programme in that country.
The organiser, Mr Reg Clark, played rugby at Oxford with Ambassador Oku then later played for Kobe Steel. This year, the event had the added element of the planting of cherry trees as part of the Sakura Tree Project.
Ambassador HAYASHI Hajime stated in his speech that “I hope we can remember today’s occasion as a significant milestone on the road to a brighter future. I am quite sure that such a vision would perfectly accord with Katsu Oku’s personality”.
* On 29 November 2003 Mr Oku was posthumously promoted to Ambassador.
The organiser, Mr Reg Clark, played rugby at Oxford with Ambassador Oku then later played for Kobe Steel. This year, the event had the added element of the planting of cherry trees as part of the Sakura Tree Project.
Ambassador HAYASHI Hajime stated in his speech that “I hope we can remember today’s occasion as a significant milestone on the road to a brighter future. I am quite sure that such a vision would perfectly accord with Katsu Oku’s personality”.
* On 29 November 2003 Mr Oku was posthumously promoted to Ambassador.
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