Head of Venues and Cities, Ross Aitken guides us through preparing the host cities and his time living in Japan adapting to the new way of life. We hear all about the amazing story of Kamaishi, a city that went from a devastation in the 2011 tsunami to hosting one of the most exciting rugby games in 2019. We also learn about how to deal with tattooed players, the fear of running out of beer, and the best way to join Tokyo's gay pride parades.  

We're joined by double Olympian, former diplomat to Japan, and GB's second fastest female marathon runner ever, Mara Yamauchi! From Kenya to Japan via Oxford and from Tokyo tempura to custard creams and Ovaltine, Mara's Japan Sports Story has something for everyone.