
It’s not every day that an enormous blonde-haired bear of a man comes to your school, agrees to play a quick game of rugby with you and then proceeds to knock you on your 10-year-old arse rather than let you win the ball.
But then, it’s not every day that London mayor Boris Johnson is visiting Japan…
“Hey, your mayor’s in Japan!” an American friend of mine said to me via Facebook message earlier this week.
“I’m not from London, and that man is nothing to do with me, I promise you,” I replied, awaiting something awful.
“Whatever. Here he is speaking Japanese lol.”
After retrieving my eyeballs from deep inside my skull following a cringe so violent I thought I might never see again, I got to wondering what ol’ Boris, the London mayor whose gaffes routinely make the headlines in my homeland, would get up to during his four-day sojourn in Japan.
“He’s probably going to be in meetings all day;” I told to myself as I read more about the purpose of Boris’ visit, “what harm could he possibly do?”
Well…
It turns out that, what with the two nations I have at various points in my life called home currently buzzing about the Rugby World Cup and Japan’s dazzling display on the pitch, London’s lovable/lunatic mayor agreed to take part in a small “street rugby” tournament a group of elementary school kids were having earlier today.
Little did the children, know, however, that the mayor was quite the experienced sportsman and, in true British style and wanting to ensure that the kids grew up knowing that life is awful and full of hardships, resolved to knock one 10-year-old boy to the ground rather than lose the ball in front of parents and reporters.
The boy, named in reports as one Toki Sekiguchi, was seemingly unhurt following the tackle and, once he’d put his little cap back on his head, was quick to dust himself off. All the same, I have a feeling any foreign language teachers visiting Toki’s school from now on are going to have a heck of a job coaxing any English out of him…
▼ “Yes! I am king! Soon I will rule all of Great Britain!”
▼ “Haha, Mr Boris. I’m going tackle you!”
▼ “I don’t think so, son…”
Cringe…
H/T Twitter/Mashable
Featured/insert images: YouTube/Inferno Productions




Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Visiting Japan’s one-and-only, and only-for-a-limited-time, Dragon Ball noodle restaurant[Photos]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Visiting Japan’s one-and-only, and only-for-a-limited-time, Dragon Ball noodle restaurant[Photos]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Which of Japan’s main coffee shop chains is best for a caffeine-free life?
Cherry blossom Totoro cake brings pink sakura sweetness to Tokyo this White Day
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
Cosplay makeup hack: How to bring anime sparkle to your eyes
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Which of Japan’s main coffee shop chains is best for a caffeine-free life?
Cherry blossom Totoro cake brings pink sakura sweetness to Tokyo this White Day
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
Cosplay makeup hack: How to bring anime sparkle to your eyes
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Turn a persimmon into a pudding with one simple ingredient
New Studio Ghibli Uniqlo T-shirt line coming to the U.S., Japan left out once again【Photos】
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Which Japanese tube chip brand is the least disappointing upon opening? We measure to find out
Mister Donut unveils new sakura doughnuts for cherry blossom season 2026
World’s second-oldest hotel offers new self-service stays to cope during pandemic