
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




Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store brings rice balls back to 100 yen – Is this deal worth it?[Taste test]
Expensive Japanese nail clippers: Are they worth it?
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store brings rice balls back to 100 yen – Is this deal worth it?[Taste test]
Expensive Japanese nail clippers: Are they worth it?
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Japanese film studio Toei announces first three video games from newly created Toei Games
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Same character, different animator – Fans compile comparison charts for anime’s biggest stars
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Secret staff cafeteria in Tokyo is a hidden gem you won’t find in travel guides
Tinder just opened a convenience store in Japan, aimed at adults only
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
“Disaster”: 2018 Kanji of the Year unveiled by Buddhist monk at Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Japanese film studio Toei announces first three video games from newly created Toei Games
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Same character, different animator – Fans compile comparison charts for anime’s biggest stars
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
We spent over US$400 at a Tokyo premium capsule machine, and we’re not sure how we feel about it
It’s like the samurai era never ended at this beautiful Japanese mountain town
Small trees, big beauty await at Japan’s Bonsai Art Museum【Photos】
Burger King Japan launches King Fusion, and the possibilities are endless (and delicious)
Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start