Rugby union’s showpiece event will see eye-catching kits, facial recognition for journalists and spontaneously dancing mascots
1 Major Japanese sports, particularly
baseball, keep spectators lubricated thanks to vendors who patrol the stands dispensing beer into cups. Known as Uriko, they are key to organisers’ plans to meet the demand for beer, a significant logistical issue since bars were drunk dry before kick-off when Australia visited in 2017. The Japanese brewery of Heineken, the tournament’s official beer sponsor, increased production by 80% – “We’ll try not to run out of stock no matter what,” they say – while briefing sessions were held in host cities, where restaurant and hotel operators were warned against debilitating booze shortages. “We hope they will take care to ensure enough beer is in supply during the event,” said an official from Oita prefecture.