25 Sep 2019

Bak-san takes the shirt off his back for the Rugby World Cup

7:49 pm on 25 September 2019

A Japanese rugby enthusiast is delighting punters at the Rugby World Cup with his commitment to painting different rugby team jerseys onto his body.

Bak-san sporting his painted shirt.

Bak-san sporting his painted shirt. Photo: RNZ / Leilani Momoisea

Rugby World Cup reports Bak-san plans to paint all 20 team jerseys on his body throughout the tournament.

He was first spotted by RNZ at the Japan v Russia match, strolling down the street with a bottle of beer in his hand, and the Brave Blossoms jersey as his chosen body art for the night.

Painted on his back were the words 'Welcome RWC 2019'.

He's since been seen in an Argentina jersey, a Namibia jersey, a Welsh jersey, a Samoa jersey and a Uruguay jersey.

Bak-san in the Brave Blossoms "shirt."

Bak-san in the Brave Blossoms "shirt." Photo: RNZ / Leilani Momoisea

He made the five hour train trip to Kamaishi for the afternoon Uruguay v Fiji match after attending the Samoa v Russia game the night before.

When RNZ saw him at the Fan Zone in Kumagaya, there was a small crowd of people gathered around him, waiting to pose and take pictures with him.

The hashtag #BakSansBack has been started so fans can share any future sightings of Bak-san, and their photos with him.