Announcement of the Partnership between Ask Me NZ and Gpassioners

Ask Me NZ is pleased to announce that we have agreed to form a partnership with Gpassioners.

In addition, Gpassioners will provide various forms of support for initiatives and expansion by Waitemata Rugby Football Club into the Japanese rugby community.

How the Partnership Came About

This partnership began with an online reconnection with HikaruKawai, the founder of Gpassioners.

It was our first time reconnecting since we faced each other in a rugby match during our high school years!

Hikaru and I also played together at Nagoya Rugby School during our primary and junior high school years.

This meeting was made possible through an introduction from his brother, Tsukasa Kawai, who is my childhood friend and was also our teammate at the same rugby school.

Hikaru Kawai’s Background

Source: Gpassioners

After playing for Asahino High School Rugby Club, Hikaru went on to join the Tsukuba University Rugby Club.

In his fourth year, he helped the team achieve a top-8 finish at the All-Japan University Rugby Championship as a fly-half.

Following his university graduation, he played as a fly-half for Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks (Japan Rugby League One), gaining high-level experience as a professional rugby player.

A Turning Point in His Career

After retiring from the Koto Blue Sharks, Hikaru — who had always held a strong interest in education — spent approximately one and a half years in Australia working as a physical education assistant.

During this time, he became involved with a local junior rugby team, where he had his first hands-on experience in coaching.

He then travelled around the world, visiting educational settings in various countries. Through these experiences, he gradually came to realise that his true path lay in the intersection of “Education × Rugby.”

Returning to Japan as a Coach

Source: Instagram

Since returning to Japan, Hikaru has pursued a career in coaching and has now served as Head Coach of Nagoya Gakuin University Rugby Club for over 10 years.

In the years following his appointment, he led the team to remarkable progress:

• 2016: Appointed Head Coach
• 2017: Promoted to the Tokai Student League A Division
• 2018: Won the National Regional Championship for the first time

He has also established a rugby academy for primary and junior high school students, where he continues to coach directly, providing long-term support for youth development.

The Work of “Gpassioners”

Source: Gpassioners

Through Gpassioners, which he founded in 2021, Hikaru is now focused on human development, community building, and the creation of social value through rugby.

Gpassioners is a community built around the theme of “Rugby × Passion × Possibility,” connecting people beyond the boundaries of sport.

One of its most distinctive initiatives is a system that connects rugby players with partner companies to create stable employment opportunities that can be balanced with their playing careers. This genuine effort to help athletes focus on rugby while planning for their future careers strongly resonated with us.

Source:: Gpassioners

Gpassioners’ Message and Values
“Do or Do more”

Source: Gpassioners

Passion Outreach Project

(Click the image above to watch the video.)

Source: Passion Outreach Project

In 2024, Hikaru launched the Passion Outreach Project, expanding rugby development efforts across Asia from a global perspective.

He has repeatedly visited local communities to deliver rugby balls and food supplies, while also providing opportunities for Japanese language learning.

These initiatives use sport as a gateway for education and community support.

Between 2024 and 2025, the project has expanded to more than five countries and nine regions, reaching over 1,000 participants.

Source: Passion Outreach Project

In addition, a project to establish his own rugby academy in Malaysia is currently underway, with an opening planned for 2026.
His vision, commitment, and ability to take action are truly admirable.

Partnership Summary

Through our conversations, I strongly felt that rugby and relentless passion form the core of Hikaru’s continuous work.

We believe there is strong alignment between Ask Me NZ’s mission to serve as a platform connecting Japan and New Zealand, and the philosophy and activities of Gpassioners.

This shared vision led to our agreement to form this partnership.

Looking ahead, we have also agreed to explore how Gpassioners can build meaningful relationships with rugby communities across New Zealand, including Waitemata Rugby, where I am personally involved.

We are genuinely excited to see how this collaboration will develop!!

A Message to the New Zealand Rugby Community

Hikaru also has a strong interest in New Zealand rugby and will be actively building his network in New Zealand using LinkedIn.

As a step toward strengthening the relationship between Japanese and New Zealand rugby, we would truly appreciate it if the NZ rugby community could warmly welcome Hikaru!! 🙏

Hikaru Kawai’s LinkedIn profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hikaru-kawai/

Gpassioners Official Website:
https://gpassioners.com/