Shiggy Konno

was a noted figure in post-war rugby union in Japan for over fifty years. He was a strong advocate of amateurism in the game.

Biography Konno was educated in England at Rokeby Preparatory School, and was a fluent English speaker. At Doshisha, he played as a prop. Konno trained to be one of the last kamikaze pilots in World War II, but never flew a mission, because by his own admission he was not a good flyer:

In 1952, Konno took his first job in rugby administration, acting as liaison for a touring Oxford University side.

Konno-san was awarded an OBE in 1985 by Queen Elizabeth II, for his services to rugby, and also for helping improve Anglo-Japanese relations.