It may have taken time to make an impact, but this World Cup has finally captured the interest and imagination of the Japanese public — thanks in no small part to the exploits of their national team.It’s been a hugely difficult and challenging week for the people of Japan, especially those living in the northern half of Honshu, the largest of the country’s five main islands. Death, destruction, and hardship has been visited on this country once again in the wake of the latest super typhoon yet the durability of its people remains the most striking feature.In recent years, they have been hit by a series of devastating natural disasters, yet they appear to come back stronger from each experience. The minute’s silence that preceded the game between the host nation and Scotland in Yokohama on Sunday evening was incredibly poignant, even just observing it on television. I can only imagine how emotional it was in the stadium.Yet in the grip of adversity, the Japanese players rose above the turmoil to deliver an opening half of rugby that will live long in the memory. Despite falling behind to an excellent try from Scottish playmaker Finn Russell after six minutes of…