Rugby World Cup 2019: Meet 'Bak-san' - the All Blacks' craziest temporary fan

Bak-san and his wife Rika.
Bak-san and his wife Rika. Photo credit: Image: Newshub

On this dreary, cold afternoon at Tokyo Stadium, you'll find Hiroshi Moriyama on the concourse, standing still and holding his phone up, showing a picture of an All Blacks jersey, while being painted from the waist up.

For the 18th time this Rugby World Cup, Bak-san's stood for two hours or more, while wife Rika paints on a jersey from one of the playing teams. 

These days, he's known as 'Bak-san' - a nickname he collected from millions of strangers, after he quickly became a cult hero as the World Cup's 'superfan'. 

Today, he's winning over every All Blacks fan that walks by. Covered in black, almost everyone who spots him wants a photo, interrupting Rika finishing the finer details of the All Blacks jersey, as she races towards her kick-off deadline.

By now, she could paint the Rugby World Cup logo on the left with her eyes closed, but the silver fern is far more intricate and it's taking her a little while.

Not that it's the hardest thing they have had to paint. 

"Australia was, because of the emblem," Bak-san told Newshub.

You would think after almost 36 hours of standing and many more spent trying to wash it all off, Bak-san might be a bit over it - but he's not.

"No no, I'm not bored of it yet".

Rika might be, she's still painting, while he talks about his World Cup journey so far, but now she's on the golden trophy on the right sleeve. 

Bak-san believes he's wearing the winning jersey this evening, as the All Blacks prepare to take on Ireland in the quarter-final, but he's a Japan supporter through and through.

"Apart from Japan, Uruguay [versus Fiji] was my favourite, that was a great game," he told Newshub.

You won’t miss him on the coverage either - his huge following has seen World Rugby create the hashtag #BakSansBack, making it their mission at every game to track him down in the crowd.

Finishing off her latest jersey artwork, Rika paints 'Kia Kaha', in place of the number on his back. 

He's missed only one game in his World Cup journey, due to the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis, which cancelled the England v France pool match. 

Japan are hoping they'll make even more history in their quarterfinal against South Africa on Sunday night.

Bak-san's hoping Rika will have the painful task of painting the red-and-white hoops for the rest of the finals.

Join us this weekend for full coverage of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Newshub.