Journal of Digital Life 2024,4,2

ArticleClarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French
flair rugby
Koh Sasaki1*, Mitsuyuki Nakayama 2, Eiji Kutsuki 2, Kensuke Iwabuchi2, Takumi Yamamoto 3, Ichiro Watanabe 4,
Hironobu Shimozono 5, Jun Murakami5, Takashi Katsuta6, Takuo Furukawa7, Ichiro Kono 7
1

Research center for health, physical fitness and sports, Nagoya University, 1 Furo, Chikusa -ku, Nagoya-city, Aichi, 466-0814, Japan
National Team & High-Performance Division, Japanese Rugby Football Union, 2-8-35 Kita-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0061, Japan3
Department of Physical Education, National Defense Academy, 1-10-20 Hashirimizu, Yokosuka-city, Kanagawa, 239-8686, Japan
4
Faculty of Liberal Art, Tokyo City University, 1-28-1 Tamazutsumi, Srts, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 158-8557, Japan
5
Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, 8-9-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan
6
Department of Sport & Leisure Management, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka-city, Kanagawa, 259-1292, Japan
7
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki, 305-8557, Japan
2

Abstract
This study aimed that open rugby, known as flair rugby, drives the modern game by analyzing the 2022-2023
international test matches of France representative team. We examined the superiority of a spatial tactic called
French flair rugby. First, the advantage of creating a relatively large number of networks was demonstrated. From
the transitivity analysis of the network (CUG test; Conditional Uniform Graph test), the cooperation occurs at a higher
level than in other networks. The network graph structure showed which players functioned centrally at which timeof match as unusual positions, i.e., multi-position and multi-skill. In this study, we operationally defined thisdiversity as the sum of the standardized eigenvector centralities. We found that the increase in the time -series
score balance tended to reduce and sharpened the diversity. As a result of examining a scale-free model in network
theory, Sharpening the diversity (central and transitive role players) tended of the network power law scaling.
Keywords: Rugby, Flair, Network centrality, Power law, exponential value.
1. Introduction
This study aimed that open rugby, known as flair rugby, would drive the modern game by analyzing the 2022-2023
international test matches of France representative team. Since the opening in 1995, collision rugby has become
mainstream. Republic of South Africa team took advantage of it and won Rugby World Cup 2019 and 2023, total
fourth world top title. These intensive breakdowns are a hallmark of modern rugby. On the other hand, the increase
in intensity has lost the characteristics of creative rugby which explores space, bonds with teammate and seeks toscore. Instead of breakdown rugby, we should rethink rugby where we find opened space and avoid collisions.
Therefore, this study focuses on the 2022-2023 games of French Flair, which advocate the open rugby.
As a background to the introduction of flair rugby, we summarize the transition of technical development inmodern rugby. In the early 1950s, the game of modern rugby was raised from republic of South Africa, and thecreation of appropriate technical opportunities, such as "prevention of dangerous plays," "promotion of unfolded
play" (Craven, 1952). So-called three Ps of technical analysis principles, "space position," "ball possession," and"pace of time control," were introduced by New Zealand in the 1960s (Saxton, 1960). As more practical strategy,
the concept of "making pressure in offense and defense" (Jones, 1972) and the momentum space strategy, which
considered by the relativity of the power relationship, began to be systematically discussed in the late 70s fromthe United Kingdom (Greenwood, 2003).
A rational attack facing to the defense were categorized from French in the 80s: "Vertical thrust (running) in areas
where the line defense is thin, horizontal deployment when thick and dense, and kicks behind the defense line whenboth are dense" (Deleplace, 1979). In addition, the tactical psychology for development games in which challenge
Received: 17 February 2024, Revised: 1 April 2024, Accepted: 27 May 2024, Published: 20 June 2024
* Correspondence: sasakikoh@htc.nagoya-u.ac.jp
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1Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.
multiple positions, i.e., multiple plays, by creative decision making were also proposed in France (Villepreux, 1979:
Boutier, 2007). Since the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour, pod attacks have been circulating (Benett and Thomas,
2003). The idea is to attack the week zone of the four weakly defended divisions (initially 2 pods) with attacking thedispersed forwards. However, the week zone would be based on collision rugby. As defensive tactics have evolved,
creative decision making and run-kick techniques have also been devised, some of which are based on French rugby(Jones, 2020; Sasaki et al, 2022: Benett and Thomas, 2003). In this way, the essence of rugby skill is "to make fulluse of wisdom in unfolded play, to (1) produce free players, (2) keep posse ssion of the ball, and (3) accept somecollisions" (Boutier, 2007). And at the end of the art, which is the result of a self -sacrificing effort and lasting
contribution, there is a magnificent method of scoring that is unique to rugby: the "infinite goal". If the two verticallines of the H-pole are correctly parallel, then a theoretically infinite scoring space would be opened between two
straight lines that "never intersect" (Boutier 2007). During the collision and increasing intensity of rugby, there
would be a justification for prioritizing the safety of players and positioning flares as a uniquely refined skill inrugby.
Network analysis has been developed in the field of communication network studies (Sasaki et al.,2020). A
network has a structure comprising of vertexes and edges. Additionally, if there is a relationship that arises
between vertexes, an edge line is drawn. Some typical network studies were flourished in the period from 1960
to 1970 like as “small world phenomenon”, “the strength of weak ties” and “scale-free network.” The third one
bases on mathematical developing models associated with networks where some specific small portions of people
are connected to many vertexes. Sociological approaches such as thes e are widely utilized for the construction ofpredictive models for big data analysis in the field of information technology and for cerebral functions in biology(Junker & Schreiber, 2008; Sanz-Leon, Knock, Spiegler, & Jirsa, 2015; Suzuki, 2017). Furthermore, the direct
relationship between network structures and performance in team sports is also discussed, which involves
strategic and tactical decision-making in a competitive situation (Duch, Waitzman, & Amaral, 2010; Passos et al.,2010; Yamamoto & Yokoyama, 2011). We have continued some network centrality studies about the offensive
and defensive tactics of rugby (Sasaki et al, 2017: 2022a ), serious injuries in adolescence (Sasaki et al, 2020),
and repeated serious injuries in girls (Sasaki et al, 2022b). Network centrality would help to clarify someorganization’s essences like decision-making, strategic functions, and problem solving.
The study is limited to flair rugby in France. Therefore, the perspective of comparing the tactics of various teams
would exceed the limits of this study and would be an issue for the future. There would be two types of analysis forteam tactics: cross-sectional comparisons between organizations and longitudinal comparisons within organizations.
The former would be a way of thinking that limits a certain point in time, expands the space, and considers the different
characteristics between organizations. The latter would be a way of thinking that considers time-series changes in an
organization by determining the space. This study would be the latter. However, in the future, to grasp both
perspectives in an integrated manner, network analysis would be useful because of the accumulation of practicalresearch, and we try the latest method in this study for dedication to promote the essential open rugby.
2. Methods
In a normal positional setup, the first pass from the set play (scrum or lineout) and breakdown is received by the flyhalf. Flair is characterized by a variety of developmental plays, in which full -backs, scrum-halves, and center threequarter backs are substituted for their positions. It is called multi-position and multi-skill. Counting the number ofpasses which contributed to try score, the network data are organized in an adjacency matrix.
In the forward positions, three players in the first row are FR (front row), two in the second row are LO (lock),
three in the third row are BR (back row). In the backs positions, number 9 means SH (scrum -half), 10 means FH(fly-half), and 12 and 13 are CTB (center three quarter backs), 11 and 14 are WTB (wing three quarter back), and
15 is FB (full back). All collaborations in these positions are counted. However, the SH pass from the breakdown
was omitted because it is redundant information. In this study, we first examine whether the difference in thenumber of try contribution networks would be related to the winning or losing (score balance).
Multi-position networks to the try by unfolded play (including the different position players to FH, CTB position)
were integrated at the team level (ρ). (Duch, Waitzman, & Amaral, 2010: Sasaki et al., 2017).
ρ A （“A” team performance）<ρ A > n ≡ 1/n ∑𝑛𝑖=1 ρ i A
Where ρ 1 A > ρ 2 A ….
These are calculated as the inter-team performance.
δ n ≡ | <ρ A > n － <ρ B> n |,The hypothesis is these to be the indices of winning. To validate this hypothesis, we categorized these indices

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Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.
into team performance that resulted in actual match wins or loses; this helped us determine the distribution of
conditional probabilities of the results.
P (δ n |outcome),
Here, the outcomes are ∈ {“Win”, “Lose”}. Figure 1 shows the cumulative distribution of δ 2 for these twooutcomes. It explains that teams with higher δ 2 evidently contributed to wins.
We set the following to assess the significance of the results.
∞
𝛥𝑛 outcome1,outcome2 ≡ ∫0 𝑑𝛿𝑛𝛿𝑛(𝑃(𝛿𝑛|𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒1) − 𝑃 (𝛿𝑛|𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒2))
As mentioned in the introduction, network analysis has accumulated many rational results as a method to clarify thecooperation dynamics within an organization. It could help to clarify the essence of an organization, including strategic
and tactical decision-making functions in the complex competitive situations of the games. Next, we conduct astatistical study of the transitivity of the network. If the three vertices are connected to each other, then this relationsh ip
is transitive. Transitivity is a measure of how many transitive “three vertices” in a network. The reason for the threepoints is that the flair linkage is connected by two or more passes from set pieces or breakdowns, i.e. three or more
players. We would clarify whether this flair pass network has a higher transitivity value than oth er normal networks.
The CUG test (Conditional Uniform Graph test) examines the transitivity distribution through a Monte Carlosimulation in which many directed graphs are randomly generated under the condition that the size (number of vertices)and density of the network are the same. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are defined as follows.
accuracy = (true positive + true negative) / allsensitivity=TP (true positive) / (TP (true positive) + FN(false negative))
specificity = TN(true negative ) / (FP(false positive) + TN(true negative))
Here, we examine network centricity analysis to clarify who is the central role in the network. We used eigenvector(C e ) centrality which is directly dependent on the centrality values of connected neighbors. If these neighbors have ahigh centrality value, the vertex under consideration is expected to have a high centrality (Junker & Schreiber,
2008: Sasaki et al., 2017). For a given graph G: = (V, E) with |V| vertices and |E| edges, let (A = a ij ) be theadjacency matrix. The centrality score of vertexes 𝑣 can be defined as:
𝐶𝒆 (𝑣) =1
𝜆∑𝑛𝑗=1 𝑎𝑖𝑗 𝑐𝑖 (t)λCe = AC e (λ is a scalar)

Finally, we use a centricity to explore how diversity changes. The diversity is operationally defined as the total valueof the standardized eigenvector centrality. As the total value increases, so does the diversity.
3. Results
We attempted the Monte Carlo methods with bootstrap hypothesis testing to assess Δ 2 outcome1,outcome2 (Wan, 2011).
The values of δ 2 from 20 international matches of France in 2022 -2023 were pooled, and the surrogate random
samples from the pooled data were drawn, with replacement. “Win” and “Lose” samples were drawn with 16 and4 data points, respectively. The difference in means of the two surrogate samples was then determined. This
procedure was repeated 50,000 times to determine the significance of the observed Δ 2 Win, Loss . A strongly
significant difference in mean δ 2 was found between the “Win” and “Lose” outcomes (bootstrapping p value<0.01).
The value δ 2 was possibly valid as an objective index of performance of flair network passes. Furthermore, totest the precision of sensitivity and specificity of δ 2 , we analyzed the receiver–operator curve (ROC). In relation
to all the varying values of δ 2 that are quantified values of network passes, we calculated the fraction in the “Win”
and “Lose” groups. It was founded that highest correct diagnosis rate of 93.8% was achieved at 100 % sensitivity
and 0% specificity, with a cut-off value of 2 (Figure1, blue bot line). The above procedures were followed by
Duch’s approach (2010).
The results showed that the relatively large number of flair network pass/kick contributed to the winning. Next, we
conducted a statistical study of the transitivity of the network. If the three vertices i, j and k are connected to eachother, then this relationship is called transitive. Transitivity measures how many transitive three vertices in a network.

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Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.

Figure1. Cumulative distribution of δ 2 for matches where the team with highest performance wins or los e
We would clarify whether this flair pass network has a higher transitivity value than other networks in general. The
CUG (Conditional Uniform Graph) test examines the transitive distribution through a Monte Carlo simulation that
randomly generates many directed graphs, provided by the condition of the size (number of vertices) and density of
the network are the same. 1,000 trials were performed with a network density set to the probability of an edge being
drawn between vertices. From the obtained transitivity distribution, it could be explained whether the transitivity isgreater than the observed value. The histogram of this distribution was compared to the observed transitive positions(Figure 2, red line). The graph showed that the transitivity of the flair path network (0.74) was a sufficiently large
value compared to random networks (Suzuki, 2017).

Figure 2. Estimated transitivity probability density distribution
From here, we attempted to find the accuracy of the correct examination rate. The highest accuracy rate of
93.75% was achieved by the cutoff value 2 (Fig. 1, blue dotted line).
We revealed that the network has a high transitivity (three-position bond). Next step, we would examine the network
centrality to clarify who is the central role of the network. Centrality is a major focus in network analysis, as it shows
which individuals occupy critical positions in the network.
The figure 3 shows the position chain structure involved in all French flair attacking tries using a network
dynamics approach. A calculation method is used in which positions with a high degree of contribution are
positioned as the center, and the distance between each factor and the linkage line does not overlap as much as
possible is used (Sasaki et al., 2022). It could contribute to understand the flair structure in which SH (9), FH(10) and FB (10) play a central role in the passing/kicking network and their own try-contributing functions(Figure 3, Table 2).

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Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.
Here, the diversity index is operationally defined as the total position value of the standardized eigenvector
centrality. That means, as the total value increases, the diversity also increases. Conversely, decrease in the total
value means a decrease in diversity. Then, we tracked the transformation structure in the process of accumulating
try scores balance over time. As a result, the structure of the inverse correlation trend was verified (r = - 0.61, t= 1.81, p<0.10). In other words, as the cumulative try score increased, the tendency of the core players ofcooperative play, which was initially diverse, to become sharper (Figure 4).

Figure 3. Position-to-position pass/kick network that contribute to a try led by multi-positioned open play
(pass;1-4, 5-8,≧9, kick pass
, A:game time 0-20 min. B: 20-40 min. C: 4060 min. D: 60-80 min. Filled ellipse: standardized eigenvector centralities backs positions; ≧ 0.5)

Figure 4. Inverse correlation trend between the timeseries try-score balance by flair rugby (blue curveline; approximate curve, blue dot line, standardized
try-score balance) and the sharpened network
diversity (red line; approximate curve, red dot line,
standardized diversity index points)

Figure 5. Distribution of sharpened flair network
diversity according to the accumulation of try scoresbalance. The horizontal axis shows the chronologicalaccumulation of standardized try scores. The verticalaxis shows a standardized multi-position diversity.

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Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.
Table 2: Standardized Network Centrality of Each
Position (FR; front row ‘1-3’, LO second low ‘4-5’, BR;
Back low ‘6-8’, ‘9’; Scrum-half, ’10’; Fly-half, ’11’; Left
Wong, ’12’; Inside center, ’13’; Outside center, ’14’;
Right wing, ’15’; Full back)

Table 1. France 2022-23 Game Overview(Accumulated score balance, standardized
Accumulated score balance, diversity Index, and γ)

The sharpening of central role players in the time series was seen by the network power law scaling. The horizontal
axis of the figure 5 shows the cumulative try score balance (logarithmic), and the vertical axis shows the diversity
which means the variation of transitive and central role players (logarithmic). The sharpening of these players suggests
the existence of hubs as a transitive central group in a scale-free network (Figure 5, Table 1, 2).
Many natural networks contain several nodes, called hubs, and have more connections than the average node. In thistype of network, called a scale-free network, the percentage of nodes with edges decreases according to the powerlaw. The self-organization of networks often coincides with the emergence of a power law distribution. The diversityof try-scoring contributors diminishes as the accumulated scoring over time. If the former is p(k), then k -γ follows
the power low scale.
p (k)∝k - γ∝ shows proportionality. γ means the exponential value which is constants varying depending on the type of
network (Suzuki, 2017). The γ of the French Flare is “ γ = 1.86 ± 0.8” near the range of common values (2<γ<3)
which occur in many real world scale free networks (Yamanoto and Yokoyama, 2011: Fujimoto et al., 2023).
“Growth” and “preferential attachment” are the two basic mechanisms of scale -free. Growth of the organizational
network and the diversity of connections (passes, kicks) between players are a model that explains thecharacteristics of prioritizing the combination with better, limited human resources over time.
4. Discussion
The relative high number of flair network passes/kicks contributed to the win. In other words, expanding network
has an impact on the game score balance structure. FB (15) and other positions were substituted in the FH(10),and SH(9)/FH(10) who had passed the ball once received the ball again and developed to gain spatial advantage.
The French Flair's chronological increase in try scoring would be due to its reliance on multi -position and multiskill of SH(9), FH(10), and FB(15). However, it would be due to a variety of kicking and passing abilities andexpanding network skills such as looping punt kicks which he reacquires as a hub that includes players in othertransitive positions (e.g., a new three-players linkage). (Fig. 3)
It should be noted that although the process would be sharpened in human resources (decreasing the diversity),
the structure of play could be more complex creativity with various passes and kicks in the second half comparedto the first half. This might be explained by the characteristic of biological networks, in which the index value isrelatively small (γ<1), i.e., even if the network does not expand, it could continue to ex ist by rewiring within alimited organization (Piva et al., 2021)
As rugby games become more intense and faster, the advantage of multi-position/multi-skill skills by the sharpened
diverse players have been suggested. In particular, SH (9) would require more momentum and endurance than otherpositions. Offensive and defensive behavior in rugby has been undertaken as a complex system of prediction,
cognition, and behavior. The gap between 1) the opposing tackler, 2) the receiver trying to connect the pass, andCopyright: © SANKEI DIGITAL INC.

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Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.
3) the gap between the receiver and the defense facing the receiver, are judged by the ability to predict space andtime. It has been verified that as the shortened the time to close the gap, the shortened the time to make a judgment,
and the variation of attacks (distance, velocity, angle) decreases (Correia et al, 2011; Watson et al, 2011: Oppici
and Panchuk, 2022). Athletes have their own forks in the road in their judgment of space and time. From thisviewpoint, flair could be interpreted as a complex adaptive tactic that challenges precise passes, runs, and kicks
without slowing down the judgment speed of the limited moment. It would be an individual free play choiceamong many play patterns accumulated as a game experience situation (Villepleux, 1983: 2017: Vaissière, 2022:
Galtie, 2022).
There is an argument that the existence of the life force can be found by challenging the extreme situation of sucha complex system. These include dynamic equilibrium theory in biology (Fukuoka, 2009), ontological threat
management theory in business administration (Florian et al., 2002), and altruism in sociology (Sharp et al, 2020:
Giulianotti and Collison: 2020: Moyo et al, 2020).
Development the flair ability would depend on how to set up the situational judgment in space. In practice of Frenchrugby, the placement of player in the space is set in detail. In a lot of spatial situations, such as 7 -on-7, 4-on-4,
3-on-3 and 1-on-1, the passer and receiver must think independently about how to position themselves in space.
And the crucial advice is to "try to time the pass as late as possible, not too early, which will lead to the flair thatcreates more free space (Villepleux, 1983). Challenging the pass as late timing as possible means making
decisions as late timing as possible and making final decisions and passing motions as fast as possible. Sharpened
and sophisticated decision-making and speeding up of pass/kicking/move would create a new opened rugby (Formenti,
D. et al., 2021).
As mentioned at the end of the introduction, this study is limited to flair rugby in France. Therefore, the perspectiveof comparing the tactics of various teams would exceed the limits of this study. In the analysis of our study, we
performed the Monte Carlo simulation (comparison with the normal network) for identifying the specificcharacteristics of the French flair rugby; however, the obtained results from this analysis only show thedifferences from the normal network, not from the network of the non-flair rugby team. Therefore, the current
analysis could not exclude the possibility that the characteristics which we observe as unique to flair rugby canbe observed in other tactics as well. In other words, even if we analyze the "non- flair" rugby team, maybe we
can observe the difference from the normal network. We underline that the discussion the exact differences
between Flair rugby networks and non-flair rugby networks is an issue for the future. Categorizing the performanceof flair rugby, which is not limited to France, would be a key issue for the spread of open rugby.
5. Conclusion
In this study, we examined the superiority of a spatial tactic called French flair rugby. First, the advantage ofcreating a relatively large number of making networks was demonstrated. The network graph structure showedwhich players functioned centrally at which time of game in unusual positions, i.e., multi-position and multiskill, as the spatial skills. As a result of examining a scale -free model in network theory, progressing the timeseries accumulation of try score balances, the diversity of the hub s players functions the centrally role, and thehubs would become more radical and sharpened.
The central involvement in the play begins with a triangular structure of SH (9), FH (10), and FB (10), the diversityof which gradually decreases. It would be a structure that encompasses the two basic mechanisms of a scale -free
network: growth and preferential attachment. The growth of the organizational network and the diversity ofconnections (passes, kicks) between players are a model that explains the characteristics of prioritizing the
combination with better and limited human resources. However, the decrease in its diversity suggests an interesting
human behavior: a sharpening of the spatial behavior of play might create a qualitative transitivity of the human
network.
The reduction in diversity would have a benefit that key players contribute a stronger force to survive the competition.
On the other hand, it also has the disadvantage of continuing to impose a heavy burden on the players. To compensate
for this disadvantage, the players might challenge to create new and progressive diversity in their own life-force
potential.
The logic of the power law is that the key persons are centralized and converged. It is shown as a decrease in thenumber of players with high flare ability. However, time-series changing in Figure 3 showed that the number ofpassing network variations with kicks tends to increase. In other words, the two-dimensional diversity centered on

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Clarifying the Sharpened network diversity in French flair rugby
Sasaki, K, Nakayama, M., Kutsuki, E., Iwabuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Watanabe, I.,
Shimozono, H., Murakami, J., Katsuta, T., Furukawa, T., Kono, I.
passing in the first half has been transformed into a three-dimensional diversity with kicking in the second half. In
this sense, the characteristic of flair would be that the network "shrinks" in two dimensions (reduction in lateral passing
attacks), but it might be interpreted as a transformation into a three-dimensional expansion (expansion of attacks withkicks) to "sharpening". This result might be considered a new possibility of interpretation of the power law logic.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, K.S.; methodology, K.S.; software, M.N., E.K., K.I. and T.Y.; validation, K.S., M.N. E.K. andK.I.; formal analysis, K.S.; investigation, K.S., M.N., H.S., J.M. and T.F.; resources, M.N., K.I. and T.Y; data
curation, K.S.; writing—original draft preparation, K.S.; writing—review and editing, K.S.; visualization, K.S.;
supervision, K.S.; project administration, K.S., I.W., T.K., and I.K.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
All procedures used in this study were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Research Center for
Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Nagoya University.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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