The number of visitors to the religious-turned-sports shrine in central Japan has soared five-fold in recent weeks as eager fans descend on the Dainichi Nyorai statue, which has clasped hands with upward pointing index fingers touching each other -- just like Goromaru's trademark pre-kick pose.
The golden Buddha in Japan has attracted new -- and unexpected -- attention from rugby fanatics who are thronging to the statue to witness in person the hand gesture it shares with beloved World Cup hero Ayumu Goromaru.
