Thousands of spectators, including some affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the region, gathered for the opening of a new rugby stadium in Kamaishi on Sunday hoping that the northeastern Japan city's hosting of World Cup games next year will help speed up the post-disaster recovery.

The facility, the only stadium newly constructed for the World Cup among the 12 venues, was built on a riverside lot in the Unosumai area where most buildings were washed away and two public schools were heavily damaged in the disaster seven years ago.

Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium has a seating capacity of 6,000 and will host two games -- one between Fiji and Uruguay on Sept. 25, 2019, and the other between Namibia and the repechage winner that Oct. 13. Japan will host the sport's World Cup for the first time.

Officials in the city in Iwate Prefecture said temporary stands will be built before the World Cup so the stadium can accommodate 16,000 spectators.

Kamaishi Mayor Takenori Noda told reporters, "We want to express our gratitude in hosting the World Cup for all the help Kamaishi received from all over the world on behalf of all areas affected by the disaster."

Looking back to when some residents showed tepid reactions toward a World Cup bid as they had difficulties securing temporary housing, Noda said, "We could not even think of such a thing at that time, but it is great to see it happen."

"I am happy to see this happen," Naoki Ogasawara, a 31-year-old pharmacist in Kamaishi, said.

"We need to create something symbolizing the reconstruction of Iwate Prefecture and I hope this new stadium will be one," Ogasawara said.

Yoshiro Mori, a former prime minister who serves as honorary chairman of the Japan Rugby Football Union, told the audience that at first it seemed unusual for any city that does not have a big stadium with a seating capacity of 30,000 or 50,000 to host a World Cup game.

Kamaishi is much smaller than the 11 other hosts in Japan in terms of population and the size of the economy, but it used to be known as rugby town in Japan. The now-defunct side of Nippon Steel Kamaishi Works won the annual national championship for an unprecedented seven years in a row until 1985.

(Spectators observe a moment of silence for victims of the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster)

Earnest promotional activities aimed at helping Kamaishi recover from the quake-tsunami disaster prompted the organizers to pick the small town far from urban areas, Mori said.

"I believe many not only in Japan but other areas in the world watched Kamaishi's kickoff. I want to say thank you," Mori said.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said, "The stadium stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of Kamaishi."

The stadium "will act as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come, providing an important legacy for the future of this region of Japan that has rugby at its heart," he said.

The estimated building cost of 3.9 billion yen ($35 million) was largely covered by central government subsidies. The total amount is expected to grow to expand the bleachers.

Following a decades-old tradition among rugby fans in the Pacific fishing town, supporters of local side Kamaishi Seawaves flew big catch flags ahead of a preseason friendly against Yamaha Jubilo at the stadium.

The stadium contains a playing field with a "hybrid" lawn that has a stronger grip than normal grass, according to the city office.

Planted on special turf that includes glass fiber, the lawn's roots engage with the artificial texture underground so players can grip more firmly, according to Nihon Field System Corp., which installed the French system called AirFibr in the Kamaishi stadium.

The stadium's permanent seats are made either from locally grown cedar wood or are recycled seats from Kumamoto Prefecture Athletic Stadium, the old National Stadium in Tokyo or Tokyo Dome.

A concert featuring singer Ayaka Hirahara and students from one of the damaged schools, Kamaishi East Junior High School, entertained the spectators.

Kamaishi had an estimated population of 39,400 before the quake. A total of 1,064 residents died in the March 11, 2011, disaster, according to the city office.

The city announced in July 2014 it would try to host World Cup matches even before details of a plan to build a stadium had been discussed.

The organizers of the World Cup picked Kamaishi as a host city in March 2015.

(Ayumu Goromaru, center, who played for Japan in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and junior high school students pose for a photo)