Earlier this week saw Japan's World Cup journey come to a climactic end in the knockout round against Belgium. After leading 2-0, Belgium brought in is subs and came back from behind in one of the most thrilling tension-filled nail-biting matches of this 2018 World Cup. Not even a late corner kick by the great Keisuke Honda could turn it around proving once a comfortable lead lost, take nothing for granted. In the end, Belgium defeated 3-2. Shortly after the game's conclusion, Keisuke Honda and Makoto Hasebe both announced their retirement from international football. And in true Japanese fashion, the players walked off the pitch knowing they gave it their all. Japanese fans cleaned their sections of the stadium and the team itself left the lockerroom spotless leaving a simple note written in Russian saying Thank you. Talk about class act! Japan has nothing to be ashamed of. They lasted longer in this cup than defending champion Germany and got further than before. There are lessons to be learned in Russia and Japan will continue to evolve as a football nation as it looks forward to the upcoming Asian Cup in 2019. We look forward to seeing the emerging stars and thrilling matches ahead for this is not the last we will hear of the Samurai Blue.
Seen here is Japan's Yuya Osako after scoring his second goal off Keisuke Honda's exhilarating corner kick in a stunning upset against a ten man Columbian squad at Mordavia Arena in Saransk, Russia. Japan will next face Poland in Group H. Congratulations Samurai Blue! がんばって 日本!
Japan's hopes for advancing to the Group of 16 were dashed today by it's defeat to Group C leader Columbia. For a moment at the 45th minute during stoppage Japan looked like they could turn it around and potentially save themselves but it was not to be. This ends Japan's 2014 World Cup Run. We hope the Samurai Blue will find a new coach and their fighting spirit for the 2018 Challenge to come. がんばれ日本!
In the end, it was a great effort with no real results. Japan failed to capitalize on Greece's deficiencies with one man out from a red card and multiple fouls by Greece. With two losses each, Japan and Greece both face elimination in this years World Cup. There is still one game left but despite having the home crowd advantage, the odds are against Japan. Ganbarre Nippon!
Honda Keisuke scored Japan's first goal at the 16th minute but the Samurai Blue failed to achieve overall ball possession for the rest of the match. Ivory Coast came back from behind in the second half and scored two back to back goals at the 64th & 66th minute. Stay Tuned!
Oh Merde! Here we go again! Last year on American Mishima we made a post about a small group of unruly fans in South Korea using the Tohoku Disaster of 3/11 as a way to get at visiting Japanese Soccer teams.For those not familiar with what goes on in Football-aka Soccer, Heckling from Soccer Supporters be it the good, the bad, and the utterly tasteless is just part Football Culture. But sometimes people go too far and a line gets crossed. Well this week in France after Japan's National Team the Samurai Blue defeated the French National Team 1-0, France 2 host Laurent Ruquier stirred that pot of controversy once again with this Photoshopped picture of Goal Keeper Eiji Kawashima calling it the "Fukushima Effect." Naturally this drew protest from both the Japanese Government and Japan's Football Federation. The France 2 host in his defense explained he was merely offering Kawashima praise. Praise or racism? We can't tell what Ruquier's real motivations were. While we don't speak anything beyond a few basic greetings learned in high school French class, chances are this didn't get many laughs over there. While no country likes to lose on their home turf, comparing a 1-0 WC Qualifier or a International "It's Not Friendly" to a tragedy on the scale of the Tohoku Disaster which killed over 20,000 people is just not cool. While this is just one man's opinion criticizing another, in fairness we will note that the French Media and that in Belgium have regarded Ruquier's actions as purely bad taste. ばか!
Cardiff Wales was the stage set for the Bronze Medal match of Men's Football that would feature Asia's fiercest football rivalry Japan versus South Korea. Fresh off their 1-3 semifinal defeat to Mexico, the Samurai Blue 23's hoped to join with Nadeshiko Japan to walk away with a medal but as with last years Women's World Cup motivation may have played a major factor. You see at the beginning of the Olympic Tournament the South Korean Government had declared that any South Korean player who won a medal would be exempted from Military Service that all men in the R.O.C. have to do before age 29. This is done largely because they live under constant threat of war from their antagonistic brothers to the north who also happen to have a nuclear armed 4th largest army in the world. Beating Japan would be a source of national pride alone but having to interrupt your football career on the account of the hermit kingdom to the north was more than enough incentive to persevere to final victory. And who could blame them? Anyway, going back to the rivalry that has it's roots to the colonial occupation by Japan would lead to heavily contested match. But it was not in Japan's U-23's stars. Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young put one in at the 38th minute and kept the pressure on until Koo Ja-Cheol sealed Japan's fate in the 56th and denied Japan from there out. With the Bronze etched with South Korea's victory, Japan had made a good run that had taken them farther than most of the world Football powerhouses of Europe. They have nothing to be ashamed of. As for South Korea, I am not sure what was the bigger prize. Beating Japan? Winning the Bronze Medal? Or being exempt from military service? Probably a little bit of all three rolled into one. So on that note we at American Mishima would like to thank the Samurai Blue U-23 team for a job well done. Perhaps next time. And for the winners, American Mishima would like to congratulate the South Korean Team on their triple victory. South Korea is now the first Asian team to take a medal since the 1960's in the sport and it is well deserved. Congratulations South Korea!
Well it was a great run leading up to this historic Olympic Match for Japan's U-23 team that would have led to the first time in Olympic history that a nation would have had both a men's and women's team compete for the gold medal. But this was not to be. After dominating the ball for the first twenty minutes with one goal in by Yuki Otsu, the Mexican team did what they are known for, seizing opportunities to score on their opponents mistakes. It was clear particularly by the second half that Mexico had the momentum to take the match as Japan's team made more critical errors leading to a 3-1 defeat to Mexico. We would have liked to seen Japan win and move onto the gold medal round but all is not lost. Japan will face regional rival South Korea for the Bronze while Mexico will face Soccer Superpower Brazil in Saturday's final match. In one sense, it is better that Japan did face this showdown with Brazil just yet. While Nadeshiko shut down Brazil's women's team, the men would have had their work cut out for them. Japan's U-23's have nothing to be ashamed of. They made it up to the Semi-finals and are still in medal contention. So we say to Japan's U-23's Ganbare kudasai! There is still one medal to be had until the next Olympics!
Japan's Men's Football Team the Samurai Blue defeated the Egyptian Team 3-0 at Old Trafford today in the Olympic quarter finals. The Samurai Blue have made it to the semi-finals for the first time in 44 years where they will face Mexico on Tuesday. We at American Mishima look forward to this match against our (USA) southern arch rival nemesis Mexico and say おめでとうございます! がんばれ 日本!
In the span of 24 hours, the Japanese Men's & Women's Teams have opened up the 2012 London Olympics with twin victories. Starting July 25th at City of Coventry Stadium, Nadeshiko Japan took on the Canadian Women's team scoring twice first by Nahomi Kawasumi in the 33rd minute and later by Aya Miyama
in the 44th minute. The final score was Japan 2-1 Canada putting the defending Women's World Cup Champions up on the leader board early for medal contention
And now for the men. Today in Glasgow Scotland, Japan's Samurai Blue once again showed the world the prowess and play of the up and coming skills of the Japanese J-League defeating odds on favorite Spain in an exhilarating fast paced game that no one could predict it's end. Spain suffering a red card and playing with ten men could not let their guard down. The battle for possession kept everyone on their toes. And then it came. Striker Yuki Otsu scored in the first
half and maintained the attack until the bitter end. Japan opened up numerous chances but ended with a 1-0 win over the 10-man Spanish squad. If you were betting on Spanish gold, today's defeat at the hand of the Samurai Blue puts this confidence shaker in a psychological place no Spaniard wants to be hurting their chances for the gold medal and the Olympics have only just started. To both Nadeshiko Japan and their male counterparts Samurai Blue, we at American Mishima say がんばれ!
2011 has been a rollercoaster year for Soccer in Japan. First being the triple tragedy in March. Then came the Victory of Nadeshiko Japan in the Women's World Cup final. But once again tragedy has returned to Japan. We are saddened to announce the passing of one of Japan's Blue Samurai Blue defenders Naoki Matsuda. It is reported that he suffered a heart attack and collapsed while training with his current team Matsumoto Yamaga FC. Matsuda was rushed to a hospital where he slipped into a coma and was pronounced dead two days later. During his career with the Japan National Team the Samurai Blue, he played 40 caps with one goal to his credit in a friendly match against Kazakhstan played in Yokohama, Japan. Matsuda's sudden death has left many grieving in the Japanese Soccer Community and a world wide outpouring of sympathy and support have been sent including one from FIFA President Sepp Blatter. We at American Mishima would also like to send Matsuda's family our most sincere condolences. Matsuda was a popular player and too young to die. Matsuda was only 34 years old.
It’s been well over a week since Japan’s most devastating series of disasters resulting from the magnitude 9 earthquake hit the Sendai area. In response to this national tragedy, Japan’s JFA J-League (Japan Football Association) had suspended all matches since the March 11th earthquake prompting many players to help in the relief efforts. While many of the leagues foreign players have left the country stars like former international and current Kashima Antlers star Mitsuo Ogasawara visited refugee shelters to encourage survivors in Ofunato and Rikuzen, IwatePrefecture. Ogasawara grew up in Iwate and wanted to help. As described from the Official JFA website this was a “heartbreaking homecoming” for Ogasawara. To quote the Kashima midfielder “I am hoping we can support those who have been forced to evacuate so they can have a more secure life and recover fully.”
Of course, for many people in the disaster zone this will not be possible as there are close to over 9000 people reported dead and still many more missing. Since then, many J-League clubs have called for donations such as Avispa Fukuoka, Urawa Reds, Kawasaki Frontale, Nagoya Grampus, and Jublio Iwata. The J-League plans to resume play on April 23rd but some second division clubs such as Mito Hollyhock may be delayed as some venues have sustained earthquake damage.
In a related move, Japan’s European based players plan to return home for a charity match between Japans’s National Team the Samurai Blue vs. a select J-League squad scheduled for March 29th at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. This match will feature Samurai Blue & CSKA star Keisuke Honda and Utsuto Uchida. This charity event will raise funds for Japan’s disaster victims. We at American Mishima would like to thank the JFA J-League for their respective clubs participation in the ongoing relief efforts. We hope their league can continue to help lift the spirits of those affected by this tragedy.
It’s official! For the fourth time in a row Japan’s National Team the Samurai Blue has taken the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar the future site of the 2022 World Cup. Japan enthralled its large numbers of supporters that flew in from Japan to watch their team sweep through past Qatar in a 3-2 victory in the quarter finals then onto an outright slugfest in the semifinal against South Korea in a 1-1 tie. Korea would go on to face Uzbekistan third place in a 3-2 victory while Japan would face Austraila in the final match to ultimately triumph over Australia’s Socceroos in a 1-0 victory in Khalifa Stadium the Asian Cup Final. Well done boys! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! To read more results from the 2011 Asian Cup please visit:
Sakamoto Ryoma has to be one of the most popular figures in Japanese history. He has been the subject of numerous historical dramas, books, films, and internet blogs. I’ve always wanted to write something about Ryoma and until I came across this photo, I could no longer resist. For those of you not familiar with Sakamoto Ryoma, he was an influential Samurai from the powerful Tosa Domain during the late Bakumatsu Period of Japan (1860’s). He is best remembered as Statesmen, Visionary, and Japan’s first JFA Soccer Star. なに? Did I just say Soccer Star? Yup! That's right! You heard it here! Japan's First International Soccer Star was none other than Sakamoto Ryoma!
なんちゃて! Ok just kidding! Ryoma was not the father of Japan's Soccer League nor did he play for the national team. In fact Futbol Soccer was not even in Japan until quite recently. But in all seriousness, I had come across the Samurai Blue website while looking for photos of Japan's national team and found this curious psuedo monument depiction of Ryoma all decked out in Samurai Blue Adidas gear at Samurai Blue Park. I about spit up my Sapporo when I first saw this photo but loved where they were going with it none the less. Samurai Blue Park is located next to National Stadium in Yoyogi Park Tokyo which was created by the Japan Football Association for the 2010 World Cup. Who knows how long the JFA will keep this open now that Japan has been eliminated from the Round of 16 in the World Cup but If you would like to see more of this park please visit the Samurai Blue’s official website at http://samuraiblue.jp/
The dramatic end came for the Samurai Blue of Japan after 120 scoreless minutes against Paraguay that concluded with the dreaded penalty shootout in where one missed goal cost them their entry into quarterfinals but not out of World Cup History.
Any way you summarize Japan's performance in this 2010 World Cup, there is absolutely no way anyone can deny that Japan who had been underrated from the start exceeded expectations even from within Japan itself. Take into consideration Japan has only been playing Futbol Soccer for just over a decade; they outperformed many of the top rated European powerhouse teams including some of which that went home in utter disgrace. This speaks volumes for Japan as a Futbol playing nation. They have come a long way in a short amount of time. Japan has absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. Top striker Keisuke Honda had been named man of the match more than once and the Samurai Blue had energized Japan into a nation of believers. Japan can hold its head up high and recognize itself as an emerging force to be reckoned with. This will certainly not be the last World Cup for Japan. Instead, the world can expect the Samurai Blue to strike harder and play to win and win they shall!
Despite much initial criticism for Japan's earlier losses in the warmup matches, Coach Takeshi Okada had taken Japan into the round of 16 and within striking range of the quarterfinals. A feat no one expected! Okada is quoted as saying: "I personally don't want to base everything on just one result or just one competition. We need to have a longer-term vision, to estimate and evaluate the level of Japanese football. We need to be aware of the journey and the path which is still ongoing." He went on to add: "This competition is a very good way to measure the level of a national team. This World Cup, for the fact we've been able to get this far, it is not only a credit for myself and my players, but also for the Futbol Soccer community of Japan as a whole. I think objectively we can say with certainty that the overall level of the Japan players now is much higher than in the past. As for how far we can go, we keep challenging and keep going forward - that's all."
To both Coach Okada and the entire Samurai Blue of Japan,
I say to you Domo Arigatou' Gozaimashite for an amazing journey that will continue on!
GO SAMURAI BLUE!
ぼんざい! ぼんざい! ぼんざい!
In a stunning upset, the underrated Blue Samurai of Japan dispatched the favored Danish team in a 3-1 victory. This exciting match saw aggressive plays from the Japanese who were in it to win it. Keisuke Honda has our vote as The Man of The Match for his relentless onslaught on the Danish defense and his two goals scored from two free kicks. But no sooner than people were writing off the Danes, they were given an opportunity with a penalty kick. Goalie Eiji Kaswashima blocked the penalty kick but the ball bounced from his hands forward and into the feet of Daniel Jensen who scored Denmark's only goal of the match. It wouldn't be long before Yasuhito Endo sealed the deal in the second half sealing the Danes fate and onto history.
I was absolutely ecstatic but I don't think there was anyone happier than Coach Takeshi Okada to watch the Japanese team come out and give it their all. Throughout the tournament, Okada appeared glum in his stiff grey suits and it reflected the then pessimistic attitudes back in Japan. But for this match we saw a much different Okada who ditched his glum grey suits for team gear and appeared heavily engaged motivating his team like he should had been doing from day one. A shift in attitude and tactics made all the difference. This newfound engagement was reflected in the team’s spectacular performance and the incredible support of the Japanese fans that came out in vast numbers. From the outset, The Blue Samurai were truly exceeding expectations particularly among people in Japan who could not foresee Japan's longevity within Group E much less the Round of 16. This 2010 FIFA world Cup has been full of surprises with many of the big European teams going home in defeat while underrated teams like that of the United States and Japan have prevailed. Japan now joins South Korea to be the second Asian team to enter the Round of Sixteen outside of their native soil. If this world cup has proved anything it is to not count Japan out yet! The Blue Samurai have found their Budodamashi and will fight hard to make Japan and the rest of their fans around the world proud.
がんばて!
"Our team has a strength that others don't have. We are truly united. We wanted to demonstrate that football is a team sport. This was our first objective (to reach the second round) so I am relieved. The players kept going until the end without losing their focus. I am proud to be with such a great bunch of players," - Takeshi Okada, Japan coach
For an outsider, Japan’s national anthem can be easily distinguished apart from anthems of other nations in both it’s origins an overall tone. If you are unfamiliar with the Kimigayo and are likely hearing it for the first time while watching the World Cup. The first thing you will notice is both its shortness and almost melancholy sound. When compared to say the proud or upbeat anthems of United States or Germany, The Japanese national anthem seems to be in another league all to its own. But this is just a first impression and not a lasting one. As I watch the Japanese National Team the Samurai Blue, I am reminded of when I stood next to a Japanese woman in San Francisco who sang the Kimigayo as it was played to honor the crew of the Kaiwo Maru last May. Up until that time I had never heard it sung before. It was sung with such emotion I was rather moved by its rendition which left me wanting to know its meaning.
So I sought ought to understand the Kimigayo’s haunting melody and in the process became drawn to its meaning. But to do this you must first understand its origin and history. The Kimigayo was based on a waka poem from the Heian period of Japan (794-1185). It became Japan’s national anthem during Emperor Meji’s reign in 1868 and used until 1945. This period from Meji to the catastrophic defeat in WWII was known as the Imperial Period. Despite calls of post-war connotations to Japanese Imperialism, it remained Japan’s national anthem. The word Kimi in Kimigayo is said to have referred to the nation’s former sovereign that being the emperor. But this has changed since the induction of what can be called the democratic period where the emperor is merely a symbol of the unity of Japan hence the Kimigayo is no longer the sole domain of it’s former sovereign, but rather it is part of it’s overall national identity of Japan itself.
The Kimigayo translated reads like this:
きみがよは Kimigayo wa May your reign
ちよにやちよに Chiyo ni yachiyo ni Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations,
さざれいしの Sazare-ishi no Until the pebbles
いわおとなりて Iwao to narite Grow into boulders
こけのむすまで Koke no musu made Lush with moss.
There are other variations as to the translation of the Kimigayo but I like this translation the most. Understanding this, I no longer hear the words of a defeated people or sadness I once misunderstood. Instead, I now feel a deep sense of pride of a most ancient honorable people who have come a long way since this was first sung in Meji’s day. Of course there will always be detractors out there who will dismiss all of this so they can argue about the Second World War. I say to them that is another argument best left out of modern sporting events and when the Rising Sun waves in the breeze. The Showa Era is over and Japan has made significant strides forward while retaining the Kimigayo. Its beauty and nobility can not be denied nor should it ever be discarded. It should continue on as the national anthem. The Kimigayo is indeed the oldest and shortest anthems in the world but for those who understand it, one of the proudest anthems that reflect both a people and a nation that will continue to flourish under the Rising Sun.
Aya Matsuura Singing The Kimigayo for the Samurai Blue
“American Mishima” is the work of Louis Rosas, the son of Mexican Immigrants, whose father served in Vietnam for the US Army and who grew up on glamorized war films and military aviation in the sleepy seaside plains of Oxnard, Calif. With an early fascination of the Second World War embedded in his young mind during the post-Vietnam era, it was his exposure to Akira Kurosawa's samurai epic Ran (Toho, 1985) that changed his views of war while creating a lasting impression of Japanese culture and history. Further inspired by the works of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima, Rosas would go on to study Japanese language and swordsmanship, which led him to the practice of Shingon Buddhism and Shinto. Rosas is also a former student of Shinkendo, the ideal and practice of the samurai code of Bushido in the modern world, which helped shape the creative force that is “American Mishima.”
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