And as you may well be aware, things have been getting a bit wild in South Africa recently!
Last night, I was having a drink with my best friend Shinya Shirasu in the Ginza district of central Tokyo. At exactly half past eight Tokyo time, I disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared with a different kind of T-shirt. It was a replica for team Japan at the world cup. It was the kick-off time for the big game.
With much preparation and anticipation we followed the game closely. I love the whole atmosphere of the matches in this particular world cup. The never-ending sound of the vuvuzelas are music to my ears. It somehow reminds me of the beautiful landscape that Petrusa has been telling me. Things resonate. making connections.
Sadly, Japan lost to the Netherlands by 0 to 1, but we had fun. We shouted abuses and obscenities from time to time. What are the world cup matches for without some manifestations of the wild spirit?
As the party went on, the situation became more chaotic and haphazard and culminated in something like this, a photo taken from one of our earlier parties.
The take home message: Become friends and embrace each other, people of the world! This marvelous world cup in Petrusa's country is a very good opportunity.
Demonstrators of the get-together spirit. (From left) Masanobu Ikeda, Shinya Shirasu, and myself.
4 comments:
I suppose Petrusa-san's country is now full of famous players and cheering fans from many countries.
strength, strategy,and pride!
All of them are beautiful!
Dear Mogi sensei,
Dear Petrusa,
What a wonderful thing to have kept corresponding to each ohter for such a long period of time!
It has been a "history" of a time for both countries, and for the world.
I had a pen friend in the U.S. in my teens as well, I remember it was in the autumn of 1977 when I first received her letter. It was a fresh shock to know the very much casual American way of writing a letter to "scribble down" on the piece of paper torn apart from a school notebook! I was very clumsy at writing in English, and had to spend hours to finish just one page.
It is really a shame our corresponding lasted just for a few years because of this and that.
Only the fluffy teddy bear for a Christmas gift from her survived till now, having being used by three of my children when they were small.
So I wish you both to keep this marvelous relationship even longer years to come!
P.S. I missed the football match as I had to practise and prepare for the coming sports festival at our school with my pupils.(Actually the children were also complaining because if it were a German shool, the school day would have been definitely off!)
Dear:Mr.Mogi
I've read about your African friends in your book "Now,from here to everywhere".
It is so good chance of feeling to watch the world cup with all over the world people together.
Anyway I learned from Mr.Shirasu's talking, but I want to cheer Japan or countries like Japan. I want to imagine to see that Japan can win someday versus Nether lands in future, I think.
Ah! and indeed my country is all agog with soccer at the moment. We are a bit overwhelmed by all the huge soccer celebrities in our midst. There are flags everywhere. Even in our office there is lots of flags (from every participating country) hanging from the ceiling. Colleagues show up at work wearing supporter t-shirts for their favourite teams. Of course most t-shirts are green/yellow since most are Bafana-bafana supporters. However, average South Africans tend to be quite big hearted and it is not strange to see a Sotho colleague wearing a Germany supporter t-shirt on the day that Germany is playing – or a Xhosa colleague with an Italy t-shirt. Needless to say, that is only on days when Bafana-bafana is not playing.
Oh, don’t be sad because Japan did not win that match. The world cup is not all about winning. I am glad you enjoyed the game regardless. There is a peculiar atmosphere in the country at the moment. Even people who did not know the rules of the game before, are now avidly following the action. Old ladies are talking soccer over tea and kids are imitating their soccer heroes on the playground. There is an overall feeling of Welcome-to-our-beautiful-country. Have fun! There is some bad stuff as well, but the good stuff is overshadowing all that. Furthermore, in Cape Town (and the rest of the country) people have seen lots of improvements (especially with regards to public transport and sport facilities) that will still be there long after the world cup is over.
…and oh yes, vuvuzelas make a very loud noise. On TV the sound is manipulated a bit so that the commentator can be heard. In the stadium, it is deafening. There are not really words for it. I shall not be surprised if vuvuzelas get banned. But in the meantime we merrily blow them.
:-)
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