Japan

Country snapshot

An island chain east of the Korean Peninsula, Japan is a nation of 127 million people known for their hard work ethic and ancient cultural traditions.

Japan consists mostly of rugged and mountainous terrain, with many dormant and some active volcanoes. It experiences about 1500 seismic occurrences (earthquakes) a year, prompting the buildings to be constructed with an earthquake-resistant design enabling them to move without damaging their structure.

Famous for: earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons, origami, flower arranging, tea ceremonies, bonsai, sumo wrestling, motor vehicles, electronic equipment, kimonos, Mt Fuji, calligraphy, extreme game shows, vending machines that sell it all.

National jumper

White with a red diagonal stripe.

Australian football history

Australian football first surfaced in Japan when Carlton and Hawthorn played a VFL exhibition match at Yokohama stadium in 1986. Hawthorn and Essendon returned for another match in 1987.

University, graduate and expatriate sides as well as a local team in Osaka were established to play curtain raisers ahead of the exhibition matches.

Over the next five years, Japan spread its wings and competed in Darwin’s precursor to the International Cup, the Arafura Games, competing in a combined side with Singapore in 1995.

Japan fielded its first national team at the 1997 Arafura Games.

The Japan Australian Football League has six teams, with the competition evolving rapidly since Japanese players Michito Sakaki and Tsuyoshi Kase trained with Essendon in the 2007 pre-season.

Japan’s international exchange players have taken their skills offshore and are now teaching footy at clinics and training sessions in schools and universities.

Japan’s Mr Football

Japan Australian Football League president Hideki Miyasaka is ‘the man’ when it comes to footy in Japan. He loves footy and works tirelessly in its promotion and development.

Secret weapon

Is it Hayata Ono, a player on scholarship with Victorian Amateur Football Association side, Box Hill North? A seven-week stint with the club until September 21 should have the 18-year-old in tip-top shape for the International Cup.

Or is it Samurais coach Richard Laidler? Laids has already produced some fine football talent in the form of son, Jeremy, who was rookie-drafted to Geelong in 2007. Will Japan be his second rising son?

Speculate we must, as the Samurais are giving nothing away. They say their spirit and speed will hold them in good stead, but it’s what they won’t say that is likely to be their greatest asset.

Hardest thing about playing football in Japan

Wide, open spaces are something that inhabitants of the sunburnt country take for granted. In Australia, there seems to be a footy ground on every corner. But in Japan, space is at a premium, so it can be difficult just finding some grass for training.

Japanese are naturals at footy because ...

Anyone who’s seen those crazy Japanese game shows knows people over there will give anything a crack. If the Samurais approach their footy with the same enthusiasm and abandonment as the contestants on these shows, we could be in for one wacky ride.

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