Arigatō, Nihon

From Japan-Senegal. This photo exemplifies the spirit.

[you can click all photos to enlarge]

This isn’t a music post, per se, but it’s about something that, I believe, really rocks.

In yesterday’s World Cup match, Japan blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Belgium. Now, I haven’t been able to watch every game, but I saw some of Japan’s match against Senegal when my Dad and I were in a pub in Toronto recently, and I’ve been watching all the highlights, and I have to say that I think the Japanese side has played brilliant, straight-up football. They kept their composure and they played damn well.

I try to teach my son about sportsmanship in his own soccer (football) dealings, to always play clean and fair, to always be the one working hard and listening and doing the right thing. And he does it, he’s well-respected in his league. To further this effort, I’ve told him what happened after Japan’s loss, as an exemplary show of sportsmanship. He thought this was awesome. As did I.

 

The Japanese fans came prepared and, despite the loss, cleaned up garbage from the stands. If I’m not mistaken they did this after every game.

 

 

 

 

 

The players all respectfully bowed before leaving the field.

 

 

 

 

The Japanese locker room was left spotless by the team, tidied and mopped and squared away. The team also left a simple note, in Russian, on the counter in the locker room. It said THANK YOU.

 

 

 

Total class. 

Thank YOU, Japan. You are an example of dignity for us all.