Soccer Fever

World Cup, soccer fever.

This is a soccer shop in Shinjuku I happened to be walking past during the America-Korea game. They have a projection TV on a screen near the door. For those of you in the States, did you even know we were playing Korea? If I were still in the States, I don’t think I would have even noticed. We tied 1-1 for those of you wondering.

I’m sure the fact that the games are being held in Japan and Korea have something to do with it, but Japan is just crazy over the World Cup. I have never really gotten excited about it in America, but then again, I rarely get excited about sports anyway.

A friend told me today that there was a show on Japanese TV that called up random places in various countries to get the feel of the soccer fever. Apparently, the show called some hotels in Spain, Argentina, Korea, and other countries, and asked questions like… “Who do you think will win today’s game?” or, “How do you think your country will do in the tournament?”.

The other countries all assumed correctly that the questions were about the World Cup, and responded accordingly. Apparently, when America was called, responses included things like, “What game?” and, “… Tournament?”

Soccer just isn’t as important to us Americans it seems. It sure is fun being in the middle of all the energy here in Japan though.

I can’t even name one player on the American soccer team… but I know of Japanese player Nakata… I think it’s impossible to live here without hearing his name… He’s like the Japanese Tiger Woods of soccer over here. I wonder if he’s as famous in other countries as well…