Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

Note on the Game of Football
The game of football is in great favour at the Japanese Court. The days
on which it takes place are carefully noted in the "Daijôkwan Nishi," or
Government Gazette. On the 25th of February, 1869, for instance, we find
two entries: "The Emperor wrote characters of good omen," and "The
game of football was played at the palace." The game was first introduced
from China in the year of the Empress Kôkiyoku, in the middle of
the seventh century. The Emperor Mommu, who reigned at the end of
the same century, was the first emperor who took part in the sport. His
Majesty Toba the Second became very expert at it, as also did the noble
Asukai Chiujo, and from that time a sort of football club was formed at
the palace. During the days of the extreme poverty of the Mikado and his
Court, the Asukai family, notwithstanding their high rank, were wont to
eke out their scanty income by giving lessons in the art of playing
football.
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