AJET Connect MAY 2014

SPORTSEDITORIALTHIS MONTHIN SPORTS...SPOTLIGHT46 47Why You Should Watch the World CupChances are that over the next few months you’ll be asked foryour opinion about the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The tournament,which is being hosted in Brazil, doesn’t start until June 12 th ,but I’ve already been asked for my opinion on how well bothEngland and Japan will do, and who’s likely to win the final. Withthis in mind, I believe that, as JET, there’s a lot to be gained fromtuning in to watch the World Cup this summer.There’s been a massive increase in the popularity of footballwithin Japan over the last twenty year. Woking as an ALT, I’veseen some of the positive effects of this international sport’spopularity. The presence of Japanese players within high-profileforeign teams has meant that some of my football-obsessedstudents have a greater interest in certain foreign cities—usuallyManchester and Milan—and more motivation to study Englishso that they can play football for a foreign team, like currentAC Milan player, Keisuke Honda, whom they’ve seen speaking inEnglish at press conferences.I’ve tried to incorporate the sport into classes, partly throughconversations with students about their favorite foreign teamsand by using English Premier League football stickers as areward for hard work. Football hasn’t just been useful for gettingstudents to learn English though. Teachers in the staffroomand Japanese people who I meet outside of work often wantto talk to me about the sport. I’ve also played in local footballtournaments and been to watch J1 League games with my coworkers,and, when I first arrived in Japan, I found that playing inlocal ‘futsal’ matches was a great way to meet people.I believe that this summer’s World Cup also represents a greatopportunity to engage with students, colleagues and people inthe local community. As the United States, Australia and Englandhave all qualified for this year’s tournament, many JETs will findthere are good opportunities to talk about their home country.At school, it might be beneficial to mention the tournament inclasses, or at least, talk with the more football-obsessed studentsabout it during lunch breaks. Outside of work, following thetournament from Japan should be hugely entertaining as wellas a great opportunity to promote internationalisation by mixingwith local people who are likely to be interested in how wellyour national team’s doing. I recommend making the effort toview at least one game locally if there’s a venue, like a sportsbar, that’s showing the tournament near where you live. At least,that’s what I’m planning to do anyway.CONNECTIt’s the last sports section for a couple of months, but thankfullywe’re going out on a high. First up, we have a fantasticintroduction to Japanese baseball written by Kagoshima JETAdam Carter.Adam, who recently saw the Fukuoka Hawks play at the YahooDome, briefly explains how baseball arrived in Japan and why it’sproved so popular. He also provides a fascinating insight into thehistory and cultural significance of Japanese baseball’s cheeringgroups, known as ‘oendan’, and reflects on some of the ritualsfavoured by Japanese baseball fans. Having attended countlessbaseball games in the States, he also notes some of the ways inwhich the conduct of Japanese fans and players differ from thoseof their American counterparts.Next up, we have an article for anybody who is planning onwatching this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Akita JET JonathonMorris’ article begins with an overview of the tournament’sstructure. He then looks at Japan’s chances of success anddescribes the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents inthe scheduled group matches. Check it out!Nicole ‘Doughnut’ Moore, Wilderness Rugby PlayerHaving worked like a dog (drinking, training, drinking, rugby,drinking, and sometimes studying) at University, Doughnut leftwith a degree, two seasons as Captain, two international toursfor the Philippine National Squad and an ankle dislocation. Butthat wouldn’t stop her love for the game!Occasionally seen in the wilds of the inaka, ‘running’ with a rugbyball like a crazy person, Doughnut is surviving in a women’srugby-free environment. She arrived excited for the 2019 WorldCup and discovered a nearby rugby stadium. However, it’s onlyused at 9:30am on Saturdays by 9 year olds and women’s rugbyis nowhere within commutable reach. After ordering an overpricedrugby ball from amazon.co.jp and cuddling it to sleep fora week, she recovered from the shock and built a home gym. Shekeeps to a diet of free weights and cardio on weekdays, a ‘real’gym in Tottori on the weekends for Olympic lifting and annoyingher students by joining in with as many of their sports activitiesas she’s allowed.After chilling in the sun at Tokyo Sevens (and running into theJapanese women’s team), she’s now back to training hard for atournament in the Philippines in June!CONNECTMay Issue 2014 May Issue 2014