The Courier introduces the Vancouverites who are devoted to the World Cup and following their national team from afar in coffee shops on Commercial Drive, pubs in Strathcona and convenience stores on Robson Street.
The attached schedule is set to Vancouver time.
* * *
A convenience store on Robson Street between Bute and Jervis streets is known for its extensive selection of pocky. And for the next four weeks during the World Cup in Brazil, Kobiniya will also open its second storey to as many as 200 fans of Japan’s national side.
Marie Harada lived in Tokyo during the 2002 World Cup the country co-hosted with South Korea when Japan advanced to the second round but was eliminated 1-0 by Turkey. She worked with Life Vancouver, a Japanese-language online news source, to organize the public viewings in a spacious room that once hosted mah jong games and karaoke nights but has since sat empty for years.
In advance of Japan’s game against Greece on June 19, Harada told us what it means to be a fan of the Blue Samurai.
* * *
What does the typical Japanese fan drink?
MH: Beer mostly. Kirin. Kirin sponsors the Japanese Football Association and they sell bottles with players’ photos on them.
What is the best World Cup goal scored by Japan?
MH: The best goal scored by Japan was by Takayuki Suzuki against Belgium in 2002. Belgium scored first, and this was the second time Japan played in the World Cup and they weren’t very good back then.
In that game, Suzuki scored […] and made the Japanese team have more faith in themselves and the fans to have faith in their team. The game ended in a draw. But until then, Japan hadn’t gotten any game points in the World Cup.
Who is your favourite player?
MH: Shinji Okazaki. He plays for German team, FSV Mainz 05. He scored the most for the Japanese team last year. I hope he can score at least one goal for each World Cup game this year.
What is your favourite World Cup memory?
MH: At the 2002 World Cup in Japan, I was still in school but I went to see a practice of the Cameroon team at the stadiums. It was the first time that I saw professional soccer players and I couldn’t believe how fast they were when you see them live.
If not Japan, who will win?
MH: I would say Brazil. I know they have a lot of pressure because they’re hosting the game in their country and they haven’t won the cup when they hosted before. I think they really prepared.
