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As a soccer fan dwelling in Tokyo the thought of going to a number of the extra far-flung Japanese stadiums may be very tough to justify by way of time and value. Nonetheless, figuring out that I’d be primarily based in Hiroshima for the August Obon vacation opened up choices to enterprise over to a neighbouring prefecture for a J2 league match mixed with a neighborhood sight or two. The selection was both Fagiano Okayama FC to the east or Renofa Yamaguchi to the west.
Neither had been notably shut and would every take round 4 hours to get to by native transport. There are greater and higher sights in Okayama however having finished lots of them earlier than I opted for Yamaguchi. A full-day could be wanted for positive as I couldn’t justify the worth of two extra Shinkansen (bullet prepare) journeys inside 24 hours of my earlier one between Tokyo and Hiroshima.
After a brief cease at a close-by onsen (sizzling spring baths) city, I made a decision to take the 30 minute stroll to the stadium, and a number of the views en-route had been superb with nature aplenty together with the attractive mountains fringing the area.
It’s all the time good to tick off a brand new stadium and my first impressions had been beneficial as I noticed the positive construction that’s the principal stand.
As I don’t have too many orange shirts in my assortment, watching Renofa gave me a uncommon likelihood to present my Netherlands Euro 2000 shirt an airing. It’s a barely totally different shade to the Yamaguchi-based staff however higher than nothing I suppose!
Take a stroll across the floor and the outer partitions having markings on them relating to trace and discipline sports activities (notably the latter!) which have taken place within the stadium over time. With the Paris Olympics nonetheless going down at the moment it in all probability caught my consideration greater than it in any other case would have. The markings included displaying the peak of the best excessive soar, the lenth of the longest shot putt, discus and lengthy soar occasions and so forth.
It was additionally no shock to see a vibrant mascot with a flame outdoors the again stand as that is Japan the place such characters are ubiquitous.
As I entered it wasn’t the annoying operating monitor across the pitch that first caught my consideration however the view of the mountains to the rear of the primary stand reverse me. It was a beautiful setting and made up for the operating monitor however I’ve lengthy accepted that they’re a staple of most Japanese stadia.
The house help had been in positive voice as kick off approached on a damp night time.
Presumably, it was the primary stand which was rennoved in 2011 as the remainder of the stadium doesn’t appear to be it’s modified a lot since when it opened in 1963! I selected to take a seat within the again stand as I consider it’s higher to have the ability to see the star attraction somewhat than being in it looking at one thing much less interesting.
Having made the hassle to put on the house staff’s colors I used to be then a bit dissatisfied to see that Renofa wouldn’t be in orange. Summer season shirts are a quirk of the J-League the place most of the groups launch restricted version shirts to be worn for a number of video games. They typically appear to be barely extra daring variations primarily based on the house colors while perhaps incorporating some native tradition of kind into the design. Typically although they’re a very totally different color as was the case with Renofa who switched to purple!
Renofa are literally within the play-off spots within the race to succeed in J1 and have been getting rave critiques from some media retailers. Alternatively, Tochigi SC are battling towards relegation to J3 in direction of the foot of the desk however you wouldn’t have guessed that as they made the higher begin and took the lead on 17 minutes.
Tochigi appeared to battle with low crosses put into their field and never as soon as however twice they ended up turning the ball into their very own web. One other quirk of Japanese soccer is that they don’t wish to declare them as personal targets so the PA system normally announce such calamities as being transformed by the final individual to hit the ball for the scoring staff.
Each groups added to their tally between these unlucky own-goals together with one from striker Kota Kawano who was given glowing reward by the co-host of the J-Speak Podcast on his web site days earlier than this match. His purpose made issues degree going into the break.
The second personal purpose occurred on 70 minutes and the house aspect then went 4-2 up fourteen minutes later. Sport over.
There was truly a comfort purpose for Tochigi SC deep in harm time however I used to be already on the native station by then as I needed to get the prepare again to Shin-Yamaguchi in time for my Shinkansen experience again to Hiroshima. It was the one selection for returning to my in-law’s place in any other case I wouldn’t get again in any respect! It took lower than half an hour however after I look again on this matchday expertise I do know that it’ll be the journey to the sport I keep in mind most!
Last Rating: Renofa Yamaguchi 4-3 Tochigi SC
Bonus: Seven days later I made a really late determination to attend the Tokyo Derby when again within the capital metropolis. I’ve been to a couple Tokyo Derbies in my time with the overwhelming majority of them being within the lower-leagues (together with one a number of months in the past between Tokyo United and Tokyo Aries) however by no means had I attended the true correct one between FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy.
Each groups share a stadium however FC Tokyo had been the house staff for this one. I made a decision to hitch the Verdy followers within the away part on a really sweaty August summer season night time. With Verdy spending loads of time lately in J2, these derbies haven’t been so frequent. The ambiance was unbelievable and Verdy had been the higher staff however simply couldn’t reap the benefits of the second half domination, and it sadly completed a goalless draw.
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