Nagano Soccer Tournament - October 3-4, 2015

October has arrived, and with it, the East Japan ALT Soccer Tournament in Sugadaira, in Nagano prefecture. This year, Saitama did not have the enthusiasm of previous years, so we didn't send a team, just two players: me and another girl.

We went because there was a girls' team that needed more players. I didn't really want to go with my injuries, but I sucked it up, swallowed some painkillers and was off. Our team consisted of two from Saitama, two from Yamanashi, two from Tokyo, and lastly, two from Gifu. I didn't know anyone, not even the other girl from Saitama. 

In past tournaments, I have always gone up on Friday night, but this year, I headed up Saturday morning. I hopped on the Shinkansen to Ueda station and got off with plenty of time to catch my bus. First I went to the wrong exit, then after figuring out the problem I went to the other exit just in time to miss the bus. The bus schedule posted online was wrong and the bus departed earlier than expected. I missed it. Luckily I was able to get a ride with two of my team mates. They picked me up and it was nice to chat with them a bit. While I was waiting, an old man came up to me and started talking to me... I understood most of what he said, which I consider an achievement, since  old man Japanese is notoriously hard to understand, even for native speakers.

There were only three teams in the girls' tournament, so our matches didn't start until 2 pm. We lost our first match against Niigata 2-1. We were still getting used to each other. We had another match right after, against Gunma. They were quite good, but we managed to tie them 2-2. Unfortunately two girls were injured in the process. Our team was half experienced and half beginners. The injured players were experienced :( 

After our matches, it was time to go to the hotel, shower, go into the hot spring, and eat. After dinner and hot springs there was a dance party. I did my best to represent Saitama at the event. In any case, everyone remembered me the next day. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know.

On Sunday, we had to play the first match, it was cold and every one was tired. We managed to win 3-0 against Niigata. I even got a goal! 

In our second match, we lost 2-0 against Gunma. It was a little frustrating... At that point, we were second place, so we had to play one more game to decide the champion. Our competitor was Gunma and they beat us again, 2-0. In the last game people weren't running and we lost  another experienced player. I scored a goal though... On my own goal. Whoops!

So we ended up second place... Again. Not too bad. As usual, no one knew the rules and the reffing was ridiculous. 

The results. We were GifuTamaNashi. A delightful play on words. 

The points before the final game.

The park! Sania park is gorgeous and it has real grass. This is a full field, but the girls only played on half-size fields.

GifuTamaNashi - 2nd place :)

Our prize. 24 cans of grapefruit chu-hi, which is kind of like a cooler. The alcohol content is 6%.

Sunset from a car.

On the way back, I caught a ride with a Tokyo team. I made some good connections there, so I know we'll  be able to join forces next year. For the record, driving is much cheaper than Shinkansen, but much slower... However, it was a great chance to make some friends and get some good Japanese conversation practice :)

Oct 4-5, Eastern Japan ALT Soccer Tournament

At the beginning of October, the Saitama JETs participated in a soccer tournament in Nagano. This is the same tournament as last year. We had two teams: a boys team, and a girls team. This year was a little different because I was in charge of organizing our teams this year. Those who know me, probably know that I'm not an organizer, or even organized, but due to my passion for the game and senior status (and for lack of any volunteers), I was asked to do it. Organizing is much different than simply paying your money and going, but in the end everything worked out, so I'm relieved. 

On Friday Oct. 3, most of the team headed up to Nagano on the Shinkansen. It's really fun to travel together on the Shinkansen. Everyone buys snacks and drinks and it's a relaxing time. The funny thing is, as a group if foreigners, we are either very annoying or very scary, as Japanese people move away (if they can) when we sit by them. It's called the foreign bubble. It even happens to foreigners travelling alone on the trains. For example, if I sit down on the train and there is a spot next to me open, usually no one will sit there, even if the entire train is crowded and people are standing. It's very strange and a little unnerving at times. Anyway, on the Friday night, the train to Nagano was quite full, so we stood at the end of the car together, so no Japanese felt compelled to move. However, I'm sure they were scared off going to the bathroom, because that's where we were standing. 

Once we arrived at Ueda station, we were picked up by the hotel shuttle and whisked away to the Hotel Yamabiko. Upon arrival, we went to our rooms, and as usual, we were given the same rooms as previous times. The girls' room is huge, so everyone usually congregates there. After settling in everyone went to have a soak in the Onsen. Onsen are separated by sex, so the girls have their own and the boys theirs. Where the girls have a nice, peaceful, relaxing soak, the boys do something quite different. The stories the boys told about their bonding experience in the Onsen were hilarious, almost enough to entertain the idea of being a fly on the wall. Almost.

After the Onsen, everyone came back to the girls room to talk, chill out, and in the case of the boys, discuss strategy for the games the next day.

The strategy for the boys team. He he. 

Chilling in the girls room.

The next day, we had a full schedule if games. Each team would play 4 games. Unfortunately the girls tournament only had 3 teams, so we played each team twice. The boys had 9 teams, so they had a more interesting albeit challenging tournament. 

The pitch at Sania Sports Park in Sugadaira, Nagano.

The girls had a good day, we won 2, tied 1, and lost 1. The boys had a good day, because they won a game! It was the last game of the day that the boys won 2-0. I also played in the game, because by that time, the boys were getting pretty tired with no subs. 

Playing with the boys. 

Day 1 girls team. 

After a full day of playing games, it was time to go back to the hotel, wash up, dip in the Onsen, eat and then party!

 Having drinks and snacks in the girls room. Private Saiborgs party.

Don't know what's going on here. Something funny.

Everyone had to be up early the next day as the games were starting earlier than usual due to the incoming typhoon. The weather was awful. It was windy and pouring rain. The girls only had one game, the championship game. Unfortunately, we lost, but the refs were ridiculous and we just gave up. People were tired, cold, wet and a little mad about the reffing. So in the end, we lost the game 1-0. We came 2nd place, again. However, we were okay because we got a trophy and chuhis (fruit cocktail drinks). 

They made me drink from the trophy on the bus.

The boys had to play two more games so I played with them as they were tired, wet and cold, just like the girls. We lost both games, but oh well. 

2014 Saitama Saiborgs

We made it back home before the full force of the typhoon. Once again, we took the Shinkansen. This time we were able to sit, resulting in dirty looks by other passengers (they eventually moved - the foreign bubble strikes again). It was a lot of fun, mostly I was relieved because everything went smoothly :)