In a J-League of its Own

Kindly invited by Harrison Sensei, Duncan and I headed to Osaka yesterday afternoon for my first J-League football game. We were to be seated in the away end with the Gamba Osaka fans, opposing the home supporters of Curezo Osaka, so a little bit of a derby. Gamba were favourites, but with both teams losing their opening games of the season, the game was played nervously and conservatively by both sides.


I had no allegiance to either side, and would opt for Kobe Vissel if I was to adopt a Japanese team, but I was strangely drawn towards Curezo, most likely because they play in pink and their home stadium looks like the alien ships in Independence Day.




Despite a strong show by both sets of fans before kick-off, it was the away fans who sang all game. For those who play Pro Evo, the flags in the crowds in Japan are exactly like they are in the game, which likened the crowd to Italian fans, and the "ultras", who the Japanese try to imitate. Notice the huge banner claiming Curezo fans to be the real "ultras"


It was Gamba celebrating first, with a soft goal in the 2nd half which went right through the Curezo goalkeeper. Curezo, having the slight better of it, soon equalised through a brilliant rifled shot from the left of the area. The most interesting observation was the reaction of the Gamba fans at full time. Yeah they were favourites, but a derby draw away from home is not a bad result. Still, as Gamba lined up to bow, the abuse they got was worse then Charlton ever received during our (2) relegation seasons.


After the game we headed to a little bar not far from the stadium and spoke in Japanese for a good 3 hours, so a good day all round. We ended up going to a club in Kobe and meeting other friends, but after pre/during/post match beers, 1 Long Island and I was out for the count.

In summary, the game was worth a watch but was defiantly lacking in quality. However the fans and facilities are Premiership standard. I now have to go see Kobe Vissel and then decide between them and Curezo to distract me from the rubbish that is Charlton...