Japan savors its 'Nadeshiko' World Cup heroes

Japan on Monday couldn't get enough information on its new world beaters.

"Stunning, amazing, unbelievable." That's how Japanese players and fans alike described Japan's victory over the United States in the women's World Cup soccer final on penalty kicks after a two-all tie.

It was one of the most dramatic victories in Japanese sports history, and it showed the world the resilience of Japan's people, especially its women, after one of the worst natural disasters in history. 

While 50,000 spectators packed a sold-out stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, fans crammed into sports bars in Tokyo all night, while many in homes across Japan rose at 3:45 a.m. to watch the historic match live on TV.

In downtown Tokyo, Japanese supporters chanting "Nippon, Nippon" shouted down Americans hollering "U.S.A, U.S.A." Come the final whistle, fans poured onto the streets to celebrate Japan's triumph.

“It was amazing and unbelievable,” said Akihiro Koh, a Saitama engineer who has traveled around the world to watch Japan’s national soccer teams. “It was one of the best matches ever in the history of the sport.”

Koh noted that Japanese women have developed their toughness and technique by training together from an early age with male national team players.

“There aren’t enough young girls playing soccer at the national level, so they have to play with the boys,” he said. “The women grow up to really believe that they can beat other women, and men as well. It doesn’t matter how tall they are.”   

March 11 in mind

Naturally, the victory won’t solve Japan’s problems overnight but the courage and resilience of Japan’s team will inspire many who have been flooded with bad news since the March 11 disasters.

Many Japanese -- including head coach Norio Sasaki and U.S. goalie Hope Solo -- believed the gods of soccer were on Japan's side. Some Japanese even prayed for victory at a shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the birds represented on the Japan Football Association’s official crests and uniforms.

Japan came from behind twice against the taller Americans, who had beaten Japan in 22 out of 25 previous meetings.

In the post-match interview Japan’s 32-year old captain, Homare Sawa, who joined the national team at age 14 and played in five World Cups, was ecstatic.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet but we know this is a great victory -- we are bringing the gold medal home to Japan,” she told Japanese TV networks NHK and Fuji TV, which were broadcasting the game live.

Japan stunned the sports world by beating host nation Germany in the quarters, and then Sweden in the semi-finals.

The team then unfurled a huge banner referring to global concern about Japan after the March 11 disasters. "To our Friends Around the World Thank You for Your Support,'' said the banner.

Courage and hope

After beating Sweden, coach Sasaki said the team’s success was very good for Japan. "We are still recovering from the disaster. There were so many victims. Even little things, like a win, can give people courage and hope.''

The winning team reaches out to a world of new supporters.

Soon, soccer fans new and old were talking about the “Nadeshiko,” a team nickname which refers to a pink flower and also a nostalgic phrase, dating back at least to World War II, describing the “ideal” loyal and resilient Japanese woman. 

Japanese TV networks, which saturated viewers with hours of coverage hyping Japan’s male heroes at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, scrambled to find experts who could explain Japan’s meteoric rise.

Fukushima connection

Before the game against Germany, Sasaki motivated his team by showing footage of the disaster zone.  It moved Karina Maruyama to tears.

Until a year ago, she had played for a team owned by the Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO -- the operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Her teammate Aya Sameshima used to work part-time at the Fukushima nuclear plant, but was safely in southern Japan when disaster struck.

“Our play can give power to the disaster survivors,” Sasaki told the players. “When you're struggling, think of the survivors, and “ganbare” ­-- persevere and fight on until the end."

Future perfect

After hoisting the World Cup trophy in a shower of golden confetti, the Nadeshiko will now join Japan’s pantheon of heroes from other sports, especially women’s volleyball, tennis, golf, running and snowboarding.

The historic win will likely inspire a young generation of Japanese school kids who already love soccer more than baseball, volleyball or any other sport.

The “Samurai Blue” men’s team, whose teamwork and defending nearly led them to the quarterfinals at the men’s World Cup in South Africa last summer, will surely take note of how Japan’s women used quick passing and clever defenses to counter much taller opponents.

Given the sudden interest in women’s soccer in Japan, the nation now has a good chance at hosting the female version of the World Cup in the near future.

But for now, and the next four years, Japanese women can hold their heads high, as the champions of the soccer world.