| Two years ago Awajishima, an island located in Hyogo Prefecture, hosted
England's national soccer team during its training for the World Cup. Since
then, David Beckham has grown into one of the biggest foreign celebrities
in Japan. But he's not the only superstar to walk the perfectly groomed
soccer pitches of Awajishima's Sano Sports Ground, for Shimane has sent
its own team to Awaji in search of glory! Behold…the Shimane Samurai Superstars.
Twice a year the Sano Sports Ground is the site of the Western Japan ALT
(Assistant Language Teacher) Soccer Tournament. This fall marked the third
appearance by the Samurai Superstars. What started as a 13-member team
that could only work up one goal in its first tournament has turned into
a roster of over 20 members quite capable of scoring! Plus, the Superstars'
fan base has grown as well: now, supporters from all across the prefecture
join in to help cheer.
The team and its supporters are composed mostly of foreigners from the
JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program. They are assistant language
teachers, coordinators of international relations, and sports advisors
contracted to organizations and schools to teach English and promote internationalization
in Japan. Because Shimane Prefecture is quite stretched out, JETs sometimes
find it difficult to meet during the year in large numbers. However, the
Superstars soccer team has grown to be an ideal opportunity for gatherings:
trips to Awajishima take up an entire weekend, every moment of which the
team and its fans bond while supporting their new home.
 The result of this fall's third appearance was quite impressive and quite
an improvement. On the first day, after playing three games, the Superstars
conceded only two goals, which went to none other than the eventual tournament
champions. Unfortunately, the second day ended quickly because the tournament
entered the single elimination round, but the Superstars proved that they
are most certainly a team on the rise, a team clearly focused on the next
opportunity.
While they travel out-of-prefecture for tournaments, the Shimane Samurai
Superstars still honor their roots. For example, they frequently play in
different parts of Shimane to challenge local teams in friendly matches.
Opponents range from junior high students, to university students, to teams
made up of office workers looking to enjoy an afternoon of soccer. Some
of these games prove to be enjoyable (backbreaking?) chances for the team
to improve, but many times the Superstars, many of whom are ALTs, play
simply to connect with students outside of the classroom.
The Superstars have also created their own tournament right here in Shimane,
aptly named the Chugoku* Cup. It started last year and had only three prefectures
in participation; but word of its success has spread, prompting teams as
far as Shikoku to ask to attend the next tournament, currently scheduled
for May of 2005.
This fall, David Beckham's picture still hung at Sano Sports Ground, but
not many seemed to notice for long. They were distracted by singing, a
mass of Samurai Superstars, joined by the local children, yelling out,
"Ganbatte, Ganbatte, Shi-ma-ne. Ganbatte, Ganbatte, Shi-ma-ne,"
in support of Awajishima's newest foreign Superstars!
*Chugoku - The central region of Japan including Shimane, Tottori, Okayama,
Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures.
Ganbatte, Shimane = Do your best, Shimane!
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