World Cup debuts, building for the future, and the Japanese Subbuteo World Cup Team
Ahead of the upcoming Subbuteo World Cup in England – where over 320 players from 26 countries will be fighting it out for individual and team honours – Steve Sharman spoke to Kenzo Koi (President and Veteran player), Miwako Okamoto, Miaki Nishi (Women’s Open and Team), Daigo Mori, Shusuke Takahashi (U’16 Open and Team) and Kotetsu Kanda (U’12 Open and U’16 Team) from the Japanese squad, to hear their hopes and ambitions for the World Cup and beyond.
The Eland Cables FISTF World Cup is a truly global event, with no less than six continents represented at the upcoming tournament, held in Tunbridge Wells, Kent – the birthplace of Subbuteo. Among those coming from Asia are the Japanese team, who arrive with a squad brimming with youthful exuberance and players who are keen to showcase their attacking prowess.
An island nation with a population of over 120 million people, Japan is a country well known for strong subcultures, from Visual Kei to Harajuku. A nation of contrasts, from the hustle and bustle of Shibuya in Tokyo to the cherry blossom-lined walkways in Kyoto, the Land of the Rising Sun is a beautiful country steeped in history and mythical splendour.
Subbuteo in Japan
Although in most places the game we all know and love is called Subbuteo, in Japan, it is known as Ohajiki. The associated sub-culture is relatively small, compared to other nations. Japan Table Football Association (JTFA) President Kenzo Koi – who has led the organisation for 15 years and will be playing in the veterans category in Tunbridge Wells – explains that while there are over 200 registered players and over 13 registered clubs in Japan, in reality, there are only about 40 active players and only four active clubs.
Despite the modest number of players, Mr. Koi is keen to emphasise that the power of Subbuteo lies in its diversity – how it appeals to people of all ages and genders – and how play can be used to forge relationships across families, communities, and continents:
“As a Japanese association, we would like to create clubs based on local communities and families, and to cherish and strengthen the ties between Japan and the world, focusing on exchanges across generations.”
The Japanese players and teams may well fall into the underdog category; as a Subbuteo-playing nation, they have thus far failed to win any games at a World Cup, despite having been present at every event since 2012. This is something Mr. Koi is keen to change. However, the Japanese squad selection shows that the JTFA are unwilling to sacrifice future development to focus on immediate results:
“The selection was based on world rankings and All Japan Championship results, but the most important thing was to choose players who could be expected to grow after participating in this World Cup.”
Although determined to slay the ghost of zero tournament wins, Mr. Koi is confident that participation in this year’s event is a historic milestone that can shape the future of the organisation and his enthusiasm is reflected in the attitude of his players.
Opportunity rising
Many of the Japanese squad are playing in a World Cup for the first time. Miwako Okamoto, who represents Tokyo Sparkling Shooters and is competing in the Women’s Open and the Women’s team event, is one such debutant. When asked about her expectations and what she is most excited about, it is clear that Okamoto sees the tournament as an opportunity to improve her skills and experience:
“I want to see this as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow. I look forward to competing with other players on an international stage and gaining new experiences and connections through table football. I’m most excited about facing top players from around the world and learning their playing styles and strategies up close. Despite any language barriers, I’m also looking forward to connecting with players globally through the game.”
The opportunity for growth is important to some of the younger Japanese players too, and in a way that goes beyond Subbuteo. Kotetsu Kanda, who plays at TFC Kashiwa Sunrise, will be competing in the U’12 World Cup having won the Asia Cup U’12 division last summer. Kanda is another player making his World Cup debut and not only is the World Cup his first time playing Subbuteo overseas, but the trip to England is also his first time travelling abroad.
Also from TFC Kashiwa Sunrise is 13-year-old Shusuke Takahashi, who will be competing in the U’16 event. A relative newcomer to the sport having been playing for just over a year, this is Takahashi’s first opportunity to test himself against the world’s best. He is, though, used to playing against those who are older than him – he regularly competes in U’16 events and plays against adult players. A self-confessed Pokémon enthusiast, Takahashi also sees the World Cup as a good test of his skills, and an opportunity to learn and build friendships beyond the table:
“I’m really looking forward to playing against strong players who have more experience in table football than I do. I also hope to score as many goals as possible against these skilled opponents. I’m excited about becoming a rival to the players I face and hopefully building friendships where we can push each other to improve in Subbuteo.”
Unburdened by the weight of history, these young Japanese players will be seeking to grasp the opportunity offered by the World Cup with both hands, and their approach will make for some open and exciting games.
Positive Tactics
The strategic elements of Subbuteo can often be exciting and rewarding for a player to plan and execute; sometimes a strong tactical approach makes a game a close, tense encounter. Indeed, Miwako Okamoto – who is a history explainer on YouTube – envisions the table as a battlefield and approaches each match as if it were a historic battle. Whilst a strong defensive strategy can be seen as the safe approach, members of this Japanese squad highlight attacking moves as their strengths.
Miaki Nishi, who plays at SC Reeds and will be competing in the Women’s Open and Team events at her first World Cup, admits to experiencing some pre-tournament nerves but is keen to test herself against world-class players. She describes her playing style as attacking:
“My style is primarily focused on offence, always pushing forward. Although this often puts me in risky situations, I feel more comfortable attacking than defending. I find it most enjoyable when I manage to connect my plays smoothly and set up a shot, regardless of whether it scores or not, it gives me a real sense of satisfaction.”
Women’s teammate Miwako Okamoto is perhaps more conservative, having expressed that she seeks the right moment to strike on the counter-attack but still enjoys surprising her opponent with unexpected moves.
Japan’s younger players all highlight attacking skills as a strength in their game. Daigo Mori, from SC Reeds who will be competing in the U’16 individual and team events, enjoys scoring a goal more than any other element of the game. Even if he is losing, he gets an incredible sense of satisfaction from a clean strike into the back of the net. Mori is also seeking to use a new technique he has been working on:
“I have confidence in my fast dribbling and shooting! This time, I’m also hoping to use the new smashing technique I’ve learned to score against the world’s top players.”
Shusuke Takahashi also takes a positive approach and is proactive in approaching the ball, even when it’s far away, whilst Kotetsu Kanda cites the main strength of his game as being able to dribble with two players close to the opponent’s goal. He also takes great pleasure in scoring goals:
“The moment when I manoeuvre past my opponent’s players with my fingers and score a goal is the most exciting for me.”
With a focus on attacking play, new techniques to be tried, and positive intent, many of the Japanese players – and perhaps particularly the U’16 team made up of Mori, Takahashi, and Kanda – should be exciting to watch!
Representing Japan and building a legacy
Being selected to represent your country in any sport is often considered a great honour, but the pressure associated with selection can give rise to conflicting emotions. As Miwako Okamoto explains, with the honour comes a great sense of responsibility. Okamoto recognises that, even as a beginner, taking part in a World Cup can contribute to the development of table football in Japan. Miaki Nishi expands on this further:
“I feel happy and proud, but also a bit overwhelmed. It may not be that surprising, but I actually get very nervous, and my hands often sweat a lot. When I know I’m being watched, I sometimes overthink and end up making mistakes. However, being chosen as a representative of Japan is a great opportunity, and I want to use it to build my confidence for the future.”
The impact of showcasing Japanese table football talent on a world stage is also not lost on some of the younger players who have been selected to represent Japan. Even as a first-time representative, or perhaps even more so because of this, Shusuke Takahashi considers his selection a great honour. Kotetsu Kanda feels the weight of responsibility, as a representative of Japan’s younger generation on a world stage, whilst Daigo Mori has lofty ambitions:
“I’m looking forward to seeing Subbuteo become a more popular sport in Japan, even if just a little! My goal is to achieve a victory for Japan! I also hope to bring back something from the world stage that will help elevate Subbuteo in Japan.”
Perhaps the fearless approach of Mori and his teammates will stand the young Japanese players in good stead, as the tournament environment can bring a unique kind of pressure that even established players can struggle to handle. A World Cup can be tiring; events are generally played out over a single day, so a successful player may have to play six or seven games in just a few hours, with ever-increasing crowds and pressure, to make it to a final.
Best foot forward
In addition to strategies and skills, many players have their own rituals and superstitions to help cope with the pressure of tournament play and foster a positive mindset.
The Japanese players have a range of superstitious behaviours they believe help them to stay focussed as well as bring them luck. To respect the sanctity of these rituals, we won’t associate any superstition with a specific player, however, they include hand clapping for relaxing and improved finger movements, deep breathing, drinking hojicha (roasted green tea) in the morning instead of coffee, assigning positions based on players’ jersey numbers (with a particular number 7 up front), and my personal favourite, always entering a venue for an important match left foot first.
Beyond the Table
The experience of travelling to another country – another continent – to represent their country is seen as an unbelievable opportunity and an amazing adventure by these players. Supported by a wider team and a host of tried and trusted superstitions, the experience and the infectious enthusiasm for the game that they will take back to Japan will hopefully help to further President Koi’s ambition to build communities that reach across not just tables covered in green cloth and 22 rubber figures, but across generations, genders, ethnicities, religions, and far, far beyond.
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