Unity, Joy, Respect

When we woke up this morning, fog and mist had settled on Tokyo. Luckily, the rain had little effect on the course of our day! Here is what we saw...

Japan Olympic Museum

On our second attempt, we finally made it into this museum. We had the opportunity to read all about the history of the Olympics and Japan's contributions to the games. I especially enjoyed seeing displays of the modifications in sports equipment that have made high-level competition possible for athletes with disabilities. There was also a wall highlighting stories of past athletes who overcame adversity, encouraged their teammates and opponents, and acted with compassion even when it set them back in the games. The main message I left with was a greater appreciation for sports and how they can be a force for good, a catalyst for unity, and an opportunity to raise one another even during a competition.

X-League Football

Immediately following the museum, we got to experience its message firsthand. At this semi-pro football game, we took to the stands to cheer on the Blue Thunders as they played the Bullseyes in American Football. Though we are far from the States here in Japan, thanks to a mutual understanding of the game, we felt right at home! The uniting power of sports across language barriers and cultures was truly evident.

Surprise in Kawasaki

As we made our way to the train station after the football game, we walked along the neighborhood streets of Kawasaki. Upon turning a corner, we suddenly spotted a Little League baseball game! We hung off a fence in the alley to watch an inning. I saw the group members light up as we cheered them on, and it made my day to see both the coaches and players welcome us as spectators. What makes these little boys in Japan and college kids from Alabama happy? Baseball! The museum was sure right about the universal shared joy sports can bring.

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Even though sports highlight many things Americans and Japanese have in common, they also illuminate some stark differences. I have observed that Americans often view sports games as a place where they can be disrespectful and behave rudely towards others without any moral consequence. Disagree? Then I encourage you to think of the last time you sat in a stadium full of rowdy fans when the official made an unpopular call or your team started losing. Not only do we boo the other team, but we also begin to hurl insults at our team when mistakes are made. Kids' sports games can even get pretty heated when angry parents start screaming at the teenage YMCA refs. I can't claim that these same activities never occur at Japanese sporting events, but I will say that I observed fewer incidents at both games we watched today. There was a nearly tangible feeling of respect between everyone involved: spectators, players, coaches, and officials alike. And at the end of the X-League game, both teams bowed to each other and their fans. I have never seen anything like it. It makes me think we Americans could do a little better.