JAPAN

JAPAN: "

Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

6 Garamond Ct.

(416) 441-2345

National intel: Makoto Unagami, a soccer player for the Japanese football team in Toronto, will be wearing blue and trying to cover his disappointment. ' Our team is not as strong as it should be,' he says. 'Everyone remembers when we did well in 2002, but that was a long time ago! We need to win now. Otherwise, people will always wonder: Why is Japan in the Cup?' Many others have wondered this. Simon Barnes of the London Times once wrote: 'The Japanese are not a footballing people,' saying they don't enjoy the rough-and-tumble aspect of the game and their strong collective instincts mean individual players are not likely to make bold or inspiring moves.

The pitch: Japanese restaurants are typically quiet, serene places, with little water-fountain sounds and soft-spoken waiters. They are no place for blaring TVs and sports fans. So the JCCC planned its own event around the game on June 19. The game's early, so there's a sleepover option, minus tatami mats.

Grub: Breakfast of rice bowls, miso soup and green tea.

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