retired_mellnet

Good luck with the story, I like the idea. Japan hires 'Sports Coordinators' through the JET program. They go to Japan to teach various sports, which is away for footballer coaches to go to Japan...

well I digress...

mao

retired_xs2khizar

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brian of Nazareth:
with Droitwich Spa Swifts. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Central Warwickshire Boys league? I played against some sort of Droitwich Spa team (for Knowle) when I was about 14.

Aaanyway, impressive start BoN :thup:, KUTGW and good luck in Japan (I hear it's a bit like Droitwich).

retired_embartl

Dave - cheers, Spav - yeah I've played Japan before, but never written yet, thanks Mao - i knew there was a programme of some sorts set up but couldn't find details, so I improvised :p - and yes nerf I was only there until U15 level though cheers though

A Brief History Of The J-League

The modern form of football as we know first arrived in Japan towards the end of the eighteen hundreds, and was a very popular activity for schoolchildren at the time. As interest gradually grew, in 1921 the Football Association of Japan was formed and with it the establishment of the Emperor's Cup, the longest running domestic cup competition in the country. In 1929 Japan were admitted into FIFA but it took a long for interest in the sport to seriously grow amongst the mainstream, with the sixties really seeing the greatest spurt in football fanaticism.

After the 1964 Tokyo Olympics the Japan Soccer League was introduced with a total of eight teams still very much run and supported by Universities or major corporations. It was not popular immediately but thanks to Japan's surprise success at the 1968 Mexico Olympics where the side claimed a bronze medal football took off spectacularly, in what has often be described as the countries "soccer boom." It inspired the next generation into playing and they became the core group of players when the league over-went an overhaul in 1991, but it still took time. Major networks didn't take to it immediately - as they still say their key markets in Baseball and Sumo. With the youth caught up in the football hype, the small faithful who'd continually stay up late to watch a Serie A or Premiership match, football DID begin to earn the attention it deserved, as local JSL sides began drawing ever larger crowds especially the corporate sponsored ones of Nissan Motor, Mitsubishi and Yomiyuri for example.

As a result of this sustained interest a professional league was at last formed. The J-League consisted of the top ten qualifying teams from the Japan Soccer League, ( expanded since it's inception ), amid rising interest in Japan's quest to qualify for the World Cup in 1994. The failure didn't diminish spirits, instead it only served to galvanise the fans into improving their fledgling sport into a much better standing. A reorganisation in 1993 saw the JSL become part of the JFL adding a semi-official second tier to the game, and then 6 years later in 1999 a second re-structuring brought with it the official recognition of J2 as part of the J-league overhaul. There are now 16 clubs in J1 and 11 in J2. Last season was the very first official season of J2 football, with Kwawasake Frontale taking the title ahead of FC Tokyo.

retired_embartl

An Offer Awaits

After 3 weeks of meandering through his Kidderminster role, Jeff still waited for the post with the eagerness of a young child on his birthday. Until now he had been met with a frustrated disappointment. There had been the acknowledgement of his application 10 days ago, but no word of any success from his applications. While waiting, on the assumption he'd go, Jeff had informed all those he knew outside his current club - not many people - of his situation - and was met with warm congratulations. His friends from Winterfold wished him well, and when he remembered to phone his parents they were equally delighted, especially at the prospect of an excuse to go on an exotic holiday again.

His location was still very much unknown however, as he could end up at one of the several clubs located within a 100 miles of Tokyo, such as Omiya Ardija, Shonan Bellmare Urawa Red Diamonds or Ventforet Kofu. Then again if the pure coaching vacancies arrived he'd end up the southern most Island of Kyushi, at Sagan Tosu or Oita Trinita. Just west of the central part of Honshu would see him act the outright manager with Montedio Yamagata. He'd be an assistant at Consodole Sapporo, the only club in the northern most island of Hokkaido. FC Mito Holly Hock on the southern coast of Honshu. Vegalta Sendai typically were slightly further north on the east coast of Honshu. The choices were varied, and it whetted Jeff's appetite. Either which way of course the cultural differences on offer would challenge Jeff alone.

With the green tea still slightly less hot than the sun's core, Jeff picked up his post and returned to the kitchen sat down and scalded his already scarred lips yet again, and like normal deciding orange juice would be fine enough. He spotted an official letter with an FA letterhead and his hopes soared once more. Ripping it open with glee, he quickly scanned through the letter and his heart skipped a beat. An opportunity had finally arrived, and he had been invited to two meetings in Soho with representatives of both Vegalta Sendai for the outright position of manager, and Consadole Sapporo for the assistant post, with a view to taking the reigns after 2 years. It was scheduled for the following Wednesday and Jeff almost feinted, before reaching for his tea and scalding his lips for a further time.

A resignation letter was instantly handed in to Lionel Newton, accepted with immediate effect, and Jeff took the rest of the day off to calm down. For him this was the opportunity of a life time and he intended to take it. What's more the two locations were ideal in his mind. Away from Japan's capital of everything Tokyo, he'd have the space and surroundings to enjoy - to get to know the insular culture of some of the hidden tribes supposedly still residing in the mountainous areas of the country. The prospects were numerous - he'd just have to ensure he didn't blow it at the interview stage.

retired_embartl

The Tairomai c.1850

The reclusive tribe had continued to live hidden away from much of society, clearly taking the Japanese's insular mentality to extremes. Their traditions handed down from generation to generation with extreme devotion. They were as always a society that was not aggressive by nature. Only when provoked or threatened would they respond. You see, as opposed to what modern movies may suggest, Japanese trained in martial arts do not seek violence where it is not necessary. Perhaps under more authoritarian Emperor regimes, force has been used to quell protest, but for the majority of citizens war was not thrived upon - it was not in teaching with Buddha. However the community always came first and in the middle of the 19th century the Tairomai tribe did face the threat of extinction if you will.

What the movies do portray accurately however, is the value and worth attached to pride and honour, and if for instance there is a long held anger or grudge against a tribe, it is probable that sooner or later a clansman of enough passion will seek to rectify matters - no matter how ancient the quarrel. Now, referring back to the Kamakura Shogun affair in beginning of the second millennium, you may recall that in order to maintain and preserve the traditions of the Tairomai clan, their leader Moshito Kamasuki entered into a pact with Minamoto Yoritomo which saw the Tairomai defeat and vanquish the growing force of the Fujiwara clan - a tribe thought dead for centuries. They were wrong.

Yuri Shitsyurega was a descendant of these defeated outside of Hiraizumie, and, though it took many years for him to trace back his roots, the clan had been more or less wiped out back then, Yuri wanted revenge. Part of this desire to avenge a 600+ year long feud was motivated by a frustration of outlets for his skills. Now Yuri was a man who wanted to put his martial art skills to the test. When you are hidden away in a non-descript coastal town in the north, friends were scarce and enemies scarcer. What you do find is that those who are there, bind together, tighter than one can imagine. Yuri, as one of the leaders of their small group re-invigorated the communities with passionate diatribes of the histories of the nation. The clans who won, lost, or were conspired against. The speeches inspired and over a period of time in which Yuri trained the youth, a fighting spirit was instilled amongst the "new" Fujiwara. The story of the Tairomai defeat echoed throughout the woodlands, the rivers and hills of their small heartland. The fuijiwara had of course ruled the roost in the Taika reform of the 9th century, and gained power at a similar time - dominating government until 1068 - before Emperor Go-Sanjo challenged their influence, and Go-Sanjo's son Shirakawa restored some of the thrones power - and the rivalry between the two inevitably led to military conflict - the precursor to the events mentioned earlier.

It was a dew-soaked morning on the day of the battle, when the Fujiwara, marched north east up towards the Tairomai clan. An army of 800 trained militia, skilled in unarmed combat, and the combination of Jiu-Jitsu with the art of Samurai. This is the most popular and renowned form of ancient Japanese fighting - its roots reaching as far back as the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE. It was usual for the Tairomai to employ a form of Aikido, a pure Japanese art that literally translates down to mean "harmony"; "Spirit" and "The Way" - meaning this form of self defence held with it deep religious undertones. The battle itself would not require such arts however, given the more lethal force available in the form of blades and even some rifles - though these were rare, and disliked amongst all Japanese.

Yuri Shitsyurega was a man of honour, but a man enraged by passions discarded such emotions when he crept up through the undergrowth with his men, in the dead of the night, clouded by the branches of the low hanging trees and the clouds in the sky. A scouting mission had identified the weak chink in the defences, as the men crawled along the floor, about 100 yards from the outer perimeter of the Tairomai tribe, a long 7 foot high wall that ran across a 150 metre circumference around a rugged slope. A look-out was halfway along his regular watch-walk. Yuri advanced slowly and quietly, waiting for the guard to turn back on his circuit. As he did so, Yuri swiftly approached from behind and with his right hand covering the man's mouth, his left, complete with blade, was forced into the back at an upward angle, so hard it came out the other side. With the man next to death, Yuri struggled to remove his sword, before carefully dumping the body back on the side of the wall where the rest of his warriors waited, hidden in the night. A triple tap on the wall provided the signal for them to make their paths to the wall, small groups of men spread out across this eastern slope.

retired_embartl

The attack was swift, and the Tairomai were taken by complete surprise. The Samurai era was coming to an end as the Edo Period that had lasted for well over two and a half centuries was increasingly under the pressure of those in favour of the Meiji Restoration - where Emperor Meiji was tipped to have the imperial power based returned to Tokyo from Kyoto. That said, many regions of Japan still employed the ancient art, including the Fujiwara. Many families died in their sleep, their lodgings encapsulated in fire or members killed unawares. The reaction was swift, and probably just about saved the clan. Responding in time the current Tairomai leader Takeshi Yoshito rallied the army, calling them to arms. Calling out for an open fight, Yuri Shitsyurega appeared from the shadows to face Takeshi. Takeshi was his target, and no-one else’s. He wanted pure revenge.

As the respective clans began to take their battle into the open lands, a small effort to save the lives of the innocents still trapped in the central, the leaders faced each other. They were about 20 paces apart, as Takeshi stepped away from the opening to his own house, and advanced slowly upon his enemy. Yuri continued to send a piercing gaze in Takeshi's direction, focussing his energy onto the perfectly crafted and curved sword in his hands. The only light shining on the pair coming from the burning wood surrounding them. The screams were blanked from each man's mind, as the circling continued. Then, as if each read the others mind they moved forward, swords extended and in a flash the battle commenced.

Sparkling blade on sparkling blade, finely poised on their feet, each riposte was followed up with a swift response. Takeshi drew first blood as fast footwork allowed him a window of opportunity to target his opponent. The blade's cold touch creating an incision an inch deep and 5 inches long, just below the rib cage, but Yuri refused to falter. It would take more than a scratch to defeat the Fujiwara leader. After a momentary pause, he feinted worse health than he felt, before catching Yoshi by surprise as he leapt to his feet once more, his blade catching his opponent on the arm before he could react. With the pair moving at speed and energy, some survivors were caught in their tracks by the sight. Those who had escaped the pyres, slumped some distance away, just resting their eyes on the combatants, praying Takeshi would be victorious.

Having continued in this vein for a good while, the weary Yuri seemed to be tiring, as his injury would was taking far more out of him, and as the blood kept coming, he kept having lapses of concentration until one final moment, as his blade arced wide over Takeshi's head, his body's brief focus on the would proved fatal as too late he saw Takeshi return the lunge with the veritable accuracy of a practiced swordsman. The blade pierced, Yuri in the centre of the chest, and as he stared into the dying man's eyes, he still had the compassion to allow his opponent an honourable "suicide".

Propping the defeated Yuri up into a kneeling position, he used nearby cloth to wrap around the waist of Yuri, and then handed him a shorter blade. Yuri, aware of his defeat, accepted the offering in death. At least he would go with a degree of honour - he just hoped his supporters could continue the good fight. Holding the blade out in a right angle with his straightened body, he grimaced in intense pain as he drew a line across his stomach from one side to the other, before, with agonising delay, attempted to complete his part of the tradition by drawing the line up his front, from the bloody line up between the rib cages, emptying the organs. For those unaccustomed to such a practice it was a horrible sight. Takeshi then, taking his sword, beheaded the pained Yuri to complete the ritual and the victory.

Elsewhere the spirit had been battered by the loss of their Fuijiwara leader, and their opponents re-invigorated as the remaining Tairomai repelled their attackers once more and killed off their charge, as the rest scuttled off with their tails between their tails and their pride defeated. For Takeshi, there was celebration however. Many had lost their lives in this battle, all of them innocent, including the young. What was needed now was hard work, restoring the community, and ensuring future attacks were seen off much earlier. The dead were soon buried as tradition saw fit, before the wounded attended to their pains. With fires extinguished, many were left to camp outside in hurried shelters, whilst Takeshi lent the use of his larger house to those in need.

retired_embartl

The Interviews

Jeff drove into the private car parking space designated to him by the FA, stopped - and then checked himself before leaving. Was he looking smart enough? Yes. Collar done up, tie in place, hair had been cut to save trying to brush into an even halfway palatable sight. The black leather shoes polished. 'Here we go' he thought.

Yoji Iki : Good morning Mr. Bland Sir, so very good to see you. Please take a seat. Let me introduce myself. I am Yoki Iki the general manager of Vegalta Sendai, and you must be Mr. Bland. May I call you Jeff-San?

Jeff Of course! Of course Mr. Iki-San. I am honoured to meet you, and I hope I can prove myself worthy of an apprenticeship with Vegalta.

The general manager nodded imperceptibly, his impeccably smart business attire putting forward the look of a man unlikely to be swayed by a plethora of unnecessary platitudes. With the look of a man who had better things to do with his time, Jeff's confidence and spirits began to wither.

Yoji Iki Now then Jeff-San I have your application form and your credentials in front of me...

As he paused his face didn't change whatsoever, giving Jeff no further clues.

Yoji Iki Now then let's begin. I see you have been a qualified coach since you were 24. Now can you explain exactly what level that was at and your own development since then please?

Jeff Yes.. er.. certainly Mr Iki-San. After completing a degree in History and languages I completed a conversion course in teaching, with a programme in sports education included. I had to spend 6 months ensuring I was fully qualified to coach at any age range - with regards to health, training regimes and targets. Since then I have frequently been on regional, national and international courses to expand on my knowledge - which includes motivation, man-management and improving of course my own skills. You have to practice what you preach eh?

The slight attempt at lightening the mood did nothing to relieve the tension.

Yoji Iki : Continue.

Jeff Ah yes of course, right you are. Well as a teacher at a local school I coached young kids from the ages of 5/6 up until about 12/13. I was there for 8 years and thoroughly enjoyed it... ( Jeff looked up for the first time and recognised the need to spare Mr Iki of irrelevant details ) and ah well yes then I left to focus on my true love - football. It holds all my passion and emotion - and I thrive on knowing that I have helped nurture a player's talent and love for the game. I was fortunate to get a break nearby at Kidderminster a club in the Nationwide League 3 Division - they are a professional club and my first role was working with their youth development because it fitted in well with my past history and was, I suppose, my niche. It was also a way for the club to monitor my progress - and when the managerial seat became open, I took initial charge - I mean I had been responsible for a few of those in the squad making the breakthrough to the first team - and we enjoyed moderate success. We were not relegated, but neither did we make serious inroads on promotion. We were making progress little by little, when I read the first newsletter advertising the opportunities abroad...

Yoji Iki Thank you Jeff-San. You managed to forget your UEFA B and A licences in that..

Jeff : Well you know, don't want to blow my own trumpet and that... [Jeff inwardly cursed, his nerves making him omit rather vital statistics ]

retired_embartl

Yoji Iki How strange. They were a factor that attracted you to us in the first place. Well, I am a man who runs on efficiency, so lets move on swiftly. Why Japan? It is a big step for a foreigner such as yourself.

Jeff : Because I've always been fascinated by it... the country I mean. At University I studied Japanese amongst other subjects, and I feel that my basic grounding in the language will hasten my acclimatisation. I love history, and of course Japan has a very noble and proud past... [ Jeff noted a slight smile on Mr. Iki's face and inwardly celebrated this little score ]. It is of course also a country that is falling in love with football or soccer as perhaps it is more commonly known, thanks to the bloody Americans. [ a big smile ]. Europe and South America have been the dominant continents in the sport since it's creation. I want to make Asia, and specifically Japan, a county able to break that stranglehold. It is a bold ambition I concede, but I feel that potentially this is a nation of sporting stars. The desire and money is there to support such dreams, it just needs a little outside help. I would like to think this is where I can come in.

I must be honest, and say that before I saw this newsletter, I could barely name more than 2 or 3 clubs from Japan... [laughter]

Yoji Iki : 2 or 3 is pretty good actually. You were saying?

Jeff : Well, I believe that I can improve the standard of football in Japan sufficiently to make significant inroads at club and international level. It will take time, but I have years of experience with youth so I believe I am well placed to cope with the demands of bringing the next generation through, and those skills are obviously transferable at first team level. I am an ambitious man and I have read up on the clubs since making the application...

Yoji Iki : Ok. So what do you know about us?

Jeff : Well, off the top of my head, Vegalta Sendai joined the J League in 1999 and in the two years since have finished 9th and 5th respectively, with hopes for a promotion push this season. The loss of their - your manager Hidehiko Shimizu to a wild tiger was most unfortunate and affected many greatly. That was five months ago and since when you decided to become a member of this international organisation. I welcome the opportunity provided, to work at the Sendai Stadium, which holds 19,694 and is in Sendai City, Miyagi which is on the east coast of the Honshu Island. That's about it sir, Mr. Iki San. [ Jeff bowed and waited ]

Yoji Iki : Impressive. Thank you Jeff-San for your time. I appreciate it. You make a good case, and I wish you well. You understand of course that we have several other candidates to interview first before any decision can be made, and like those we spoke to earlier all I care to say is that the season begins in March of next year. That is four months away, and the successful applicant would be expected to be ready and comfortable to start work at the beginning of February. You will be told of our decision by mail - probably at the end of December or beginning of the new year. Any questions?

Jeff: No sir, Iki-San. Arigatoo Gozaimasu. [ Jeff added the polite thank you as a reminder to Yoji Iki before leaving swiftly ].

retired_embartl

Walking out the revolving doors minutes later, Jeff walked over to his car, opened the door and sat down. He reflected on how it went. It hadn't been bad in the circumstances had it? Had he come across too eager? Or in his efforts to not be too eager had he appeared too nonchalant? Jeff didn't know. He just prayed. Vegalta was the job he wanted to be honest. As a manager he'd have control of the team and instigating his ideas would be much easier as the man in charge rather than as someone's dogsbuddy. That interview was in two hours. Yes it was a back up, but should he really go? The truth was now he was sure of what he wanted to, where he wanted to go -even if the general manager was weird. Applying for a job on the Hokkaido Island in the north with no real desire to go there seemed a little pointless. in customary fashion whenever Jeff faced a decision such as this, there was only way to settle the nerves and it involved a swift drive to the Talbot on The Tything, where a 10 Oz Rump steak, chips and pint of Fosters or three soon followed.

Sitting at the semi polished brown "marble" table, in a secluded corner he tried to shut out the voices of the other regulars in full flow discussing a variety of sports and pitfalls that had affected the sad individuals. With his right hand rested on his half full pint glass, he weighed up the point of going for this second interview. It provided a fail safe option for his current vacancy, and would likely mean a more immediate start to life out there, but on the other hand, he wanted full control from the off. He'd taken risks to get this far so what was another? If he failed he'd find another job somewhere. Another vacancy would turn up. Yes that was what he'd do. Jeff relaxed once more - it was fun that he had the ability to make such swift decisions when he sat down and thought about it - and then he probably realised his subconscious was just looking for an excuse for a pub lunch - now that made a lot of sense. Within minutes he smelt his food had arrived, then spotted the voluptuous woman arrive with the plate. Well he assumed it was a woman - the chest entered the room a good 5 seconds before the rest of the body.

As he tucked into the meat, the thought it might be polite to inform Consadole he wouldn't actually be turning up for the interview belatedly struck him and he made a swift call before returning to the greasy platter of severe indigestion in front of him. Life it seemed was taking an upward turn for Jeff. He realised Japan would be a big move, but dammit the opportunities were endless. He'd master his grasp of the language, he'd learn about the culture - and with a bit of luck he'd find time to acquire some martial arts skills - those films had always rocked: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House Of The Flying Daggers and the like. The tales of passionate pride, honour and love combined with spectacular fighting attributes were ones Jeff had a liking for - and now, several other [ hopefully ] inept unemployed coaches permitting - he'd be there inside 6 weeks

retired_mika318

Was he killed by the tiger or did he just elope with it?

Anyway. Lovely stuff BoN. Enjoyable reading :thup: