The 123rd Episode : 1st FIFA World Cup
[May, 1998 Montevideo, Uruguay]
This year, 1998, was the year of the 16th FIFA World Cup, that would be held in France one month later and Japan would appear the first time. I was taken to Fortaleza General Artigas on the highest place in Montevideo, where I could see the whole city including the stadium called Estadio Centenario approx. 6 miles away, in which the 1st FIFA World Cup was held.
I didn’t know football well but I felt a little deep emotion as the World Cup started from that stadium. Because football is very popular also in South America people asked me how Japan goes in the first trial. Sorry, the Japan team, but I answered they would be beaten in all the games. I was afraid their football was not yet accepted in the world.
The person in charge of the distributor took me there to show me the memorial stadium. I could see the good one in the year of World Cup and the memorial year of Japan’s debut. As for him, the first competition was held in his country and also the winner, that he wanted to be proud of.
The modest behaviour is gold, that’s said in Japan but they are not. They boast confidently what they can. I think that Japanese should do like them.
