About Sports ...

I never realized how much I actually like sports. Okay, I wouldn't actually seek out sports, but when I have nothing to do, and there is nothing else on TV, I don't mind watching sports.

On Friday I watched the J-East vs. J-West soccer match because it was raining, and I had nothing better to do. I was cheering for J-West because they were very good, and they like to use their heads - literally. They ended up winning 3 - 2, and while J-East put up an awesome fight with some fancy footwork, they were no match!

I'm still surprised how much I got into it ...

I've also been watching baseball. This is no ordinary baseball, though! It's the Koshien Summer Tournament! This competition is very important, and apparently, very difficult. Teams from all 47 prefectures of Japan battle it out all year for the Spring and Summer Koshien, and it all leads up to one team! Loose one game and you're out! It's all highly fascinating!

One tradition that I'm very fond of is the gathering of dirt from the field. After a team looses, the 3rd years (those getting ready to graduate ... therefore this is their last chance) take their draw-string bags and fill them with dirt from the playing field. I've been told they do this for two reasons, 1) it's their last time on the field as a high schooler, and it is a momentum of their journey, 2) it is a reminder of their failure, and they take the dirt as as a literal burden. It's really strange, but so much fun to watch ... especially when they cry.

The last sport I've gotten into is volleyball. Right now the Women's World Volleyball Championship is going on, and these girls are amazing! I've never seen volleyball like this before (o_o)!!!

Why do I like sports all of the sudden? It's amazing what you get into when you have nothing else to do at night ...