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Tokyo (dpa) - Japanese football fans were flocking to the Japan Football Museum ahead of Saturday's friendly match between their country and Scotland in the hope that their support can boost the spirits of Team Japan.
Built just after the 2002 Japan-Korea World Cup, the museum in Tokyo offers exhibits of photos, historical facts and information on Team Japan, as well as on other national squads.
The "Samurai Blue Flag" in one of the display rooms is covered in messages of support from Team Japan supporters. The flag is to be sent to the team's World Cup camp in Bonn, Germany.
Some messages express ambitious hopes: "Win like the samurais," and "Gambare Nippon, you can do it. Beat Brazil." Others are more modest: "First, you have to win at least one game," and "It's already good enough that you made it to the World Cup."
One fan, Miyo Arita thinks this World Cup will bring tough games for her team.
Before the 28-year-old soccer fan headed to watch the Japan- Scotland game she visited the museum to lift her spirits.
"I'd like to see Japan reach the best eight," she told Deutsche- Presse-Agentur dpa. "But I think it will be very difficult for them because of the other teams they will be playing." Japan plays heavyweights Brazil, Australia and Croatia.
But as a fan, she knows she is lucky to be able to see one of the rare games in which Japan plays against 2002 World Cup champion Brazil.
"We can still expect the miracle to happen just like we did at Atlanta Olympics when Japan won," Arita says determinedly, referring to the 1996 Olympics, when Japan beat Brazil 0-1 in the first round of games.
The museum also displays a statue of Germany's proud goalie, Oliver Kahn, who received the Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper at the 2002 World Cup, as well as his autographed gloves. Germany ranked second in 2002.
Walking through the exhibit of pictures and chronologies from past World Cups, Japanese supporters are delighted to experience a part of their favourite team.
They can walk into the team's dressing room and hear former Team Japan coach Philippe Troussier's strategy plans in French blasting from the overhead speakers. Troussier is facing the white board with diagrams of the offensive moves.
A room depicting a pitch has statues of Japanese players forming a circle, and an open space offers fans the chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with the team.
Since it opened in December 2003, more than 140,000 people have visited the museum.
Copyright 2006 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
