We worked mainly on the training centre activities in Fukushima.

In the training centre activities of Aizu on 3 July, I worked for U-12 players. Due to the requests from local coaches, the sessions were about “defense” and I lead a basic line of passing activities in 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 followed by a 2+2-on-2 + 2-on-2 (3-on-2 + 2-on-3), and a 2 + 4-on-4 practical sessions which were to improve the players’ sensibility to understand when to challenge or help during a game. The players tried a variety of plays with a very positive attitude.

On 8 July, I visited the training centre activities of U-11 and U-12 in Sousou area. As a warming-up exercise, both groups had triangle passing session and 4-on-2 paying attention to ball possession.

We also had this opportunity to select some players for the future regional match and training centre matches by having an 8-on-8 match. During the game it started to be colder with rain but they kept playing very positively.

On 19 July, there was a football event that took place in the Fukushima Airport Ground for kids who don’t play for the local training centers.

5 coaches joined in the event to lead the activities: YAMAZAKI Shigeo, Tohoku Youth Director, MIYAKO Shuichi, Tohoku Area Coach, KATO Kenji Tohoku Area Women’s Coach, OSANAI Shuto Coach, as well as myself. Participants enjoyed fun activities such as a game of tag with 140 kids from age 6 to 10 years old and dribbling exercises and at the end of the event they had a football match.

In the afternoon, I had another sessions with another group of kids aged 11-12. We had a passing exercise paying attention to pass accuracy and where to stop the ball, dribbling competition, and a practical match. Even though it was a hot day, everybody enjoyed the event and I appreciate the support from local staff members and the participants’ parents.

On the next day, 20 July, I visited Iwaki Training Centre U-11 and U-12 activities from 9am at Shohei Junior High School and High School Ground which has artificial turf.

I demanded the players to pay attention to the ball well even if you don’t have it during a triangle passing activity and then we had a 4-on-2 session to check their passing and control skills. After the shooting exercises, they had 1-on-1 session and 8-on-8 mini game. From 12:30, I joined in other activities for junior high school players. They had a game of tag to warm-up and then all players had pass exercises.

After these sessions, I met 7 U-15 players and had additional exercises with them to improve ball possession and offense direction; they had 1+ 3-on-3 and 2 + 2-on-2. Finally they had a practical game. The players had full of 2 hours training, making sure they had enough water under the hot weather.

The Kooriyama Training Centre Activities which had been planned on 23 July, were postpone to 30 August due to the heavy rain, so I taught U-12 Training Centre players of south of Fukushima at Tenguyama Ground in Shirakawa.

The players started the sessions with square pass and control, 4-on-1 and then they had 3-on-2 + 2-on-3 sessions to improve ball possession. They finished their training with a practical game. It was a clay ground, but there was a lighting system and goal posts for kids. Overall the environment was good. I look forward to seeing their play in my next visit since I told them to pay more attention to passing and control. 

My activities in Miyagi prefecture started from watching the match between U-22 Japan National Team and U-22 Costa Rica National Team on 1 July. The International Friendly Match held in Yurtec Stadium Sendai had more than 10,000 people in the crowd even though it was a weekday night game. It was good to see some of the Training Centre staff members of Fukushima at the stadium.

On 5 July, I watched an F. League match between Voscuore Sendai and Vasagey Oita. Voscuore Sendai had previously offered support to our reconstruction activities and I appreciate them for inviting a group of kids from Hirobuchi Sports Club to the match.

On the next day, I was invited as a “Dream Teacher” of “Self Producing Class” which was held at Wakabayashi Primary School in Sendai. After introducing myself briefly, I talked about how I started in football and what we can do to make your dreams come true. After the class, I joined in a futsal friendship event.

On 18 July, I visited the training sessions of Takasago SSS in Tago Primary School ground, Miyagino. They have 3 different groups for younger kids, age 10, and age 11-12 and each group has coaches and the environment for the players seemed good. There were some kids who were in trial sessions and the team had more players than last year.

Currently, public buildings are being constructed near the Tago Primary School and it can be expected that number of kids will be increase in the future. In the local football match “Takasago Cup” which is held every March took place in two venues last year and the event organisers appreciate JFA for donating football goals to them; this helped them to hold the event in the same venues this year. 

From 25-27 July, I attended “The 44th Tohoku Soccer Sports Club Friendship Competition” which took place in Appi Sports Park. On 25th, I was in a meeting held at Hotel Appi Grand and it was for Class 4 Technical Committee in Tohoku.

There was a discussion about some issues of a local league and the 6 prefectures of Tohoku seemed to work positively. I had a chance to make a presentation about our reconstruction activity report with the technical study group of Chibirin Cup.

After these meetings, we had chance to talk about reconstruction activities for Tohoku and football development with all the people who attended the meetings. 

For the mentioned competition, Miyagi’s squad team Iwanuma Nishi Sports Club got the victory. Ofunato Sun Altus from Miyagi coastal area got the 3rd place in the qualifying round and could not get any further in the competition. Okino Soccer Sports Club which was the second squad team of Miyagi is from Wakabayashi, Sendai where they couldn’t use their original ground and match venue because of the Tsunami destruction in 2011.

SHOUJI Akira, the Team Representative said, “In Wakabayashi, the only official match places available are primary school grounds, which are in Okino Primary School and Furujiro Primary School. I want Kaihin Park Ground and Nipperia Park to be reconstructed. Kids would be happy if they could have a football facility of this level. ” This expresses the feeling of football players and coaches in coastal area of Iwate and Miyagi prefecture.

On 29 July, I joined in the Charity Futsal event which is held every two months in Nagamachi Fut Messe in Sendai. It had been a while since I last visited here. There were many children joining in this event probably because it is a summer holiday season. From kids to adult people, all of them supported the reconstruction activities and were enjoying themselves. 　　　　　　　　　

This is 5th summer since the Great East Japan Earthquake. It has taken a long time for reconstruction, but let us move on step by step! “Keep up Tohoku!” we will create a very bright future.