Football: divided loyalty for Japanese-Brazilians

David Luiz of Brazil celebrates after Neymar scored his team’s opening goal during the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group A match between Brazil and Japan at National Stadium on June 15, 2013 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Getty Images)

Brazil’s Japanese community was on edge as many tuned in to watch the Confederations Cup opening game, their hearts divided over whether to back the Selecao or the Daihyo but united in their love of the beautiful game.

In the end, a despondent Japan lost Saturday’s opener 3-0 to Brazil, the result barely an improvement on a 4-0 friendly thumping last October, with Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni promising that “we can do so much better.”

“Viva, Kampai” (cheers), Japanese-Brazilian singer Joe Hirata hollered as he sought to spark the enthusiasm of more than 100 people gathered at a Japanese community center minutes before the two rival teams stepped into Brasilia’s National Stadium.

At the community center, organizers prepared Brazil’s national dish, the feijoada black bean and meat stew, along with traditional Japanese fare.

“This is meant to symbolize the confraternization between the Brazilian and Japanese people,” explained Jorge Nakano, vice president of the Cultural and Welfare Association of Liberdade.

Brazil has the largest Japanese community outside the East Asian island nation, with around 1.8 million of Brazil’s 194 million people of Japanese descent. About 60 percent of the Japanese community lives in Sao Paulo state.

The community center, located in the heart of Liberdade district of Sao Paulo, was festooned with the green and yellow colors of Brazil’s Selecao and the red and white of Japan’s Nippon Daihyo.

Many of the guests wore the yellow jerseys of Brazil or the blue jerseys of Japan.

“Our hearts are divided between Brazil and Japan,” said Hirata, as he serenaded the crowd.

Local Japanese Brazilian dignitaries, including Valter Ihoshi, a federal deputy for the state of Sao Paulo, delivered speeches on a stage bedecked with the Brazilian and Japanese flags.

“I am rooting for both teams because I am Brazilian but also proud of my Japanese heritage,” said Marina Maeda, the association’s social director who promotes Japanese culture in the community. “I would be pleased with a draw.”

William and Julieta Ishiy, a second-generation Japanese-Brazilian couple, said they hoped the Selecao would win.

“But if Japan win, I will be happy too,” said the wife.

After the singing of Japanese and Brazilian national anthems and a spirited performance by the Aguia de Ouro samba school, it was time to watch the Brasilia game beamed on a giant screen.

Neymar‘s stunning opening goal just three minutes from the start drew polite applause.

“Super goal,” commented 62-year-old Hugo Kawauchi.

“I am a Nisei (second-generation Japanese Brazilian), but I am supporting Japan,” he told AFP. “Why? Because here, my Brazilian friends call me Japanese. But when I am in Japan, I feel Brazilian and say I am Brazilian.”

The crowd displayed little emotion, and, at the end of the first half, many guests left.

The mood remained subdued for most of the second half except for loud applause when Paulinho scored an early second goal and later when substitute Jo of Atletico Mineiro sealed Brazil’s victory with a third.

“A well-deserved victory,” said Hirata. “Brazil was the better team, technically superior.”

“I think they can go all the way and win the tournament because they are really focused,” he added.