Saitama Championship Final

URATON cruised to the final game of the championship, where they played Urawa Minami. This seemed a little strange. The championship for all Saitama and the two teams playing are Urawa East and Urawa South.

The game was at Saitama Stadium 2002, the place built for Japan side of the 2002 World Cup. It filled up pretty well for a high school game. I think most people were from other soccer teams and family members but it was a good turnout. I kept running into students and parents but didn't talk to any of the teachers. They showed up an hour and a half early to get in free and get seats. I was planning on that but the buses were packed and I couldn't get there on time.

It was a rough game. One kid was taken off the field for what I think was a pride related injury, but there was nothing more serious. There wasn't much doubt who would win. Urawa Higashi dominated possession and played great defense. The kids played well, and took the game 1-0.

Sendai and Matsushima

Kaori and I spent two days in Sendai and Matsushima. They're towards the north-east of the main island. At least they should be since they're in 東北. Sendai was alright. A small city by Japanese standards, and I felt like one days there really was enough, even though we didn' see all the touristy things. One of the main attractions is the "Site of Sendai Castle", which is a euphemism for a place with no castle. At least Date Masamune's statue was cool. (picture 1)

Matsushima was more interesting. There were, of course, shrines and/or temples everywhere. Most of them looked like they were made for a horror movie being shot there. There were caves carved into a rock cliff with odd statues in and around them. It was getting late then so my photos didn't turn out well. Picture 2 is a brightened version of one of the nicer ones.

We also took a tour around the islands. This is one of "Japan's 3 Famous Views". It was nice, but, growing up near water and seagulls, I can't say it was particularly amazing.

Kaori bought (reserved and special ordered) us lunch at a shojin ryouri restaurant in Entsuin (a temple). It was expensive, but not so much by shojin ryouri standards. They brought about 5 courses, all made up of many small dishes. I was hoping we'd finished about halfway through, but the food kept coming. It was a great experience, and as a vegetarian in Japan I should ave done it much sooner.

We finished the day with the light-up ceremony at Entsuin. It was quite beautiful, and NHK even came to film it. A path was lit by electric lights and candles all around the temple gardens. Unfortunately, my only good picture was of the gate leading inside.