The Team of Women Who Brought Hope to Japan

I personally know nothing about soccer. But my 10 year-old daughter has been glued to the Women's World Cup games, and -- since last Sunday's nail-biter against Brazil -- I have too.

My daughter is a hard-working, eager player on an girls travel team in Washington D.C. that practices three to four times each week, and soccer is her world. She only wears soccer clothing, even when she is not playing. She is in the midst of four weeks of soccer camp. Her coaches encouraged all the girls to watch the games that aired during the weekend, and to ask their parents to record the games that took place during the week. As far as my daughter is concerned, having soccer viewing as "homework" was a welcome task.

Given the dramatic nature of this year's world cup, we all went into the weekend pretty pumped up to see the U.S. Women's Team win the world cup. Even my mother -- who knows even less about sports than I do -- was glued to yesterday's game. With the U.S. displaying superior skill and dominating the game in terms of possession and shots on goal, their victory seemed due. And yet, every time the U.S. scored, it seemed as if viewers and announcers (including Brandi Chastain of bra bearing fame from the last U.S. Women's champion team in 1999) alike knew, deep down, that Japan would come back. The Japanese team's average height was only 5'4''. Their prior record against the U.S. was 21 losses, zero wins. They entered and experienced the game as the quintessential underdogs.

And yet, consider that the magnificent women on Japan's team were shown photographs of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March killing upwards of 22,000. Sometimes, when you are fighting for something bigger and more important than the game itself, anything is possible. Each goal scored by Japan came just moments before they would have lost. To those of us watching, it seemed like one of the most dramatic games in sports history. And when the U.S. superstar goalie, Hope Solo, hurt her knee in overtime, the remote chance of a Japanese victory began to seem possible.

What was most striking about this game was not the incredible sportswomanship on both sides, the magnificent displays of athletic superstardom, or the unbelievable tension and drama throughout the game. What was by far most striking was the reaction of the Japanese women when they won. There was no shoulder carrying, no shirts removed, no grand gestures. They lay on the ground, they hugged one another, and they seemed genuinely humbled by their victory.

The extent to which a group of young women brought hope to Japan was so moving, so palpable, that even the biggest of U.S. fans, my daughter, was happy for them!

 

 

 

Follow Elisabeth Joy LaMotte, LICSW on Twitter: www.twitter.com/elisjoy

Comments

[Pretty Onna]

12:12 PM on 07/25/2011

The ways in which you mention Brandi's reaction to scoring the winning PK in '99 make me think you consider it distasteful. I would hope I'm just reading it wrong. She wasn't exposing herself and that snapshot of her at that moment is what I think of when I think of a strong, empowering female moment. It was pure joy. It's a common reaction in soccer.

[Elisabeth Lamotte]

01:26 PM on 09/15/2011

Not distasteful at all. It was awesome. However, I found the Japanese team's reaction to be a shocking contrast. In part, perhaps, because of what their country experienced. Thanks for your comment.

[timbeaux]

12:49 AM on 07/20/2011

This was an inspiring match and the women on both sides displayed the kind of commitment and sportsmanship that have been too often absent in professional and even some amateur sports. This was competition of the highest order and I congratulate both teams for showing us how a game should be played.

[scw3967]

11:01 PM on 07/19/2011

The U.S. choked, we should hold female athletes to the same standard as men.

[Mr Anonymous]

01:08 AM on 07/22/2011

Exactly. The U.S. choked and had fundamental problems, and Japan was barely strong enough to beat them. If the Men's team played like that the U.S. and the World would have had a field day with them.

[metogamekun]

05:10 PM on 07/19/2011

My Japanese wife and I caught the last 10 minutes streaming online. I think I was as happy with the result as she was.

Sometimes need overcomes desire.

[PCPrincess]

11:00 AM on 07/19/2011

I'm absolutely thrilled to see the outpouring of congratulations to the Japanese team. From day one I rooted for both teams, the U.S. and Japan. I've always felt camaraderie with the Japanese people, since I grew up in Portland, Ore. and Tokyo was Portland's sister city. Many Japanese foreign exchange students spent time with host families in Portland, including ours. It was as if someone somewhere scripted this World Cup final just for me. In the end, I didn't want either team to lose. You were spot on about the wonderful gamesmanship and team spirit and outright politeness of the Japanese players. It was wonderful and heartwarming to watch. Congratulations to both teams and I'm looking forward to watching them both in next years Olympics!

[Elisabeth Joy LaMotte, LICSW]

02:25 PM on 07/19/2011

So true. Both sides were a genuine inspiration. Thanks to them, I am a true soccer fan!

[Mr Anonymous]

01:12 AM on 07/22/2011

After the horrible play by both teams (so I don't go off for awhile I'll just say that the U.S. had major fundamental problems, and that Japan was barely strong enough to beat them) I don't think I'll ever watch any more women's soccer. If thats the best women of the world have to offer, then if I was a woman soccer player I'd be ashamed of my sport. Luckily, I'm a male soccer player/coach though.