F.C. Inagekaigan International
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A multinational football team playing in Inagekaigan Kaihin Park since 2002 .
| Abbrev. | FCII |
|---|---|
| Active Period | 2002 - now |
| Home page | https://sites.google.com/view/fcii/ |
Introduction[edit]
Cited from David's comment:
FC Inagekaigan International has played football in sunlight, darkness, rain, heavy winds, snow, snowstorms, sandstorms, heat, cold, high humidity, on small fields and large fields, wet fields and dry fields, against better teams and weaker teams, under shitting birds, in typhoons, and during earthquakes (small ones). Football has united us. Football has helped us develop respect for each other. Football has led us to friendships across cultures, language barriers, and ages. Football has increased our appreciation of Japan for allowing so many of us non-Japanese to be here and play and of Chiba City for providing and maintaining the places where we can play. Football has given us an escape from our homes and a waiting group to return to after visiting our hometowns and home countries. And, maybe most important—football has given us something to look forward to after every working week!
This look back is my attempt to capture some of our group’s experiences, facts, and memories. Why does it end in 2013? Because that is when I had to stop being a historian to focus on other priorities. To players who joined after 2013 and are not included here, I apologize.
Thanks goes to Takahashi Jun for greatly helping with player list names, characters, and comments in 2012.
Like my football playing, you may find mistakes and misses here. But—also like my football playing until every game’s end—this is my best effort now. Please enjoy, keep enjoying playing, and keep FC Inagekaigan International going strong!
David Gregory—Chiba, Japan 2015.12.5
History[edit]
The Beginning (2002)[edit]
Before 2002
Ali Akkemik (Turkey; nickname: “Chemical Ali”), Ferry Tjandra (Indonesia), Martin Arbello (Argentina), and possibly Thomas (Kenya), all Chiba-Dai Chiba University graduate students, played weekend football near Tokyo Bay in the Kaihinmakuhari area with Iranians who “spent more time arguing than playing.” The group wanted to find a ground closer to Chiba University.
2002.1.25 Friday 19:00—Okamoto Scholarship Foundation International Exchange Meeting
(Ms. Okui Kazu—OSF Office Manager; Ms. Kato Yumiko—OSF Assistant Office Manager) Ali suggested organizing a group to play on the large, open grassy field at Inagekaigan Kaihin Park. Fujino Atsushi (Japan; nickname: “The Pirate”) said he could recruit friends. David Gregory (USA; nicknames: “Dave,” “Groundfinder“) agreed to join and ask friends.
***This was the FC Inagekaigan International idea’s birth.***
2002.2.2 Saturday 13:00—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
First play day scheduled, then cancelled, probably because no members available (David’s planning book shows event crossed off).
2002.2.8 Friday— Okamoto Scholarship Foundation International Exchange Meeting
Group probably talked about playing next day.
2002.2.9 Saturday 14:00—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Cold, raining. First day playing at Inagekaigan. Only 2 players came: Fujikawa Akihiko (Japan; nickname: “Hachi”) and David. They practiced dribbling and passing on the large, grassy field as Hachi’s wife, Momoe, sat in shelter and watched (our first fan!).
***This was FC Inagekaigan International’s birthday.***
2002.2.16 Saturday 14:00—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Play scheduled; not sure who, if anyone, played (David did not play).
2002.2.22 Friday 19:00—Okamoto Scholarship Foundation International Exchange Meeting
David complained to group that only two people came on 2002.2.9; they promised to come next time.
2002.2.23 Saturday 14:00—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Play cancelled, probably because no members came (David checked playing area). Evening: Fabrice Alessandro (Suisse; nickname: “The Assassin”) and David met first time at Benten-cho Kaikan International Party. David asked Fabrice to join football group.
2002.3.2 Saturday—(no schedule found)
2002.3.9 Saturday 14:30—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Group played; not sure how many players, but it was more than two.
2002.3.16 Saturday 14:00—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Group played.
2002.3.23 Saturday 14:00—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Group played.
2002.3.30 Saturday 14:30—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Group played—four weeks in a row! We were rolling.
2002.4.13 Saturday 14:30—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Group played. Already 2 months!
After the Beginning—Events and Stories （2002～2013）[edit]
2002 Mid-Spring—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Ali proposed “FC Kusaiyatsura” group name. More players joined every week. Atsushi was coming every week and recruited Taniyama-san (Japan; nickname “Pixie”) and several other Kanda University student friends. The group’s first female players, Tanaka Chie, Enomoto Ai, and Endo Hanako (David’s friends) joined. Many Chiba-Dai students joined. We soon had enough players for three, then four teams. We were bumping into and crowding out dog walkers, kite-flyers, and other people who wanted to play games on the large, grassy field.
We started an e-mail Yahoo! Chat Group [chibadai-soccer@yahoogroups.com] (idea maybe from Alex of Bolivia?). This was our main Internet communication mode for several years.
David one day asked two men and a woman sitting by our field to join our game. They worked together in a Tokyo coffee shop and came to the park that day just by chance from Tokyo. Kawashima Akiko was the woman. She continued to play almost every week for several years, once scoring three goals in one day. She became good friends with Chie, Ai, and Hanako, moved to Indonesia to join Ferry in 2008, and married him in 2011.
2002 Late spring—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
Korea and Japan staged the joint World Cup. The Ireland team stayed in the Kaihinmakuhari New Otani Hotel and practiced on a new, real, world-class quality football ground at Inagekaigan Kaihin Park. We continued playing on the Park’s large, grassy field every Saturday during the Cup, then rushed to someone’s apartment after finishing to watch the Cup matches.
2002 Mid-summer—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
We sometimes played two games at the same time, each with full teams: 44 or more total players in action at once! We had players at various times from Japan, Turkey, Indonesia, Argentina, South Korea, China, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Canada, USA, Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Suisse, England, The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, and maybe France, Spain, and Russia. We one day counted players from 20 countries―our own World Cup group in Inagekaigan.
One of Ferry’s favorite memories from this period is of the day when everyone looked up during a break to see a bird diving toward us. It let loose a stream of white shit that plopped right into our field’s center. The attacker then pulled up and turned away like a bomber completing a successful mission, and we dribbled around the target zone the rest of the day.
2002 Late Summer—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park
We were using backpacks, bags, coats, and clothes for goals and sometimes for corner markers. Corners often were not marked. No goal or touch lines. “Out” was when players yelled that balls were too far away to play. Atsushi began bringing large orange cones for goals. David one day asked him to show where he found the cones. He was “borrowing” them from the Park’s Flower Museum and pool parking lot and returning them after we played. Going to the parking lot, Atsushi and David saw a large, fenced, empty ground with beautiful grass: the Ireland World Cup practice ground. And the gate was open.... “What are we doing on that field with the dog walkers?” they asked. The Ireland Ground became our home ground that day. FC Kusaiyatsura may have been the first organized group to play there after the World Cup.
2002 Fall—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park, Ireland Ground
Soon after we moved to our new ground, we saw a short, serious guy there every week practicing dribbling and juggling by himself. We asked him to join us. He was Wu-san (China). He played every week until he returned to China in 2010 and was most responsible for keeping our group alive after 2006 after most original and Chiba-Dai members left.
~2003 (?) Summer—Gyotoku (?)
We played a match arranged by David through a church contact against “Ambassadors in Sport,” a travelling, international, amateur, Christian evangelical team visiting Japan. The Ambassadors were playing together for the first time, so we expected to do well with good ball handlers (Taniyama-san and friends) and experienced foreign players (Ali, Ferry, Martin…). The Ambassadors killed us. Their longer legs easily outran ours on the full-size pitch (much larger than our normal ground).
~2004-5 (?)—Kemigawahama Sewage Processing Center Field
We played two matches arranged by Kurosawa-san, a soccer fanatic trying to establish a league in Chiba. The pitch was full size, almost all gravel, with no grass. Many regular members played the first match against a Japanese team. It was close, with little scoring. Maybe a draw. Few members showed for the second match, so we joined a Japanese team to play Tokyo Football League’s SALA. Sponsored by the Tsudanuma bar, they included many gaijin members, especially Brits, played league games every week, played a rough game, and killed us.
~2005-6 (?)—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park, Ireland Ground
We saw three guys kicking a ball around next to our game and invited them to join us. Two were the Ban brothers. They then played with us almost every week until younger Ban moved to Tokyo to live with his girlfriend and older Ban transferred to Osaka (both ~2010?). Always smiling, creative, and selfless, they freely passed to less talented players and gave good playing tips. Older Ban requested a party with us before he married. He said he chose playing with us rather than with other more skillful teams due to our passion and hard efforts.
~2005—2008—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park, Ireland Ground
Group members gradually decreased. University students graduated, found jobs, moved away. Working members changed jobs and transferred, or became busy with girlfriends and families. Other football groups―Japanese, Chinese, and Korean―increased at Ireland Ground.
~2007-2009—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park, Ireland Ground
Fabrice and David were the only remaining original members after Martin left. They knew few recruiting prospects. Most older Chiba-Dai students were gone; new ones were difficult to contact. FC Inage Kusaiyatsura started to disappear. We joined other Chinese or Korean groups because we had too few members for our own games. These were dark years. We felt like abandoned children.
Wu-san saved the group during this period by gradually recruiting more Chinese friends and co-workers. He almost single-handedly returned the group strength to 20 or more players every week.
We played during this period on a gravel field in an apartment complex near JR Kaihinmakuhari Station when the Ireland Ground was closed for maintenance. We were happy to have a ground for playing and enjoyed good games, but it was far for most players, and we shared it with baseball teams, kids, and parents playing with kids. This was the site of the memorable “Hard Rain Game” when a sudden, mid-summer, high-wind squall dumped on us. We laughed, kept on playing drenched in the downpour, and finished the afternoon under a clear sky.
~2009-10 (?)—Various fields
Wu-san organized futsal matches against various teams at different fields, including near JR Kasairinkaikoen Station.
Sometime during this period when the Ireland Ground was closed a guard told us to stop playing in our original ground, the large, grassy field at Inagekaigan Kaihin Park. The dog walkers took over, and we have not challenged them since.
2011.3.11 Friday 14:46 —Great East Japan Earthquake
After checking that people we knew were not hurt by the earthquake and following tsunami, most of us asked the most important question, “What about football tomorrow?”
Our two main grounds, The Ireland Ground and the Kaihin Park field, were built on reclaimed land and suffered liquefaction. Some parts sunk, and holes opened in other parts and spewed out grey, sandy sludge. Both grounds were closed for repairs for months. We shifted to a new alternate ground at Isobe Park near JR Inagekaigan station with nice grass and no crowds. David discovered this almost hidden park on bicycle in 2010. It became our main backup ground.
2011 Spring
Takahashi Jun started a group Facebook page after returnee Doug Durgee suggested it at an izakaya party. 2011 Late summer—Isobe Park
2011 Late summer—Isobe Park
The Ame-zoku (Rain Tribe) sub-group officially started after playing through a rainy afternoon. The Ame-zoku sub-group is difficult to enter and has difficulty organizing meetings because few players want to join.
2012 Spring—Isobe Park
An obnoxious local who dislikes foreigners (meaning: people not living in his neighborhood) harassed us and other children playing in the park and complained to the Mihama-ku Parks and Recreation Department. New New Leader Sakamoto argued hard and well against the man, but we lost the fight and left that day (as we promised if we lost). The Department posted signs two days later prohibiting ball playing in the park.
2013 August—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park, Ireland Ground
Fabrice was our first member sent to a hospital in an ambulance after a Big Chen hard-kicked ball from short range knocked him unconscious. Fabrice did not remember what happened, but was not injured.
Players[edit]
Cited from David's comment:
These lists were the best Takahashi Jun and I could create from memories, e-mail addresses, and Facebook members in 2012-2013. They are not complete, or completely correct, but we hope they will give you a better understanding of the many types of people who have played with us. We apologize to anyone we missed and for inaccurate information. Most 2002-2005-era entries are mine. Jun provided players, name characters, and comments for almost all 2006-2013 players. “?” marks indicate unknown or missing names or characters. Names are listed in alphabetical order within each section. All females are included in a single, special section.
The Golden Years (2002-2005)—Chiba-Dai Students[edit]
Alex ? : (Colombia?) Started 2002. Graduate student. Moved to Bulgaria for psychology studies ~2003?
Alex ? : (South America) Started 2002. Graduate student. Returned home ~2003?
Ali Akkemik: (Turkey; nickname: “Chemical Ali”) Original member 2002. Economics graduate student. Large size makes him look slow, but controls ball well with superior game understanding; difficult to stop; on- and off-field leader. Transferred to Nagoya University team ~2003? Returned to Turkey with Japanese wife and child ~2005? Has played with us during Japan returns.
Doug Durgee: (USA; nickname: “The Killer”) Original member 2002. University of Maryland exchange student. Hard tackler. Returned to USA to finish school 2002, then returned to Japan to work in Sendai. Has returned for social events with newer members, but not to play yet.
Ferry Tjandra: (Indonesia) Original member 2002. Remote Sensing graduate student. Tricky dribbler, precise passer. Returned to Indonesia 2006. Almost late for his Japan marriage party after an afternoon playing with us in 2011.
Gary Uchida: (Canada) ~2003-6? Graduate student. Football novice, but well-conditioned from karate. Returned to Canada in 2000s.
Marcio Akira: (Brazil) Original member 2002. Agriculture graduate student. Fast, hard dribbler, with great balance, athleticism from capoeira; played with Latin passion. Returned to Brazil 2004; later married Endo Hanako.
Martin Arbello: (Argentina) Original member 2002. Industrial Design graduate student. Taught us the “merry-go-round” dribble and the South American way to play. Returned to Argentina 2007.
Thomas ? : (Kenya) Original member 2002. Remote Sensing graduate student. Original Human Statue (always waiting offsides in front of rival’s goal for long passes). Returned to Kenya ~2007?
The Golden Years (2002-2005) —Non-Chiba-Dai Students[edit]
Ban Hiroyuki: (Japan; nickname: “Older Ban”) Started ~2005-6. Company worker. David recruited with brother Masamichi from practicing next to our game on Ireland Ground. Ex-club player; long legs, pinpoint kicker, smart offense motivator, most selfless passer, always in a good mood. Asked team for special party to help celebrate his pending marriage. Transferred to Osaka League ~2010. Has returned to play during holiday visits.
Ban Masamichi: (Japan; nickname: “Younger Ban”) Started ~2005-6. Company worker. David recruited with brother Hiroyuki from practicing next to our game on Ireland Ground. Long, fast legs, pro-like defense, great open-field passer, and like older brother, always in a good mood. Retired after transfer to West Tokyo for fatherhood ~2010.
David Gregory: (USA; nicknames: “Dave,” “Groundfinder”) Original member 2002. Businessman. Still trying to understand rules; usually found in defense, catching breath; struggles to keep pace with smarter, younger, better players (meaning: everyone else). Major team contributions include recruiting, finding Ireland, Isobe, Masago, and Takahama grounds, starting and presenting Year-end Annual Awards since 2011.
Fabric Alessandro: (Suisse; nickname: “The Assassin”) Original member 2002. French teacher. Recruited by David at international party. Loves running, plays hard in all parts of field; became dangerous corner kick head shot threat; would win “10-Year Most Improved Player” if available. First player to be wheeled off pitch on stretcher and taken to a hospital in an ambulance.
Fujikawa Akihiko: (Japan; nickname: “Hachi”) Original member 2002. Company worker. David friend. Attended only once, on first day (2002.2.9). Ex-school club player. Tried to show David how to improve dribbling, kicking.
Fujino Atsushi: (Japan; nickname: “The Pirate”) Original member 2002. Kanda University student. Uses unique “standing dribble” (hopping with ball held between legs) to escape tight spots; on medical leave since ~2008.
Jianhua Zhu 朱建華: (China; nicknames: “Kaka,” “Torres”) Started ~2003-4? Good as Kanda University student, now even better; best Inagekaigan header artist; amazing plays around goal posts; scores countless goals if not marked well; “Human Helicopter” award first created for him.
Jules Dim: (Cameroon; nickname: “Dim”) ~2005-2009? Chiba-Dai remote sensing researcher. Tough defender, selfless passer. Returned a few times to play after transfer to Tsukuba ended Inagekaigan career ~2009.
Park ? 白 ? : (South Korea; nickname “Paku-san”) Started ~2005? Arranged friendly matches with South Korean team. Physically strong forward.
Shimazaki Daisuke: (Japan) started 2002. Fujino-san, Taniyama-san friend. Clever dribbler.
Shin Ziming 陳紫明: (China) Started ~2005? Always-smiling player often in mid-field or defense. Persistent defense and attacks; runs very much, all over pitch. Makes teammates, rivals smile.
Shoshi ? ? ? : (Japan; nickname: “Oyaji”) Started 2002. Short, strong attacker. Transferred to Osaka ~2004.
Steve Davis: (Canada) Started ~2003? English teacher. Tall, top defender; scary big kicks, good big kick fakes; high ethics, team motivator. Returned to Canada ~2005?
Taniyama ? ? ? : (Japan; nickname “Pixie”) Started 2002. Fujino-san friend. Popular, master playmaker; now plays with cross-Ireland Ground rival FC Kyukei.
Wu ? ? ? : (China; nickname: “First Leader”) Started ~2002. Quiet, serious, dedicated, hard playing top defender; powerful defensive header; inspiration to other members; often spent Sundays practicing alone or later with Takahashi Jun; saved team with new recruits in 2006-2009 (“Wu-san Revival Era”). Returned to China 2010.
Yang Baohua 楊宝華: (China; nicknames: “You-san,” “New Leader” when original “Leader” Wu left in 2010) Started ~2005? Played at same Beijing university as Li Xiangfeng “Blueman Lao Li.” Calm midfield passer, regular goal scorer with volley shots. Returned to China 2011.
Wu-san Revival Era (~2006-2009)[edit]
Chen Qiang 陳強: (China; nicknames: “Shearer,” “Middle Chen”) Started ~2007? Lightning speed, fear inspiring shots; game changer on defense; often plays forward, but dangerous in any position.
Chen Yong 陳永: (China; nicknames “Big Chen,” White Shirt Chen”) Started ~2008? Powerful kick, fast legs; few other players as tough or selfless; started and prefers forward, but often plays responsible center defensive back or keeper “because no one else will do it;” always a relief to have as your teammate.
Du Yong 杜勇: (China; nickname: “To-san”) Started ~2007? Chen Qiang, Tuffy (Dafei) university friend. First forward, now top defense specialist; still attacks well. Applies basketball strategies to football pitch.
Feng Jiang 蒋峰: (China; nicknames: “Real Madrid,” “Machine”) Started ~2007? Always left forward; quick, repetitive, precision striker. Returned to China ~2010?
Fu ? ? ? : (China) Started ~2008? Works mid-field well.
Fu Xian 付欣: (China; nickname: “New Machine”) Started ~2006? Top defenseman with most courage and persistence on the pitch; great keeper and forward with fear-inspiring right foot strikes and deadly, pinpoint headers.
Komiyama ? 小宮山 ? : (Japan; nicknames: “Policeman,” “Komi-chan”) Started ~2008? Twice caught Wei (Gi-san) speeding (Komiyama-san is a real policeman); Wei recruited him to play. Now Tuffy’s good friend. Deadly serious, experienced, dominating center-back; fearsome shooter when moves forward.
Li Chengzhe 李承哲:（China; nickname “Juve”) Started ~2007? Fine mid-fielder; provides easy-to-receive one-touch passes; a game-maker; trademark is favorite Juventus jersey; moved away from Chiba.
Li Jian 李剣: (China) Started ~2009? Started as forward, but often found in mid-field; physically very strong; never loses a ball he shields; all-round player with nice dribbling and passing. Returned to China 2010; works for IBM with Min-chan in Dalian. Returned to play during 2011~2012 business trips.
Li Songnan 李松男: (China; nickname “Xiao Li”) Started ~2008? Likes forward wings; always strong Human Statue Award candidate; great traps; sharp, selfless passer; goal-getter with fast legs, accurate shots.
Li Xiangfeng 李相鋒: (China; nicknames:”Blueman,” “Lao Li”) Started ~2006? Team’s most mature Li-san; still quick, smart, and tough; makes games exciting with skilled mid-field passes, heel kicks.
Oscar Kojayo: (Peru) Started 2007. David recruited at Ocean Deep bar. Excels in midfield, forward; passionate, skillful; inspires both teammates and rivals to play better; shows how to pass, dribble and shoot the South American way.
Ruben ? : (Mexico) Played ~2009? David recruited at Ocean Deep bar. Rare in Japan: player with Central American passion.
Sui Fumin 隋福民: (China; nickname “Min-chan”) Started ~2007? Stable center back specialist. Returned to China ~2010? Now working with Li Jiang in Dalian. Sometimes plays when returns to Inage for business.
Sun Hongchen 孫宏晨: (China; nickname “Son-Gokuu”) Started ~2009. All-around mid-field dynamo and playmaker with high sense and skills; sends perfect passes, dribbles and intercepts well, and always remembers to help defense; team mobility always improves with him.
Takahashi Jun ? ? : (Japan) Started 2007. Top own-goal scorer, but also most energetic, passionate player everywhere on field, in every game; un-named leader who makes players from all countries comfortable.
Tiangjia Zhang 張 ? : (China; nicknames “Carlos,” “Chou-san”) Started ~2006? Top right-side defender with quick checking and tough shoulder charging; often creates chances by moving upfield to make assists.
Tou ? : (China; nickname “Fumanchu”) Started ~2007? Medium size, but physically strong, especially when controlling ball on defense and long passing. Injury stopped play ~2010?
Wang Honggang 王洪剛: (China) Started ~2006? Skillful mid-fielder; sees wide area, then attacks with accurate passing and shooting. Returned to China ~2010? Returned to play once in January 2012.
Wang Yu 王宇: (China; nickname “Italy”) Started 2007? Forward wing, mid-fielder; big clearing specialist; often surprises with super shots. Returned to China 2011.
Wei Gemin 魏かくみん: (China; nickname “Gi-san”) Started ~2006? Usually mid-field, but can be found all over pitch; effective cut-back move often fakes defenders to open passing opportunities. 2011 knee injury stopped playing, but he could not quit football and returned in 2012 playing with a supporter.
Xu Haegook 徐海国: (China; nickname: “Joe-san”) Started ~2007? Usually mid-field, sometimes forward; skilled Messi-like dribbler; sees everywhere while dribbling and supplies surprising passes; one of our best playmakers.
Zeng Zhi 曾智: (China; nickname “Tuffy,” “Dafei” 大飛) Started ~2007? Attended university with Du Yong, Chen Qiang. Always left forward; bicycle kick specialist.
Zhang Femon 張 ? : (China; nickname: “Haidong”) Started ~2007? Fu Xin, Chen ziming's friend. Right forward; invades rival territory by dribbling up flanks, then sending center cross passes from right corner; broke elbow in 2011; temporarily retired.
Zo ？ : (China) Started ~2008? Skilled dribbler, new playmaker.
Modern Era (2009-2013)[edit]
？大襯褲？: (China; nickname “Tank”) Started ~2010? Tough, stocky; body well made for rugby; nothing knocks down or hurts him; often plays keeper, but quick dribbler and dangerous attacker. Group unanimously forced out in 2013 after would not stop verbally abusing members and starting fights (FCIKI’s only ejection to date).
? ? : (Nigeria). Started late 2000s. Brought different style to ground. Only played a few times; we would like to see him again.
Cao Bin曹斌:（China; nickname “Sou-san”) Started ~2011? Clever, calm mid-fielder; quickly grasps what is happening on pitch, gives effective passes with quick judgements and moves.
Chen ? ? ? : (China) Started 2011? Fast midfielder.
Daisuke ? ? : (Japan) Started ~2011? Sumita-san friend. Also transferred from England where he learned his unique style. Most often found setting up offense in mid-field; dribbling specialist, laser-sharp passer, fast shooter.
Jeff Kershaw: (Australia; nickname: “Monster from Down Under”) Started 2010. Fabrice, David recruited from Ocean Deep bar. Scariest player; do not anger him on defense by scoring or allowing easy goals.
Jeff Moyse: (?) Started 2010? Fabrice, David recruited from Ocean Deep bar.
Jiang Meng 姜猛: (China) Started ~2010. Sun Gokuu friend. Another Chiba-Dai mid-field dynamo; runs much like Gokuu; does work of 3 people; passes, dribbles, shoots well; definitely motivates his team, gives others headaches.
Kurosawa ? 黒澤 ? : (Japan) Started 2011. Sakamoto Atsushi friend. Travels from Tokyo to play. Football newcomer improving fast; helpful contributor to defense. Received first “Most Improved Player” award.
Liao Chuan Kang 廖传康 : (China) Started ~2011,2017-now. Chen Ziming friend; defender,sometimes keeper,stopped in 2011 but return later.
Marc Antomattei: (USA; nickname: “Marckham,” as in “Beckham” (his joke)) Started 2010. David friend. Scored every week as beginner for first 3 weeks he played; often traveled to play by Shinkansen from Numazu, Shizuoka-ken.
Michael Jagsh: (Germany) Started 2012. Chiba-Dai automotive engineering graduate student. Fabrice, David recruited at Ocean Deep bar. Back injury ended career after playing only once or twice in 2012.
Miura Tomoaki 三浦智朗: (Japan; nickname: “The Magician”) Started ~2010. Began as experienced forward, but often keeps midfield under control; helps on defense; fine dribbler, passer, and shooter with calm judgement; fun to watch.
Okacho ? ? ? : (Japan) Started ~2011? Sumita-san, Daisuke friend. Serious, hard-care player; strong body stabilizes defense; long, powerful kicks set up attacks.
Ou ? ? ? : (China) Started 2010? Top defender, keeper; always in right place with right move to block attackers; great defensive header; fearless in goal front.
Qiu Yunyong 邱運勇:（China; nickname; “Q-san,” “Nagatomo”) Started ~2010. Short forward, strong with ball; fast sideline dribbling looks like Inter-Milan’s Nagatomo.
Ronglian Juu (?) ? ? : (China; nickname: “Blackshirt”) Often keeper.
Ryuji Tomita 富田りゅうじ: (Japan/Peru) Started 2009. Knows football very well; can control whole team, dominate a game, play any position; maybe best in midfield; one of best game-makers.
Sakamoto Atsushi 坂本篤: (Japan; nicknames: “Acchan,” “New New Leader” from 2011 when “New Leader” Yang Baohua returned to China) Started ~2009? Plays any position well, but mainly found in mid-field; aggressive, brilliant playmaker; multi-athlete with exhaustless stamina, high speed, strong shots and stronger leadership; can motivate a whole team. Stellar performance arguing against Urusai-san trying to eject us from Isobe Park in 2012.
Suematsu Tomoyuki: (Japan; nickname; “Tom”) Started 2009. David recruited at Ocean Deep bar.
Sumita Koichi コウイチ: (Japan; nickname “Coach,” “Mosquitoe”) Started ~2009. Sakamoto-san friend. Transferred from UK Premier League for greater challenge at Inagekaigan. Mid-field wizard; gifted game-maker supplying magical passes; sees everything on pitch even as dribbling through jamming defenders; totally changes situations with laser-through passes; flexible, hard to catch; annoying as opponent like a flying, biting insect.
Theo ? : (Ghana; nickname “Ghana”) Started ~2009? Takahashi-san recruited near JR Inage Station. Works midfield, forward well; surprising shooting skills.
Watanabe Kazuhiro 渡邉 和弘: (Japan) Started ~2010. Miura-san friend. Mid-fielder with stable, cooperative play; also great help on defense.
Yang Shangyong 楊尚勇 : (China; nickname “Lao yang”， “Kouchou sensei”) Started ~2011? Scouted by Du Yong. Always plays with good smile, strong head clearing and defense; often in left mid-field, sometimes defense; dangerous dribbling up left side line and sending sharp passes, pinpoint headers.
Yokoyama Hisaki ? ひさき: (Japan) Started ~2010. Inahariyama Chika’s boyfriend; now husband. Tall, physically strong mid-fielder dominates field; honed skills playing futsal; protects ball well with huge body frame, “Kyushu Style”; shoots headers without jumping.
Female Players—All Eras[edit]
? ? ? ? : (Japan) Started ~2009? Lived in South America; joined us to practice Spanish. Better player than many of us males. Only played a few times; we wish she came more.
Endo Hanako ? ? : (Japan; nickname: “Hana-chan”) Started 2002. David’s friend’s friend. Designer at IBM subsidiary. Married Marcio Akira; lives in Brazil.
Enomoto Ai ? ? : (Japan; nickname “Ai-chan”) Started 2002. Hanako friend.
Kawashima Akiko ? ? : (Japan) Started 2002. David recruited with friends from Inagekaigan Park field picnic. Once scored three goals in one day (good goals, not easy goals). Married Ferry Tjandra; lives in Indonesia.
Tanaka Chie ? ? : (Japan) Started 2002. Hanako friend. School teacher.
Yokoyama (ex-Inahariyama) Chika 今針山智佳: (Japan; nicknames “Chika,” “Hari”) Started ~2009 as beginner. Physical therapist; rehabilitated David’s knee after 2005 surgery; recruited husband Hisaki to play. Precious player with brilliant talent; many thought she was well experienced her first day when she easily trapped long passes and delivered pinpoint crosses; passes and scores great goals with accurate kicks; plays inside mid-field or forward. Received first Most Valuable Player Award.
Leaders[edit]
Ali, Ferry, Martin: (2002-2006) The three pre-group and group founding members.
Fujino Atsushi, Alex ? : (2002-?) Both set up Yahoo! Internet chat group; Atsushi recruited Kanda-Dai members, friends.
Wu-san: (2007-2010) First “Leader”; saved group with many new recruits (~ 2007-2009).
Yang-san: (2010-2011) Declared himself “New Leader” at Wu-san’s farewell party.
Sakamoto Atsushi: (2011-2013) Selected “New New Leader” by group acclamation at Yon-san’s farewell party, then gave political-style acceptance speech (a first for our group) explaining vision for group’s future.
Others[edit]
Romances[edit]
Enomoto Ai & Doug Durgee: (2002)
Kawashima Akiko & Ferry Tjandra: (2002-present) Married 2011; living in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Endo Hanako & David Gregory: (2002-2003)
Endo Hanako & Marcio Akira: (2004~present) Married with 1 child, living in Brasilia, Brasil.
Imahariyama Chika & Yokoyama Hisaki: Started joint playing 2010; married 2012.1; living in Chiba.
Group Names and Logos[edit]
FC Inage Kusaiyatsura: (2002-~2007) Ali’s original name has two meanings:
1) kusai yatsura = stinky guys.
2) ku saiya tsura = (Inage-)ku saiya(ku) (ya)tsura = Inage Precinct great guys (maybe).
(no name): (~2007-2010) We called ourselves only “the group of international guys who play almost every Saturday at Inagekaigan Kaihin Park” after all original Chiba-Dai players left and before Wu-san’s 2010 Farewell Party.
FC Inagekaigan International: (2010-present) Takahashi Jun introduced new group name and black cat logo on a T-shirt gift to Wu-san at Wu-san’s 2010 Farewell Party. Jun chose the cat logo because many wild cats roam Inagekaigan Kaihin Park (and he likes cats).
Playing Grounds[edit]
Inagekaigan Kaihin Park Open Ground: (2002 spring, summer) First ground. Later alternate ground when Ireland Ground closed for repairs and for small evening summer games when Ireland Ground closed at 17:00. Stopped using after chased away by guard ~2010.
Inagekaigan Kaihin Park Ireland World Cup Team Practice Ground: (2002 late summer to present) Present home ground, with turf as soft as a futon Japanese mattress.
Kemigawahama Ground (near Kemigawahama Hospital): (~2002-2004?) Rough pitch used few times when Ireland Ground closed for repairs.
Kaihinmakuhari area park/baseball ground area: (~2006-2010?) Gravel ground used when Ireland Ground closed for repairs.
Takasu Park: (2011) Small, but convenient; used few times when Ireland Ground closed for repairs.
Isobe Park: (2011-2012) Grassy, surrounded by tree lines (“cozy”―Sumita-san); used when Ireland Ground closed for repairs until ejected in 2012.
Senga Jinja Park: (2012) Big kick balls easily fly into surrounding streets; used once after ejected from Isobe Park.
Masago Park: (2013 spring) Very nice, large enough, and trees block balls from streets. But, used only once when Ireland Ground closed for repairs; FC Kyukei then claimed as their alternate ground years before FC Inagekaigan International arrived.
Takahama Park (nickname: “The Ground with the Hill”): (2013 spring-present) Nice shade trees, spacious, convenient, but mid-ground hill challenges passing; became regular alternate ground after FC Kyukei claimed Masago Park.
Awards[edit]
Weekly Awards[edit]
Takahashi-san, Dave, and various dinner mates started discussing and recognizing a player who every week played better than usual (2011.10). Winner was named on group’s Facebook page. Chika received first award, nominated by Takahashi for pinpoint passing at Isobe Park (2011.10.15).
Chen-san (Shearer) suggested adding these awards (2012.1):
- Offensive Player of Week
- Defensive Player of Week
- Midfield Player of Week
- Goal of Week
Annual Awards[edit]
David selected and presented these awards the first time (and at first for humorous entertainment) at 2011.12 year end party (see Facebook for winners):
- Most Player of Week Awards: for most awards received during year.
- Best Fence Climber: for sending most balls over back fences.
- Human Helicopter: for best header shooting.
- Human Statue: for standing most often offsides in front of rival goal waiting for long passes.
- Anti-MVP: for most own goals.
- Last Goal of Year: for last goal before year-end party.
- Last Assist of Year: for last assist before the year-end party.
- Best Defensive Player
- Most Improved Player
- Striker of the Year: for best or most goals.
- Goal of the Year: for most memorable goal.
- Best Offensive Player: for best all around attacker; passing, diverting, playmaking, motivating teammates considered as well as shooting skills.
- Best Mid-field Player: for best at helping on both defense and offense, disrupting rival attacks and controlling transition to own team’s attack.
- Scariest Player of Year: suggested by To-san, with Jeff Kershaw in mind (2012.12)
Social events[edit]
2004.3.17—Okamoto Scholarship Foundation: Last OSF meeting, with Okui-san, Kato-san (original sponsors), Ali, David (original members), before Ali moved to Nagoya for two years to earn Economics PhD. at Nagoya University then returned to Turkey with wife Tomomi and son Merte. First pre-group member to leave Chiba.
2005.4.24—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park Beach: Farewell BBQ and beach volleyball party for Ferry before he returned to Indonesia. Second pre-group member to leave Chiba.
2007.6.10—Nishichiba izakaya: Martin’s small farewell party before returning to Argentina with wife Paola and daughter Melina. Last pre-group member to leave Japan.
~2008?—Inagekaigan Kaihin Park: Barbeque organized by Chinese members.
~ 2009 or 2010? —PAT Inage izakaya: First all-member bonenkai year-end party.
2010—JR Inagekaigan izakaya: Wu-san Farewell Party; first all-member special party. Takahashi-san gave Wu-san a custom-made T-shirt with new group name, logo, and Wu-san’s name on back; David organized a gift football signed by everyone; member speeches noted how Wu-san saved our group, was a good leader and a courageous player, carried goals to and from grounds on his bicycle or motor scooter for many years, and inspired everyone to play better. We did not want to let Wu-san go and played one more time with him in the rain the next day.
2010—PAT Inage yakiniku restaurant: Older Ban pre-marriage party.
2011 Spring—JR Inage Station izakaya: Ferry & Akiko’s “Welcome Back” dinner. First year member Doug Durgee joined and suggested we set up a group Facebook page. Takahashi Jun started the page the next week.
2011—JR Inagekaigan/JR Inage/JR Nishichiba izakaya: “Welcome Back” dinners for returnees Wu, Ali, Li.
2013.10—Chiba Minato Park: Barbeque party organized by Takahashi Jun and wife Atsuko.
Memorable Comments[edit]
Ban-san on why he plays with FC Inagekaigan International rather than with other “better” groups: because we “play hard, and with passion.” (2010 pre-marriage party)
Yon-san on motivation: “Every week I look forward to Saturday. Football is the week’s most important event. Monday, I start checking Saturday’s weather forecast. Every day I check, hoping for no rain. Football lets me escape my wife. She sometimes gets angry about my playing…then I have to escape even more….” (2011 farewell party)
To-san on defense: “One can score many goals, but what is the fun if your team loses?” (2011)
Chen-san (Shearer) on the 2011.3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake: “That night, I walked home from Urayasu. It took four hours. I came home because I thought we might play soccer the next day!” (2012)
Jeff on motivation: “I have only one goal when we play: to stop Chen-san (Shearer) from scoring.” (2013)Dave on Jeff’s motivation: “Me, too—but at my level, I sometimes do it when he is my teammate!” (2013) (Sorry, Chen-san…)
The Future[edit]
Waiting for you...
2013~ to be updated
References[edit]
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