World Cup 2002 - Modern Society as Reflected Through the Prism of Soccer - An Interview with Professor Takayuki Yamashita

by R. Sanborn Brown

Takayuki Yamashita is a professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Kyoto's Ritsumeikan University. He is the author of Kindai Europa no Tankyu: 8 Sportsu (Exploration into Modern Europe: 8 Sports) and Japan, Korea, and the 2002 World Cup. This interview appeared in the May 25th issue of Unitas Magazine and has been translated and excerpted. Professor Yamashita discusses how the World Cup will influence Japan and Korea and what will the future holds for the co-hosts.

Unitas: On May 31st the World Cup will kick off in Seoul with reigning champion France taking on Senegal. The tournament will span a full month, feature incandescent matches in cities all over both Korea and Japan, and will climax with the Final [on June 30th] in Yokohama. Looking back on past World Cups through the prism of how individual matches have been supported, the way fans from different countries display their passions and nationalism becomes evident in symbolic ways. How do you see the Korea/Japan World Cup?

Yamashita: There are those who argue that new forms of nationalism will appear. Observing students gives us clear insight into this. In the case of Japan, for example, even when the national team takes on a foreign country, Japanese supporters will often cheer for the opposing players. This is because the world of sports stands astride and is supported by the two pillars of (1) worldwide commercialization, and (2) the globalization of the media. Soccer, in particular, has been strongly influenced by this movement. European club teams have all but abolished limits on the number of foreign players, and today the transfer of a player from one country to another is no longer rare. For the media, soccer is valuable content. Irrespective of country, cable television and satellite broadcasters vie over broadcasting rights for matches that feature popular players and teams. As a result, this has had the effect of dampening the nationalism of rooting [only] for players from one's own country. This Cup will of course be about country-versus-country nationalism, but the media will place the greatest emphasis on branding individual players and teams. We may be seeing a movement away from the traditional relationship between sports and nationalism.

Unitas: Japan and Korea are on the threshold of a new era. It has been said that exchange between Japan and Korea will further speed up momentum in this direction. What is the key to progress for the former enemies?

Yamashita: Many say that Japan and Korea are currently enjoying very close relations. Evidence of that is that, at the governmental level, both countries have agreed to study the feasibility of a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement. Also, in Japan, there is a "Korea Boom" under way: tourism to Korea, popular culture, cuisine, etc. are all quite trendy. [Moreover] Do you recall from the qualifying matches leading up to the France '98 World Cup when, in regards to Japan, Korean supporters hung banners reading "Let's go to France together"? I heard that this caused quite a bit of debate within Korea. For the Koreans who displayed the banner, that was quite a bold move. Few Japanese, however, were aware of the true import of the banner. One can feel the difference in intensity in feeling between Japan and Korea. Japan must therefore never forget its wartime responsibility.

Another issue that must not be forgotten is the situation for ethnic Koreans in Japan who are now 4th or 5th generation Korean-Japanese. For them, the World Cup is a great opportunity to act as a bridge between the two countries. [Among the ways ethnic Koreans are doing this include the following.] Donations are being collected from around the Korean communities within Japan; these funds will be divided evenly among charities in Japan and Korea. Many are busy in other capacities, too: translating, volunteering, etc. However, even if they want to, [many] ethnic Koreans do not enjoy suffrage and therefore are limited in what they can do. Co-hosting the World Cup should be a used as an opportunity to think about voting rights for foreigners. [Editor's Note: Most of the descendants of the Koreans forcibly brought by the Japanese military to Japan in the 1930s as a result of wartime labor shortages do not enjoy Japanese nationality. Though most do not speak Korean and are physically and linguistically indistinguishable from their Japanese neighbors, they carry the passport of either North Korea or South Korea. Like all foreigners in Japan, they must register with the local ward office and carry a foreigners identity card at all times. They also suffer discrimination different forms of discrimination, particularly in the job market.]

Unitas: With the World Cup about to start, there is tremendous activity throughout Japan. Is there anything in particular that stands out for you?

Yamashita: For me, NPOs (Non Profit Organizations) and volunteers stand out. Japanese supporters are organizing a soccer tournament for the disabled. Quasi-volunteer groups, moreover, dedicated to city planning are being formed. Of course, we also have to mention fan groups as well. How will the culture of soccer make further inroads into urban areas? There is a strong awareness of making city life richer. Also, via the Internet, groups are making contacts and networking not only locally but around the world. You might call it a "New Society Movement." One sociologist has suggested that as globalization spreads, the framework of individual states weakens. When this framework becomes more porous, cultural development of the sort noted above rushes in, fills the void, and lays the foundation for a new movement within society—which then, according to the sociologist, spurs on and influences civil society. Will the activity and efforts of these people impact future civil society or not? This is what we will have to keep an eye on.

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