11+ banners @ stadiums
11.12.2011- Since few years now ... At FIFA tournaments, 11+ (and 11 for health) banners are regularly displayed around the field during the official matches ... worldwide promotion of the 11+ injury prevention programme!
Tokyo National Stadium
8/12/11 - Training session at the Tokyo National Stadium, home of the 1964 Olympic Summer Games. Usually no training is allowed on the football pitch, because it's reserved only for official matches (as the final of the Emperor's Cup, always played on January 1st). It's a big honor for us to walk into this historical stadium.
Tokyo Motor Show 2011
7/12/11 - Free day, we visit the Tokyo Motor Show 2011, featuring some futuristic cars and other ...
Thanks Yuichi
06/12/11 - A special thank to my friend Yuichi Nichimura, Japan, one of the top football referees worldwide (acted as 4th match official at the World Cup final last year in South Africa). Through his connections with ADIDAS Japan, he provided us special 11+ cones for the 11+ course we had last week in Nagoya.
Lecture at WASEDA University Tokyo
05/12/11 - Following an invitation by Prof. Dr. Toru Fukubayashi, famous researcher and orthopaedic surgeon (was among the first to perform double ACL reconstructions many years ago), today I've the honor to hold a presentation (Injury prevention in football - from research to the field) at the WASEDA University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Tokyo. Waseda University (est. 1882) is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia.
Preparing for the FCWC 2011
After an intense "11+ week", I'll stay in Tokyo for the FIFA Club World Cup, and namely at the Referee's Headquarters.
F-MARC organizes as usual the medical care of the match officials for this competion.
Together with me are long-time friends Mitsunori "Mitsu" Tsumaki, and Takashi "Taka" Toriumi (TSM college, Tokyo).
Have a look on fifa.com for this year's tournament (Dec 8-18, 2011), featuring powerhouses FC Barcelona (incl. Messi) and FC Santos (incl. Neymar).
Meeting Sawa in Tokyo
30/11/11 - We meet Homare Sawa, jersey nr 10 and captain of NADESHIKO, and had a shooting/interview with her for 11+ promotion.
Sawa led the Japanese national team as captain to a World Championship victory and received the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards as the top scorer (5 goals during the 2011 World Cup) and MVP in the tournament. After a 2-2 tie in front of a sellout crowd in Frankfurt, Germany, (with 1 goal by Sawa in the 117th minute), Japan won the penalty shootout 3-1, defeating the United States to win their first ever World Cup.
His team INAC Kobe Leoness played a friendly game against FC Arsenal in the same evening (final result 1:1).
Lecture at TSM college Tokyo
30/12/11 - My friends Mitsunori Tsumaki and Keigo Kagajima invited me to their college - Tokyo College of Medical Sports- for two lectures on hip joint pathologies and hip rehabilitation in sports.
Kyoto
29/11/11 - We visit Kyoto, the world-renowned historical city and former capital and emperor's residence (794 - 1868) in Japan.
The Golden Temple will be forever in our minds ...
11+ course in Nagoya
28/11/11 - More than 80 participants were present at the 2nd official 11+ educational course and workshop, organized by JFA and F-MARC.
Our friend Prof. Dr. Toru Fukubayashi, head of JFA medical opened the course, superbly organized by Mr. Susumu Hiratsuka, JFA.
Nagoya
27/11/11 - After a 1.5 hours ride on the "Shinkansen" (Japan bullet train or high speed train) we arrive in Nagoya, the 3rd biggest city in Japan (after Toyko and Osaka). We've the chance to see the Nagoya castle, an historic residence of the Shogun of this region.
Meeting Mr. Kohzo Tashima
27/11/11 - Interview and photo-shooting with our friend Mr. Kohzo Tashima, Vice-president and General Secretary of JFA, who also expressed the importance of football for the japanese people in this very difficult year.