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Satomina's Room |
Welcome Satomina's Room.
We finally
established English site. I declared to the Basil national team players and
staff that
I was going to make English site at the time of the World
Cup last year.
However, it was
delayed for half a year.
Here's my
profile.
Satomina is not
a Japanese-Brazilian, pure Japanese living in Tokyo. Since
I was little,
I liked
volleyball and used to be a Japanese team fan. I happened to talk
with Brazil team
staff at the venue in 1989, then I turned
into a Brazil fan.
It didn't take
long time to be mesmerized by getting acquainted with friendly
and funny
Brazilians such as young Tande, Giovani, Pompeu and many other players.
After that I
became an enthusiastic fan because I followed the Brazil team
from North to
South of Japan when they came to play matches.
I started to go
abroad to see the matches while I was studying in Italy during my college years.
The team staff
always helped me when I watched the matches in countries
(such as
Germany and Greece) where I couldn't understand local languages at all.
I went to Brazil
for the first time in 1993 in order to see the World LeagueFinals.
At that time I
didn't know Portuguese so the team staff treated me as if I was the one of their
family..
As a result I
was able to make good friends with many Brazil fans. At Atlanta
Olympic Games,
I could get to
know many volleyball fans from Brazil who came to cheer the national team.
Now we don't
talk only volleyball, we can consult each other on many issues.
Players and
staff have changed many times for the past over 10 years. Theteam manager, Sami,
is the only one
who has been in the team from the beginning.
I used to like particular players,
but now I can't
pick up onlyone player. I like the team itself. ((In the past there were many
older
players than me
so I felt like I was a younger sister. Now I feel like I am an
elder sister (or mother)
since most of
players are younger than me.))
Satomina was
just one of thousands of Brazil fans. I know very well the
fact that I was
able to get acquainted with players much better than their
fans in Brazil
because I am a Japanese. In other words, I was unique for
them. But, it
needs lots of effort to support players for long time (even
following them
in abroad) for example, learning their language (Portuguese)
in order to make
communication with players (I'm still struggling) and
working hard to
follow the team (going abroad costs a lot). I believe that
the team staff
and players recognize these efforts that's why they treat me
in a good
manner.
It was the best
environment for volleyball fans until last year because
there was big
international tournaments at lease once a year in Japan.
I would like to
share with you by introducing their off-the-court faces,
episodes and
photos in Japan. I hope you also share their information in
Brazil to one of
Brazil fans who lives in Japan.
At the end, I
give all my gratitude to my friends, players, team staff, and
the team manager
"Sami", to whom dragged me into Brazil. And the last of
all, to unknown
friends who will encounter through this site, please welcome me.
12 June, 2000
Satomina