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Before the opening of the season, various conflicts related to the Olympics occurred between Japan and South Korea. President Moon Jae-in's visit to Japan was eventually postponed.
Only the conflict between Japan and South Korea related to the Olympics is focused on, however that doesn't mean there are no happier topics.
At the soccer men's match between South Korea and New Zealand held at Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture on the 22nd, elementary school students from Kashima City waved handmade Korean flags "Taegeuk Flag" to cheer them on.
In this tournament, most of the competition venues are held without non-spectators, but in Ibaraki Prefecture, the soccer competition held in Kashima City is a "school cooperation watching program" in which children and students from the local municipality (where the competition venue is located) get to watch the competition.
Kashima City became a sister city to Seogwipo City in Jeju, South Korea, in 2003, the year after the 2002 Japan-Korea Co-sponsored Soccer World Cup. Government-led exchanges have expanded to the citizen level, and so far, soccer games selected by high schools in both cities, friendly exchanges by business and industry associations and tourist associations, and homestay experiences by junior high school students have been held.
According to NHK, the sixth graders of Toyogo Elementary School in Kashima City watched a video message from the children of Seogwipo on the 20th before the Korean team's match on the 22nd. The children of Seogwipo said that they sent a message saying, "We are also supporting Japan. We will do our best to support South Korea." On this day, the children made support flags to cheer for the Korean team at the match venue.
On the 22nd of the match day, children from the school and Mikasa Elementary School supported the Korean team. However, one player from the Korean team who lost the match refused to shake hands with a player from the winning team, New Zealand, which caused controversial. It was embarrassing for the children who were passionately cheering.
Meanwhile, according to Yonhap News Agency, the Central Association of Koreans in Japan, a fellowship group of Koreans in Japan, will be in Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, which is famous as a Korean town, on the 21st, to install a signboard.
The signboard is 4.5 meters long and 11 meters wide. It is written in Japanese and Korean as "Ganbare Japan! Ganbare Korea!".
The signboard was unveiled on the 20th, and in addition to the chairman of the association, Kang Chang-il, the ambassador to Japan, Takeo Kawamura, who is the chairman of the Japan-Korea Friendship Association Central Association from the Japanese side. It is said that the former Chief Cabinet Secretary attended.
Chairman Ku explained the purpose of setting up the signboard, saying, "When the relationship between the two countries is severe, we will expand private exchanges." Ambassador Kang said, "I pray for the success of the Tokyo Olympics, a festival of peace and harmony. It is a symbol that shows that the people living in Japan are supporting their activities as one. "
On the 23rd of the opening ceremony, the banner of the Australian cheering party was reported in South Korea. The banner said, "THANK YOU" and "Thank you from the bottom of my heart," and expressed gratitude to Japan for preparing for the "Festival of Mankind" Olympics, even among COVID-19. This photo also raised the voice of self-reflection in South Korea.
The Olympics have begun, and Japanese and Korean athletes are finally challenging each competition one after another. The Olympics are a "festival of mankind" and a "festival of peace." Adults should emulate the children of Kashima and Seogwipo, who sent support to each other.
2021/07/27 20:38 KST
