Article #8 in the ESL Student Life Story Project, by Mayuka from Japan, age 25.
The Japanese Football Team, as photographed by Mayuka
In our lives, we have keys that can change everything for us. Maybe these keys are key words, or key points, or key people we meet, but many keys are not realized at the moment we first see them. Keys are often realized later, and whether we are aware of it or not, they guide us to a new way of life.
When I was a high school student in Aichi, Japan, I was a Caretaker of the Japanese American Football team for three years.
My job was to bandage players’ legs, make sports drinks, wash uniforms, direct a menu of drills for the players, and much more. I was head of all the Caretakers, so I had to manage everything, every day.
For women in Japan, having the job of Caretaker sounds romantic, because in my country, we have tons of comics like “Touch” where the story is about love between a player and a Caretaker. In my team, however, Caretakers had to be strong.
The author, left, with a language school friend in Boston
The highest position in our team was Supervisor, then next was a Coach, then the Caretakers. The Supervisor rarely came to see us, but the Coach saw us every day, so we all obeyed him. I think he was the strictest person I’ve ever met. I didn’t realize at the time how he was going to be a key person in my life.
Coach was Japanese, but because he had studied how to teach American football in the United States, he was really Americanized.
He would always say, “You guys have to create yourselves. You have to provide what you want to do in practice to me. Don’t rely on me.”
But for us, it was too difficult because in Japan, American Football is not a common sport. When we first practiced, we had no idea about anything. None of us knew the rules or even how to wear the uniforms, so when Coach said things like that, we were confused every time.
When Coach got angry, we noticed he had gotten angry, but we didn’t understand why. Instead of telling us why, he just said, “I don’t want to tell you why I got mad. Think deeply. Until you guys understand what I got mad at, I don’t want to lead the practice.”
Mayuka is a great photographer! Football, in action.
We were just 16 to 18 years old then, so of course it was really hard to understand what Coach was saying. I looked at him, well-built, with his sunburned skin, wearing glasses and a cowboy hat. I thought how childish he was then, and I determined I would never come to see him after graduating high school. For me, Coach was really troublesome, so I kind of hated him.
Coach’s way of teaching was Americanized, but his personality is stereotypically Japanese. In Japan, we don’t say things directly. Instead, we always think what a person implies. But I hate that! I prefer to say what I’m thinking about directly, so Coach and I are totally different.
If I didn’t wash the uniforms correctly, instead of just saying that to me, Coach would growl, “The players cannot do their best today because of the state of their uniforms.” Coach didn’t like me saying what I wanted to say directly, and I also didn’t like his not talking directly. Again, it’s shocking that this man is now my key person in life.
After graduating, I finally realized what Coach had been saying to us was right and important in society. When I began work at a restaurant as a waitress, I had to infer what customers wanted. Because of my practice guessing what Coach was thinking, I was able to read the customers’ minds automatically.
The author was Caretaker of this Japanese Football team!
This made me such an effective waitress that the owner of the restaurant said, “ You are a really good waitress here. How did you learn about that?”
When the owner said that, I really thanked the Coach. Coach taught me courtesy, manners, etiquette, and even mind reading! As a result, I worked at that restaurant for almost four years. Now that I’m in America studying English, I continue to use Coach’s teachings.
When I was a caretaker of the American football team, I didn’t realize that my club days would be so helpful to my future. I didn’t think that someday I would thank my troublesome Coach.
But even now, I still can’t forget Coach’s words: “If you stop thinking, you can’t grow. If you give up trying hard, nothing will be possible.” Truly, Coach was a key person in my life.
Lillie’s Note: Please leave Mayuka a comment on her insightful article, stating your geographical location!
What an amazing story. Football is a tough thing for the players and the staff. It is a really organized and routine sport. How strict was the coach?
Wow you are very resilient. If I were in that position with the coach not explaining anything I’d probably quit, but you kept on and now your coach’s lessons are helpful for you.
These guys are nothing to me. I would truck them all and break all there bones. BLA football team all the way. You know it. It could be me by myself and there whole team and still beat them.
I really enjoyed this article because I can really relate to it. I play a sort of unpopular sport (Lacrosse) and I learn skills not just for the lacrosse field but for life and how to treat other people.
Even though you didn’t get to play in the games and got yelled at for the way you washed the uniforms, I think you was alright
This is a beautiful story!
I really enjoyed reading this article, Mayuka. Currently, I teach English at a high school in Hokkaido and we’re about to do a two week lesson about American Football where the students will make teams and play Flag Football. I’d actually like to find a way to coach a team in Japan. If you have any advice, that would be great! Where are you studying in America? I’m originally from Oklahoma.
This was a nice read,
Ryan
Perhaps you may find an opportunity to watch Ameircan football in America, be it the college or NFL. What teams do you like in America? It would be interesting to hear what you have to say about our football here.
By the way, being direct is still a good thing.
Drew
Tempe, Arizona (home of the Arizona State Sun Devils)
Your story shows maturity and insight. It provides a window into both your personality and your Coach’s. I found the difference between wanting to speak directly and indirectly to be fascinating. It was interesting how you learned that skill even though it wasn’t natural to your personality. Now that you are in America, I wonder if it is more comfortable for you to be able to say what you mean in a direct manner.
A little time always makes things that were confusing more clear. One of the most powerful things to be able to do is learn something out of a difficult situation! Glad you had such a good mentor. Plus – you probably know a lot more about football than most American woman now!
This sounds like a truly wonderful experience and one that you were able to learn a lot by being a part of it. It’s great to have a wonderful coach who can provide inspiration and motivation the way yours did.
Kudos to you for making the most of the opportunity to progress and grow, not only in your knowledge of American Football and the dynamic of a sports team, but also in great life experiences such as persistence, self-esteem, working as a team, trying hard and many other lessons I’m sure you can state better than I.
Nice article.
– Okie from Utah