Land of the rising fun as Tokyo parties

Japanese fans did not get the win they wanted but took heart from their team’s grit as the Samurai Blue came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Senegal on Sunday to keep alive hopes of a place in the last 16.

Japan looked on the verge of defeat until veteran Keisuke Honda fired home the equalizer 12 minutes from time, sending supporters into a frenzy in the stadium and at sports bars across Tokyo.

“They’ve been great. I want them to keep playing hard,” Shintaro Sakamichi, a 23-year-old civil servant, said above the raucous cheers at M-Spo pub in Shibuya, where people banged drums, blew horns and draped themselves in giant flags.

“I thought the best they’d do against Colombia would be a draw but now I have higher expectations,” he said, referring to Japan’s 2-1 victory over Colombia in its opening game.

Japan, ranked 61st, was given little chance of advancing from a tough group after a poor run of form and the firing of Bosnian head coach Vahid Halilhodzic just two months before the tournament.

But the Colombia upset sparked expectations among supporters that the team — which failed to win a match at the tournament four years ago — was ready to make an impact.

“I think we can make it to the quarterfinals,” said a beaming Yuki Isoda, a 24-year-old chiropractor wearing a blue Japan jersey.

Japan has never made it beyond the last 16, reaching that stage in 2002, as a host, and in 2010.

Japan and Senegal go into their final group matches with four points, one ahead of Colombia, which eliminated Poland with a 3-0 win on Sunday.

Japan faces Poland on Thursday. The Japan-Senegal match kicked off at midnight Japan time, meaning many fans spent a blurry-eyed Monday in their offices.

Takamichi Masui, a 50-year-old hairdresser, said the lively atmosphere made it worthwhile.

“I got a lot of sleep today so I’ll make it through Monday, just at a lower gear. I’ll be back in high gear on Tuesday,” he said.