APPY TIMES IN FUKUOKA
Social media facilitates press desire to share useful info ...and take the mickey
THERE are many modern technological advancements that some of the younger tourists at this World Cup simply take for granted.
As flagged in previous dispatches from Japan, Google Maps has proven a godsend for this reporter, who possesses the same sense of direction as a house fly banging against a half-open window.
One of our exhausted brethren, perhaps captivated by the sights of Japan’s rolling countryside, missed his stop at Fukuoka last Friday. As previously reported, the Shinkansen bullet train is a fantastic feat of Japanese engineering.
What would we give to have one of these space age shuttles on the Dublin to Limerick Junction line? Anyway, our comrade dozed off and ended up in the faraway prefect of Tosu. Self-deprecation and stories of shame are always welcome within the dark labyrinth of Irish sports hackery and our friend’s logistical mishap proved no different.
In an attempt to console our lost friend, hurtling towards a faraway destination as Fukuoka disappeared rapidly in the distance, I reminded him of a time when yours truly – daydreaming as usual – boarded the wrong train from Kent Station in Cork to my hometown of Carrigtwohill, a regular commute for years and years.
Imagine my surprise when the rattler began to veer off over a bridge and chug along towards Cobh. If life is a journey not a destination, then Irish hacks are commuters for the ages.
The ‘RWC Japan’ WhatsApp group is the glue that holds the Irish press corps together. Media information, restaurant recommendations, the location of the nearest coin-operated launderette (major brownie points) and other bits and bobs are a handy way of keeping this sizeable group informed. Predictably, it’s also a medium for endless piss-taking.
In the wake of Typhoon Hagibis, the group in question was lighting up as colleagues discussed the best course of action for this weekend.
The majority of this crew were due to leave Fukuoka at the crack of dawn, board a flight to Tokyo and get settled in for next weekend’s quarter-finals. Some were planning to jump on another train and attempt to make Scotland v Japan in Yokohama. The political fallout of this is discussed in greater detail in these pages elsewhere so we’ll stick to the lighter stuff here.
Said WhatsApp group was awash with worried messages about hotel rebookings, flight availability and covering hastily-arranged press conferences.
Amidst all the furore, one smartarse who shall remain nameless posted: ‘Is there anything to be said for saying another mass?’. Behaviour that would have got you sent to the corner of the classroom in national school is often lauded on these long expeditions.
The 19th typhoon to hit Japan this year is due to arrive on these shores this morning. Amidst all the anger and confusion over these cancelled fixtures, the hope is that Hagibis comes and goes without causing any serious damage and every local and tourist comes through the ordeal unscathed.
All of this new-age technology is great but sometimes the white-hot hysteria generated on social media at times like these is a curse.
Perspective is always important, whether you’ve missed your train stop or your opportunity to play a World Cup game.
One of the many strange occurrences with this gig is the need to become an overnight expert on any number of disciplines. We’ve all become amateur meteorologists in recent days.
A tropical depression sounds like some god-awful concoction you’d
“Any stories
of shame are very welcome”
end up guzzling in some back-alley joint on a stag weekend, but we’ve been getting up to speed with all this weather jargon. It led to another quip among the group when the question was posed as to whether Jean Byrne would prove more useful to Ireland than Jean Kleyn this week. Too harsh?
We’re fast approaching day nine here in Fukuoka, but the city still feels fresh and vibrant. The latenight food stalls known as ‘yatai’ have proven popular with players and press alike. They are located all across the city’s waterfront.
Each stall can house about eight people perched on stools as you crowd around the Yatai guru who prepares and cooks your food on a hot plate. Beers get passed around and it’s a great experience.
CoCo Curry House has been another favourite haunt, a no-nonsense joint. You stroll in, grab a stool, stick your elbows on the counter and off you go. The Katsu Curry is sublime. The place is always hopping yet three staff run the whole operation effortlessly: cooking, taking orders, cleaning up and sorting out the bill with a zen-like efficiency.
We couldn’t say the same about the pitch at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium. Another calamity in a week full of them.
They’re gonna need Malcolm Tucker from the Thick of It by the end of his weekend. That’s a good line actually… might stick it on the WhatsApp group later.