An organized twist to a familiar game

Today amidst studying and hanging out with friends, I attended a volleyball club event of sorts made up of both students and working professionals. Actually everyone plays for fun but the way we did it was so organized that I couldn't help comparing it to "American" and even "Singaporean" ways of organized sports activities.

The Japanese really take pains to emphasize group identity and fervor/passion in whatever they do. Why do I say that? Well at first I thought I was just going to join a pickup game like what happens in the States--whoever shows up will just join a random team and start playing. Nope. Before I arrived, my name was already registered in some appointed group leader's roster and they had take the trouble of dividing everyone into teams. We assembled in the court, two guys led a collective warm-up. For a fleeting second I thought I was back in my secondary school days in the volleyball club. Only that somehow I understood little of what the team captain was saying and resorted to "Monkey see monkey do."

Warmup over, time for the team talk. Everyone knew it was a recreational league, but still we huddled in a circle and discussed team tactics--who should play in which position, who prefers what type of movements, etc. Needless to say, I was duly impressed. One of the highlights was the "team pose/cheer". We concocted a specific dance routine; actually two--one for when a point was gained and the other for when a point was conceded! No matter what happens though, after each point, we huddle in a circle and the last person who touched the ball or should have touched the ball runs around giving everyone a high-five. Followed by the "win" or "loss" dance routine! Hahaha it was hilarious.

(Point gained)
*high-five*'s all round
"Yosh yosh yosh!" (fists pumping)

(Point lost)
*high-five*'s all round
"Bee one bee!" <- (at least that's what I heard) (clap your hand and clap the hand of the person on your left)

(Team-mate serving)
"XX-san!" (*clap*clap*)
"Goodo seervee!" (*clap*clap*)

Needless to say, I was grinning from ear to ear throughout. The games themselves were great fun. Everyone had fun and there was a box of chocolates for the winners. 4 teams rotated in-between matches and the fifth acted as the referee and linesmen. Superbly organized and efficient.

This Shanghai guy who was there told me how amazed he was when he first went. My Japanese friends all laughed and said this is pretty common. It is one thing knowing how important the group identity is here and seeing it in person.

Will go back next week.