MORIMACHI, Shizuoka Pref. -- While the whole nation seems to have reached boiling point with Japan's success in advancing to the second round of the World Cup, Japan midfielder Junichi Inamoto has remained calm and focused.
Inamoto is happy with his team's progress in the quadrennial tournament and certainly appreciates the Japanese people's reaction.
The Japanese team was given an enthusiastic welcome by some 1,000 fans on its arrival at its base camp in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture shortly before midnight on Friday, and by late Saturday afternoon some 4,800 fans had visited the Japan team media center.