Japan fans staying in Bonn unable to head to Munich for the opening game of the World Cup between Germany and Costa Rica on Friday won't be missing out on the carnival atmosphere.
Workmen on Thursday were putting the finishing touches to temporary stands set up on the Munsterplatz in central Bonn, in preparation for the thousands of local fans and visitors from Japan expected to pack out the town square and watch the opening game on a huge video screen beaming in the live action.
Japan's national team has chosen Bonn -- birthplace of Beethoven -- as its World Cup base, and the former capital city of West Germany is decked out in Japan national team colors. "Samurai Blue 2006" flags flutter from street lamps, shop windows, apartments and houses throughout the city.