Japan mixed

Profile

In 1999 for the second year that Mixed was played as a division at a Worlds competition, Japan’s contender Osaka Natto, seeded very low to start, came within an asthma attack of winning Gold. In a close game throughout the finals, Osaka found themselves running low on players with energy left in the tank. They turned to a young American who had been playing and living in Japan, Mr. James Heaton, and inserted him into the lineup at a critical point with the game tied and the cap on. Making the best of the situation, Mr. Heaton ran hard and fast but suffered a debilitating asthma attack during the point. Halfway unable to breathe and struggling on the pressure-packed Finals field, young Heaton made a cut for the endzone, perhaps just to get off the field. Instead the pass was thrown.. and subsequently bounced off his hands and fell harmlessly to the turf. Red Fish Blue Fish, the American contingent, calmly turned the sure Japanese goal into one for themselves, won the game, and Japan has never been closer since.

History is unlikely to repeat itself for this primed and ready team, many of which who played at 2002 Worlds and even 2000 Heilbronn.

Like most countries, the Mixed team here won the Japanese Nationals tournament and Dream Cup in the Mixed division, so you can expect a good squad indeed. The competition will be difficult and difficult to ascertain.

Team’s Best Thrower: Hachijo Tokano

Team’s Best Receiver: Juntaro Tomita

Team Colors

White and Black

Roster

24 players plus captain