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Shinroku
Morohashi, senior corporate advisor
and former president of Mitsubishi Corporation,
helped bring the World Cup to Japan.
Once a standout forward on the company team,
he served as vice chairman of the committee
that promoted Japan's candidacy. |
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Christophe Blandin Worms Services Maritimes (an NYK
Line agency) |
Holding
on to the Trophy
We
number nearly 60 million people in France, and all of us are
cheering for our team to retain the trophy that it earned four
years ago. France has been lucky with the draw, and the team
has gained a lot of experience. Look for us in the final in
Yokohama on June 30. |
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Solomon Diale (former professional soccer player) Johannesburg
Branch, Mitsubishi Corporation |
Bafana
Bafana!
Soccer
is a big sport here and is followed by young and old of all walks
of life. So everyone is excited as the national team, known as
Bafana Bafana, prepares for the World Cup finals. In households,
shopping malls, trains, taxis and mostly in the shebeens (pubs),
the talks is of soccer. And the slogan is "Bafana Bafana
siyaya e Japan-Korea" (Bafana Bafana, we are going to Japan/Korea).
May the best team win. |
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Zhang Hai bin Shanghai Office Asahi Glass |
44
Years in Coming
China
first entered a team in the World Cup qualifying rounds back
in 1957. But not until 2001 did we earn a spot in the finals.
So Chinese fans endured 44 years of frustration. And the entire
nation erupted in euphoria at 36 minutes into the first half
on October 7, when a Chinese goal ensured a trip to the finals
for the first time. All eyes in China are on Japan and Korea
as the kickoff nears. |
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Rui Barbosa Júnior (left)
Tokio Marine Brasil Seguradora |
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Carrying
on the tradition
The
Brazilian national team goes to the World Cup finals this year
in pursuit of its fifth championship. With motivation, union,
courage and respect to our competitors, we will show to the
world why we are the country of soccer. |
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Mitsubishi Electric Group companies in the Republic
of Korea |
10
+ 10
The
World Cup championship comes to Asia for the first time at 10
stadiums here in Korea and 10 in Japan. Mitsubishi Electric
operates in Korea through seven subsidiaries, affiliates and
agencies. All of us are cheering for a successful World Cup.
And all of us wish the best to the national teams of both nations.
Korea, fight on! Japan, fight on! |
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A
Reminder of Diversity
The
World Cup reminds us how diverse this country is. A man in a
Little Italy restaurant in New York promised a comeback by his
nation, Italy, after the frustrating loss to Brazil in the 1994
World Cup final in the United States. A bus driver at Los Angeles
International Airport boasted about his team, Cameroon. Recently,
a young Croatian in Orlando, Florida, comforted me about Japan's
performance in the 1998 World Cup against his team.
Jun Asami
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America
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The members of the Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Flensbürg
soccer team |
Germany's
Paper Strikers
Our
company soccer team, which was founded in 1961, consists of
21 players, including two Japanese colleagues. The team has
been the most successful among Flensbürg's company sports
teams! We wish the German national team great success during
the World Championship 2002. |
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Ending
the Jinx
England
beat Germany convincingly at the end of last year for the first
time since our famous 1966 World Cup victory. With their new
manager, England seem to have found a place among the top teams
in the world. Many fans were disappointed to end up in a difficult
bracket (the so-called Group of Death). But if we can beat Sweden
in the first game in Saitama, then confidence will be riding
high to avenge Maradonna's infamous Hand of God goal which helped
put England out of the 1986 World Cup Finals. This year we feel
could just be our year. Come on England!!
Alastair Maclauchlan
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe
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Nearly
100 Million Cheering Voices
Most
Mexican boys and growing numbers of girls learn to play soccer
almost as soon as they learn to walk. Our nation has hosted
two World Cups, in 1970 and 1986, and our national team is ninth
in the FIFA rankings. Nearly 100 million Mexican fans--including
all of us at the bank--will be cheering for our team to play
exciting matches and reach the second round.
The employees at
Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi (Mexico)
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From
sun to sun
Under
the Italian summer sun, the thoughts of millions of fans will
be in the Land of the Rising Sun, giving strength and encouragement
to our team! Hoping for a Japan-Italy final: May the best team
win!
Mitsubishi Electric
Europe,
Italian Branch employees
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Unforgettable
I'll
never forget the match between AS Rome and
AC Milan four years ago in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. Before attending
that game, I couldn't understand how people in Europe and Latin
America could get so excited about kicking a ball around. Now,
I've become a full-fledged fan. Forza Nippon!!!
Hideaki Nagayo
Mitsubishi Cable Industries
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