Did you know you could enjoy watching professional sports on Okinawa? Watching professional matches up close delivers excitement and impact exceeding what you might imagine. In addition, they are full of the kind of enjoyment one can only get a taste of in Okinawa, such as experiencing the entertainment which has an Okinawan-feel and the wild enthusiasm of the local supporters.
This page is full of the appeal of watching professional sports matches that Okinawa has to offer in its wide variety, covering basketball, soccer, handball, and even professional baseball camps.

Ryukyu Golden Kings / Basketball

Since their formation in 2007, Okinawa’s professional team, the Ryukyu Golden Kings, has been a driving force in the basketball world, with their “running basketball style” mesmerizing anyone who sees it.
Behind the Kings’ strength is the wildly enthusiastic support of their fans. Home games in Okinawa are packed with multitudes of spectators, with their powerful cheering energizing each match.

Last year saw the curtain go up on the B League, with the first home game of the season against the Shiga Lakestars on 1st October. Amongst those present for this home game for the Kings were supporters for the visiting team who had come from other prefectures. We spoke to a male supporter of the Shiga Lakestars who had come all the way from Shiga.

“Of course I am here to support the Lakestars, but I had always wanted to see a Kings home game live. If you are a fan you have to see the passion of the Kings supporters at least once!”
The passion of the Kings’ supporters fascinates even supporters of the visiting teams. One described how they visited Shurijo Castle for some sightseeing before the match, and also went to a famous Okinawa Soba noodle shop.

“A Kings supporter I had connected with via SNS took me to a restaurant they recommended. I was so happy that a local would take me there, despite being a supporter for the other team.”
Watching sports in Okinawa helped them connect with the locals and enjoy the food and sightseeing

A must-see for spectators at B League games in addition to the match itself are the many splendid entertainment. Before the start of the match, the venue slowly goes dark, before body-shaking bass music and a concert-like light show raise the excitement of the supporters to a fever pitch.

Enjoy dance performances during timeoutsl

When the Kings have a timeout, it is time for the Kings cheerleaders, the “Kings Dancers” to take the stage and steal your heart with their glamorous dance performances. Other highlights include the half-time shows featuring popular Okinawan entertainers and dancers, and the free-throw challenge where audience members can participate.It is also recommended that you purchase some Orion beer from one of the venue stalls or beer-girls. Nothing beats watching the game with a cold beer in hand.

Feel a sense of unity as you cheer for the Kings

When the Kings go on the attack, you will hear cries of “GO! GO! Kings!” accompanied by music from the Sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument. Meanwhile, a more solemn sound together with yells of “Defense! Defense!” accompany any switch in play that puts the team on the defensive. This coordinated support from the spectators fills the venue with excitement.

According to the supporters of the visiting teams, “the support from the Kings fans at Kings home games is so amazing it actually makes us more enthusiastic in our own cheering!” Watching the visiting team battle in the face of such diversity naturally fills their cries of support with more passion. Of course they will never let the Kings have an easy run, and the matches are filled with the excitement that comes from the unique ebb and flow of basketball until the very end!

It may be no exaggeration to say that a Kings home game is the most exciting of its kind in Japan, and experiencing its atmosphere is definitely well worth a visit!

FC Ryukyu / Soccer

Okinawa’s professional soccer team, FC Ryukyu, is Okinawa’s first J League team. It was formed in 2003, and participated in the J3 league from 2013. The team’s home stadium is the ground at the Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park, and their color is a deep red ochre. This is the same color as the current Shurijo Castle, and is indicative of traditional Ryukyu culture. The team color imbues a sense of the fighting spirit evident in the FC Ryukyu playing style, which displays a keen hunger for victory and excites spectators with its aggressive style.

Stadium Specialty A food court where you can find the famous “Kiroben”

In front of the stadium, you can find rows of food stands selling tasty local Okinawan specialties. The famous “Kiroben” Bento (lunchbox) weighs more than 1 kg, and is extremely popular with supporters of visiting teams, with queues sometimes being seen before matches. Of course, alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase, because there is nothing like enjoying watching a sports match with a frosty cold beer in tropical Okinawa.

Supporters of visiting teams come from all over Japan to cheer on their heroes at FC Ryukyu home games. We spoke to some visitors who had come to support Nagano Parceiro. Apparently they come to every one of their team’s games in Okinawa, and use their time before and after the matches to visit tourist attractions such as Shurijo Castle and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

“After the matches, we’ll end up in a local Okinawan restaurant on Kokusai Street to celebrate our victory (or drown our sorrows when we lose) (laughing).”

The supporters of visiting teams are enjoying Okinawa to the fullest. Why not use the opportunity of your team playing a match in Okinawa to enjoy some Okinawan sightseeing?

Before matches and during half-time, there are performances by local singers and dancers, and fans can also meet FC Ryukyu players. The photo shown above is from a Halloween event held in October. Supporters and visitors came to take photographs with FC Ryukyu players who had dressed up in costume.

Okinawan fans and the goal-marking “Ryukyu Splash”

In addition to the match itself, another noteworthy point is the support from the Okinawan fans, which features a mix of traditional Okinawan songs and the local dialect. Sometimes the traditional Kachaashii dance is danced when victory is decided, and it is these moments that give you a sense of the real Okinawa.
FC Ryukyu supporters cheer and wave their towels in a circle whenever there is a corner kick. Another thing to look forward to is the “Ryukyu Splash” – a spray of water directed at specified seats upon the scoring of a goal. Cheering your support while soaking wet and surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd is something you can only enjoy at a FC Ryukyu home game!

*FC Ryukyu home games for this season have all finished. We look forward to seeing you next season!

Ryukyu Corazon / Handball

Handball is a minor player nationally in terms of being a spectator sport. However, the home games held in Okinawa for the local Ryukyu Corazon club team are packed almost to capacity. Corazon home games feature an almost family-like sense of unity in the support from their fans, who are referred to as “Familia.” Among those Familia are many schoolchildren who learn handball at the Corazon Handball School, and you can feel how popular the sport is with the local residents.

“The Corazon playing style has a focus on ‘unity’.”

These are the words of one of the players, Motonori Muraji, who is in his sixth year as a professional player. The playing style used to be one where the star player would get all of the goals, but this has changed to an “Attack as a Team, Defend as a Team” approach.

Handball is a game that unfolds at a bewildering speed, with the ball being transported while being contested in furious clashes akin to those of a combat sport. Shots on goal fired from point-blank range are said to reach speeds of up to 100 km/hr. Experiencing that intensity up close will have you addicted.

Something to take notice of at Corazon home games are the sound and lighting performances. The venue goes dark when the players enter, and the soundtrack changes every time the play changes from offense to defense and vice-versa. Whenever Corazon score a goal, the MC’s yell of “GOAL!!” combines with the roar of the crowd to bring the excitement of the venue to a peak.
Corazon home games are the only handball matches in all of Japan where you can experience this much excitement and such elaborate performances!

Try a Corazon-style game of handball!

Outside the gymnasiums there are booths selling food and merchandise, as well as a handball game area. The food booths sell pizza and popcorn, and alcohol is available at some venues. Enjoying watching a match with a snack and alcoholic beverage is another distinctive feature of Corazon games.

Perfect as an Okinawan souvenir!Look out for the traditionally dyed Bingata-style uniform!

In the merchandise area, you can purchase a variety of original Corazon merchandise, including uniforms and local Kariyushi Wear shirts. Of particular note is the uniform with the traditional Okinawan Bingata dye pattern. It is perfect as a reminder of the game, and also as a souvenir Okinawa.

After the match, the Corazon players take the time to farewell spectators at the exit as a service to their fans. They are happy to give autographs, high-fives, and pose for photographs. This kind of warmth shown to not only the local Familia, but to all spectators, has even seen some visitors from outside the prefecture suddenly become Corazon fans. Please let some Okinawa-style Corazon merchandise, an autograph or photo from a friendly Corazon player, the fun and intensity of a professional handball match, and the passion of a Corazon game you can only experience in Okinawa be the presents you take with you from your trip to Okinawa.

Professional Baseball Camps / Professional Soccer Camps

Okinawa is famous as a host to both professional baseball and professional soccer camps! In recent years, many professional teams, including those for baseball and soccer gather in the warm winter in Okinawa to hold camps on the main and outlying islands. The appeal of the camps is being able to get up close and personal with the players you can only ever see from a distance as a spectator or on television! Every year, many fans visit Okinawa from other prefectures to observe the camps.

2017 will see visits from 9 Japanese and 2 South Korean professional baseball teams (as of 1 January), while 14 teams from Japan, 7 from China, and 1 from South Korea will gather for professional soccer. There are many fans who tour the locations of the camps held on the main and outlying islands. They can also enjoy Okinawan sightseeing and shopping at various locations.

You might even get to speak to your favorite player!Camps make contact with players a reality

The number one attraction of the camps is contact with the players. You will see concentration on their faces as they practice, but also smiles and congeniality on occasion. You may even get a wave if you are lucky!
During breaks and moving between locations may provide you with a chance to get up close and get an autograph. It’s a good idea to take balls, colored paper, or uniforms for them to sign. Official meet-and-greet and autograph sessions are also held, so check the homepage for each team in advance for details.

Only possible at camps!Team-internal games

Something else you can do at the camps is observe team-internal matches and practice matches with other teams. Even though it is the off-season, these are valuable opportunities where you can watch a professional match for free. While not official, these are nevertheless important matters that can predict the direction for the current season, so please come and support your favorite team. Team players and fans gather from a variety of locations, so you should be able to witness some climactic matches just like regular games. Proactive use is made of rookies and second squad players, so you may experience the connoisseur-like pleasure of witnessing the birth of a new star!

The “Okinawa Professional Baseball Camps 2017” and “Okinawa Soccer Camps ” websites have been specially set up and are where you can find the latest information! They have information about each of the team camps and how to get the most out of them, as well as information about the appeal of the local areas where they are held and other tourist information for before and after the matches.

【Okinawa Professional Baseball Camps 2017】
http://www.okinawabaseball.com/

【Okinawa Soccer Camps】
http://soccer-camp.okinawa/

Combine an Okinawa trip with watching professional sports for some amazing memories!

Sports fans and non-fans alike should experience watching a professional sports match in Okinawa at least once. You are certain to find great excitement – not only from the matches themselves – but from getting caught up in the passionate support and additional entertainment that can only be experienced in Okinawa.
In addition, this is the popular tourist location of Okinawa. You can do some sightseeing or enjoy the resort-like feeling at the beach before watching the game, and afterwards you can keep the excitement going as you enjoy some delicious Okinawan cuisine and Awamori liquor at a local restaurant.
Why not add the memory of passionate fan support at a professional sports match to your Okinawa trip?