Sakamoto Ryoma Wears Samurai Blue Soccer Kimono
A few video clips show us a giant statue of a soccer-loving Sakamoto Ryoma on the grounds of the Shimabara Fukko Arena in Nagasaki prefeture:
The giant statue is a copy of the famous statue at Katsurahama beach in Kochi, but there have been some significant alterations to its appearance. His kimono has been painted “samurai blue” colors of the Japan national soccer team and Sakamoto family crests have been replaced with the logos of Adidas and the Japan Football Association. On his feet he wears soccer cleats. A soccer ball is under one foot.
If it looks familiar to some of you, it’s because it used to stand in Tokyo’s Yoyogi park, where it stood during the 2010 World Cup. It’s now been moved to Nagasaki prefecture, which is sort of appropriate because Sakamoto did reside in Nagasaki for a time.
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