Kids' Activities 09-1

Anyone for Futsal?

	People enjoying futsal in Yokohama. (Kanagawa Shimbun)

The Kohoku Soccer Exchange Center opened on May 24 in the Shin-Yokohama district of Yokohama's Kohoku Ward. The center enables people to overcome national and regional borders to meet and make friends through five-a side soccer and music.

The center, located at a baseball park 300 meters from International Stadium Yokohama, has two futsal pitches and an exhibition space. As well as futsal, it can be used for music concerts and a variety of other events. The center has an area of about 8,000 square meters. The idea of building a camp village in this area for supporters from Japan and abroad to mingle was canceled, and instead the plan to create a futsal center was hatched. Five-a-side soccer pitches near World Cup stadiums proved popular at the last tournament in France in 1998.

The pitches can be used for free and without making a reservation. People who turn up can simply put together teams and start playing. There are always ward employees or volunteers on hand to help, and players can hire balls and uniforms. The center is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until June 12, except June 9 and 11. On these two days matches are being held at the nearby stadium and the center will act as a waiting area for fans, so it cannot be used for futsal.

On the first day, May 24, workers from nearby offices used their lunchtimes to break sweat playing futsal. (Kanagawa Shimbun)