A7. A Canadian teacher is offering classes in conversational French for the residents of Nakatsue, a village of 1,370 people in Oita Prefecture that will host the Cameroon team. Residents can often be heard practicing their French in their daily lives. The village has even sent an official to Germany to learn how to make ham and sausage, among the favorite foods of the Cameroon players.

Tokyo's Chofu City, where the Saudi Arabian team will make camp, is holding classes on Islamic culture. The city even plans to put up signs pointing in the direction of Mecca, Islam's holiest site. Toyama City, which will host the Croatian team, struggled at first to find Croatian interpreters. Through a private exchange group, though, the city was introduced to students at Croatian universities who are studying Japanese, and now it can rest easier. Belgium, Japan's first opponent in the World Cup, will stay in Kumamoto City. The city is gearing up to welcome the team, and one of its shopping streets will be renamed "Belgium Street" for the duration of the World Cup.

It is important to create an atmosphere in which the players can relax while they are in Japan. The hotel in Sendai that will house the Italian team has arranged to receive Italian TV broadcasts. And the city of Kashihara in Nara Prefecture, where the team from Tunisia will make camp, has set up video games in the team's lodging. Meanwhile, Matsumoto City has obtained a ping-pong table for the Paraguayan team that will be staying there.

The cities where the matches will be held are also busy with preparations. Sapporo, which will host the England vs. Argentina match, is preparing to deal with violent fans, known as hooligans, by deploying a security force of more than 6,000 people. Saitama Prefecture, meanwhile, was at one point worried that the quality of the grass at Saitama Stadium 2002 was not perfect last year, but every effort was made to improve it beginning in February, and in mid-April the Japan Football Association expressed its approval, saying, "The condition of the grass has been markedly improved. There will be no problem with hosting World Cup games there." At the same time, it remains to be seen whether the area around Niigata Stadium Big Swan can be kept free of traffic jams. Organizers have their hands full in these places as the tournament approaches.

Volunteers in the village of Nakatsue making Cameroon flags. (Nakatsue Village)