the tall blond guy goes to japan

Big Hat, Small Seats

Nagano City

Since I couldn't ski today, I simply was not going to leave Nagano without seeing at least one Olympic venue. I saw the "Central Square" where they gave out the awards each night (it's much smaller than it looks on TV), but that doesn't really count.

Looking at my map, the closest thing to town is the "Big Hat" ice hockey rink. Away I go! About the same distance in the other direction from Zenkoji, and just about as easy to find, it's a very large building, sitting in the middle of a quasi-residential neighborhood. I came upon it from the back- the west. I walked around it a bit, and noticed that one of the front doors was ajar.

That's invitation enough for me, so I bound up the steps and wander quietly inside. The hallway is dererted, but there's music coming from the rink area. I open one of the doors to the seating area, and am greeted by a hockey game in progress! Well, my legs are tired, and I've got some time to kill before thinking about dinner- I might as well sit down and watch some hockey.

The local team had stylish black jerseys and a team yell, but they were getting their butts kicked by the visiting team in ugly yellow jerseys and no team yell. When I joined the 40 or so people watching the game, it was just starting its second period, 4-0 for the visitors. There's still a chance! I decided to root for the home team.

At the beginning of the 3rd, it was 6-0 for the visitors. I clapped and cheered along with everyone else when the locals got two goals at the beginning of the third, but it wasn't enough. Final score was 9-2 for the visitors.

It's a hat, it's a big big hat

After the game, they did something very charmingly Japanese. Both teams lined up and bowed to each other, then lined up 4 more times each (once in each compass direction) and bowed to the audience.

We clapped politely for the home team.