Hockey in Japan?

[Turtle Stew]

Well. The title pretty much says it. Do they have it? If they do, it's probably really small. But I'm just wondering.

[hapacheese]

They have it, but you're right in that it's not that big. There was a pretty popular TV drama show called "Pride" in which the main characters were hockey players, but in an amazing show of self-restraint, I believe that the general Japanese populace didn't go out and start playing hockey (people often do follow trends in TV shows in Japan).

[Varia]

My guess is that it's probably for the same reason why they don't play football there.

They would get smoked beyond belief. Imagine Japan playing Russia. There would be no survivors.
________
HIACE (http://www.toyota-wiki.com/wiki/Toyota_Hiace)

[RDClip]

My guess is that it's probably for the same reason why they don't play football there.

They would get smoked beyond belief. Imagine Japan playing Russia. There would be no survivors.
For some reason Hockey remains a white sport. I'd think that Japanese could be more quick and move around faster. However, they lack the experience to have a professional or international team.

And just to note, in terms of Hockey Canada > Russia

[Dana]

Hockey is not a cheap sport either. To just go out and play it on a whim would be really hard to do in a country where it isn't established. Finding rink time, a team, a coach that knows whats going on, other teams to play, not to mention buying the equipment necessary, it would be really expensive. If you ended up not liking it you are kind of screwed!!

That said, I brought my skates with me in the hopes that I can find some kind of club or intramural league around here. Really doubt it though...

[Yokohama]

My guess is that it's probably for the same reason why they don't play football there.
Football? It means American football? If so, both hockey and football are fairly popular in Japan. This article http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2137456 shows you about hockey’s level in Japan. Also, we have some hockey leagues and football leagues. College football is also popular in Japan.

[hapacheese]

Yokohama - I think they're talking about in comparison to the popularity those sports have in America. By comparison, the only sports that are as popular in Japan are baseball and soccer.

[Yokohama]

I understand it. I just wanted to give them some information regarding this topic.

[Kass]

For some reason Hockey remains a white sport. I'd think that Japanese could be more quick and move around faster. However, they lack the experience to have a professional or international team.

Yeah, that would work out up until one of them took a hit in an international game and snapped in two. Most offensive players are very fast in their own right and even so, a hockey rink isn't that big and you can't dodge forever. You eventually get stuck along the boards and hammered.

[whispering]

And just to note, in terms of Hockey Canada > Russia
And just to note, in terms of Hockey Finland > Canada

We just let them win last time. Winning US was enough of a victory :p
You eventually get stuck along the boards and hammered.
Hockey outside NHL is much less aggressive, people still get hammered though.

[Kass]

I know, but put the average Finnish player next to any adult Japanese man. Even a moderate, okay for the Olympics hit would squish the guy.

[Ev0]

Actually, hockey has been around in Japan for quite a while.

My dad used to be the goalie for York University's hockey team, and one of their exhibition matches was against the Japanese national team (this was in the early 70s in case anyone is wondering). Predictably, York smoked the Japanese, but they were not bad players on the Japanese team. They were fast skaters, and many had great wrist shots, but obviously they lacked depth. Their physical play was virtually non-existent, as they could not win any battles for the puck in the corners for starters.

And there is an international ranking of nations for ice hockey. I'll post the link when I find it; Japan didn't fare too badly if I remember correctly (I believe they are in the top 50).

[Alphonse v.2]

And just to note, in terms of Hockey Canada > Russia

Actually, I'd say its somewhere in the middle, because each country had great players, and each country had their share of wins and loses so I'd say it's a tie. And yes, I watch hockey, a lot.

[atomiton]

I find it strange that in UK they qualify "hockey" with "ice hockey" and call "grass hockey" or "field hockey" just hockey... They don't call polo "horse polo" do they?

^_^

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

I think Japanese people generally dislike Hockey, since the paddings are bigger than they are. :D