Samurai Blue fans turned out in droves on Nov. 27 in a popular soccer-watching area in Osaka for what many expected to be a romp for their heroes over Costa Rica in the World Cup.

The fans were riding a jubilant high following Japan's 2-1 upset defeat of powerhouse Germany on Nov. 23. Coupled with Spain's 7-0 dismantling of Costa Rica, Japan looked to be big favorites to win and advance to the round of 16.

But what the Japanese fans got instead was an emotional roller-coaster that plunged them to the depths of despair as the game wore on.

Following Japan's 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica that put the Samurai Blue in jeopardy of crashing out of the World Cup, fans were forced to quickly shift gears toward the next "must-win" Group E game against Spain on Dec. 1. 

EXCITEMENT IN DOTONBORI BEFORE KICKOFF

Osaka’s Dotonbori area is a western counterpart of Tokyo’s Shibuya district in terms of a preferred destination for soccer fans to gather and watch a big game at pubs and party afterward.

At around 6 p.m., an hour before the kickoff, many fans sporting a blue jersey of the national team started arriving in the city’s Minami district, where Dotonbori is located.

But staff at Dijest, a sport bar located inside the popular “namBa HIPS” leisure complex, were already busy at the opening time of 4:30 p.m. when customers started coming in to see the big match.

While waiting for the kickoff, the bar replayed Japan's dramatic come-from-behind victory over Germany on multiple screens, pumping up fans’ expectations even more.

‘NIPPON’ CHANT AT BAR

When the clock struck 7 p.m., 400 or so people inside the bar started the “Nippon” chant in chorus.

Danieru Takumi Yoshida, a 25-year-old company employee who lives in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, was one of them.

Yoshida said he played against the Samurai Blue's Ritsu Doan, who scored the tying goal in the game against Germany, when he was a junior high school student.

Yoshida said about Doan’s goal, “I cried and cheered myself hoarse.”

He expected the same result for the Costa Rica game.

“A win. That’s the only thing I want,” he said.

Japan has made the final 16 at past World Cups but making the final eight has been an insurmountable hurdle.

“I know it’s difficult, but I want them to go for the World Cup championship,” Yoshida said.

But the packed bar was filled with anguished screams and sighs when Costa Rica scored in the 36th minute of the second half to break a 0-0 deadlock.

Still, the faithful quickly resumed their Nippon chants and remained glued to the screens until the final whistle.

Shu Nagami, a 28-year-old company employee who lives in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, could not hide his frustration and said, “Japan let its guard down.”

Takatoshi Komura, a 55-year-old company employee who lives in Wakayama, came to the bar with his three colleagues who enjoy watching soccer.

Komura watched the Germany game at home, but he thought, “I’d like to be pumped up together with them” for the Costa Rica game.

The result was not what Komura had hoped for. He said Costa Rica’s “stonewalling defense” was the cause of Japan's defeat.

“But the possibility of Japan making it past the first round is not over yet. It’s too early for us to give up the ship,” he said, keeping his hopes alive for the Spain game.

PRAYER TO 'GOD OF FOOT'

Some fans have sought divine intervention from the so-called “god of foot.”

Hattori Tenjingu, a shrine in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, enshrines the god of foot, and attracts people from around the nation who pray for recovery from foot-related injuries and illnesses and athletes who hope to improve their skills.

On the morning of Nov. 27, the shrine hosted a “prayer for victory” festival for the Japanese national team.

Yoshiya Kato, a priest of the shrine, read a Shinto prayer, wishing for the Samurai Blue to “face Costa Rica’s ability without flinching and without hesitating and put out all the very zenith of their hearts and skills that have been well-developed on a routine basis.”

Takashi Yamana, a 53-year-old self-employed man, attended the festival.

Yamana is such a soccer enthusiast that he attended the festival held for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, too.

Yamana said he hoped to see aggressive plays by Samurai Blue players Wataru Endo and the first goal scored by Kaoru Mitoma.

But a chagrined Yamana said afterward, “I never thought of losing. I don’t know what to say. …”

The shrine has hosted a similar festival since 1998, when Japan first qualified for the World Cup, which was held in France.

As legend goes, noted scholar and politician of the Heian Period (794-1185) Sugawara no Michizane (845-903) stopped by the shrine on his way to Daizaifu in present-day Fukuoka Prefecture.

There he prayed for recovery from his foot affliction and his prayer came true.

Many soccer players have visited the shrine, including Doan.

This time, the shrine has prepared a special limited-time-only “goshuin” (a seal stamp) to commemorate the World Cup.

The seal features “yatagarasu,” a mythical three-legged crow that is the symbol of the Japan Football Association.

After Japan beat Germany, the number of visitors to the shrine seeking the seal have doubled.

Kato said people were less enthusiastic about this year's World Cup than usual until the upset of Germany.

“I feel enthusiasm now,” Kato said. “I wish Japan won today, too.”

Juichi Tamaki, 15, a junior high school student in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, came to the shrine to obtain the special seal with his mother, Akane, who is a big fan of local J.League team Gamba Osaka, which Doan used to play for.

Juichi said he knew that “Costa Rica is not weak and Japan cannot afford to let its guard down.”

But Juichi already turned the page after the loss and keeps his spirit unbroken.

“I have switched my mode and believe in the next hope,” he said.

(This article was written by Kanako Tanaka and Koshin Mukai.)