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This is Kuidaore Ningyou, a large doll in front of the Kuidaore restaurant in Shinsaibashi. It`s one of the symbols of Osaka along with Tsutenkaku and Osaka Castle.

Thanks to the World Cup it`s been kitted out in full Japan gear in support of the Japanese team.

Japan unfortunately lost to Australia in their first match 3-1 with Australia`s three goals coming in the last six minutes. They play Croatia today.

Come on Japan!

Japan are playing Australia tonight in the World Cup. As it`s in Germany and we`re in Japan, it kicks off at 10:00 pm here. Nevertheless there`s a lot of anticipation in the air.

Japan is the higher ranked (18th to Australia`s 42nd) although with America bewilderingly placed at 6th in the world, these ratings shouldn`t be taken too seriously.

Japan`s fetching kit as above comes in the also bewildering colour of Samurai Blue. I never knew samurai wore blue.

I`ve just finished watching my football team Liverpool lose in the World Club Championship finals 1-0 to Sao Paulo. Liverpool seem to follow me around the globe. When I lived in Germany they played in and won the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund against CD Alaves which I watched. When I studied in Wales they won the FA Cup against Arsenal in Cardiff and now I`m in Japan they played in the World Club Final against Sao Paulo in Yokohama.

Yet unfortunately they lost. Liverpool had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside two minutes before the end which would have taken it to extra time. As I`ve written before, although I love Liverpool, I am not the biggest Liverpool fan as I keep forgetting when they are playing. I only realised this evening after coming back from a delicious Korean restaurant when Reiko switched on the TV and told me there was 20 minutes remaining.

Tags: Japan, Osaka, Asia, Quaisi, Kansai, Expat, English, Football, Soccer, Liverpool