I asked lots of friends how they felt on the evenings of July 3 and 4 when a two-day break in the FIFA World Cup put an end to almost three weeks of everyday football watching. Almost everyone felt that they did not know what to do. While events such as Olympics have their impact on viewers and there are many takeaways for the host nation and cities, there is nothing like a single sport event like the FIFA World Cup. Russia 2018 produced no iconic personalities compared to the past, but it has surely done enough for football.
For me the best ‘team’ on display was Japan. The players, non-playing staff and the supporters projected the spirit of one team and represented their nation as true ambassadors. In victory or in defeat they did not forget to bow and thank the audience. The supporters stayed back along with the team to clean up the stadia by removing all the paraphernalia that audience across the world usually enjoys using during matches. How has Japan instilled in its people the strong sense of discipline and responsibility? Japan is a democracy and yet across all ages that essential discipline exists.
I am reminded of my service with the first-ever contingent from Japan which participated in a United Nations Peacekeeping mission. It was 1993-94, in Mozambique. After the end of the Cold War, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) were emerging from isolation to commence undertaking international non-lethal missions. The JSDF was assigned the responsibilities of movement control (Movcon).
Amongst other duties, access control for all personnel movement was part of their job. The Force Commander, a two-star General from the Brazilian Army, was to travel one day to the northern region in a special Citation jet. He reached the airport well in time and walked to the aircraft. The smart young Japanese soldier in combats posted at the stairway to the aircraft saluted but then put his hand out to prevent the General moving any further. “Good morning General, your identity card (ID) please,” said the soldier.
The Force Commander stopped, looked down at his chest and realised that the UN ID mandatorily required to be carried by all ranks was missing. He smiled, “Good morning soldier, I think I have forgotten my ID at home but I am the Force Commander and I am glad you recognise me, otherwise it could be a problem.” His smile quickly vanished when the soldier refused to remove his hand barring access to the VIP aircraft. “I know you are the Force Commander, sir. But ID necessary for travel, as per orders.” The VIP flight was delayed by 45 minutes as the ADC travelled to the General’s residence and returned with the ID.
No one from the higher staff of the Japanese unit or its commander made any attempt to override the authority of the young soldier. I sometimes admit to myself that if I was the unit commander I may have overruled the soldier for the sake of propriety but then I go back to admiring the culture of the Japanese.
The Japanese seem to take that discipline everywhere they go. At international tourist spots they are the most sober and always considerate to others. Their inner calling for fitness and discipline was again on display to me when some years ago two officers of JSDF attended the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) programme with me at London. Through the 11 months that we stayed together, both officers either cycled or jogged 10 miles to and from the institution in Central London from Kingston where we lived.
The manner in which Japan recovers from the jolts of natural disasters which haunt its geographic location in the Pacific is also copybook teaching. The resettlement process after the triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident in Miyaki prefecture is again a model of how the government and the people partner each other. There is another takeaway for me from the FIFA World Cup. I think Russia’s iron curtain may have finally lifted. That may do a lot of good to its international image and self-esteem.
Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain
Former Commander, Srinagar-based 15 Corps
atahasnain@gmail.com