In Okinawa, there was already time for the feared North Korean missile attack.
The first rays of the sun reveal why a subtropical Japanese island has been chosen as one of the hosts of the World Cup.
Already the first hours of the morning tell that another scorching hot and humid summer day is coming.
Okinawans have the reputation of living the longest in the entire world. Their ikigai thinking is based on having a reason to wake up every morning. That, combined with an extremely healthy and low-fat diet, means that as many as 68 percent of the residents live to be a hundred years old.
However, paradise has a dark side.
Already in World War II, the Japanese used the local Ryūkyū people as human shields against the American landing forces. Almost a quarter of the Okinawans perished, but the Yankees’ losses were also so great that the president Harry S. Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Today, there is a rather loud US military base on the island, whose destroyers make a constant noise in the sky of paradise.
“Evacuation cancelled”
Susijengi has also had to experience the problems of Okinawa’s geopolitical location. The team members experienced a nasty surprise awakening at four o’clock the night before Thursday.
– It must have been some failed satellite transmission attempt. I woke up to such an alarm in the night and could not find out anything about it, Mikael Jantunen said in the lobby of the team’s accommodation.
The story continues after the picture
Mikael Jantunen woke up to a loud warning message. Jenni Gästgivar
The Japanese Ministry of the Interior did not really deal with it. It sent a loud warning message to all mobile phones present. Outside, a general danger sign would blare.
The authorities did not immediately know what type of missile it was, so they were forced to start preparing to evacuate the residents.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, however, there was an announcement that the danger was over.
– Evacuation order cancelled. It is believed that the missile passed into the Pacific Ocean around 04:00, it said.
“Nice place”
The problem for the Finnish players was, of course, that both announcements were only in Japanese.
– In the morning, I found out what it was. The phone really received an emergency message, Jantunen said in the morning.
Dictator of North Korea Kim Jong-un has been alarming its neighbors for a long time, and the packers can’t always take missile alerts seriously. This time, however, it was about something a little more serious, because the situation also sparked discussion in the Japanese media.
– When the second warning came, I wondered for a moment what the hell this is. But since there was no third, I continued to dream, Jantunen continued.
Jantunen has already spent almost a whole week in Okinawa. The Helsinki resident liked what he saw.
– It’s a really nice place. It’s warm outside, and because of that, time will be spent at the hotel.
Attack Australia
Jantunen signed a contract in the summer Tuomas Iisalon with coached Paris Basketball. In the fall, therefore, the matches of the tough Eurocup are waiting.
The story continues after the picture
US fighter jets patrol the skies over Okinawa. Jenni Gästgivar
Before that, one more World Cup final tournament should be handled in style.
– Every day has started to feel better. The first day was quite difficult, but it starts from there. When I woke up today, I already felt refreshed.
– I have made such trips before. I know what to do and when to get my body in shape.
The wolf team will face Australia in the opening match of the World Cup. The ball will be thrown into the air on Friday at 11:00 Finnish time.
– Our strengths are fast basketball with a little chaos and playing together. Getting to the Games was the minimum goal. We are going to win every game, Jantunen promises.
The World Cup match between Finland and Australia can be watched on Nelose on Friday from 10:30 a.m.