I’ve been to see FC Tokyo a couple of times and on both occasions they managed to squeak a one goal victory. The first match was a 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe and the second a more exciting 3-2 against Nagoya Grampus.

FC Tokyo play in quite a large stadium. It holds about 40,000 people but I don’t think that they every get anywhere near capacity as this photo of the kick-off shows:

That said, their fans more than make up for the empty seats. Unlike the baseball the fans don’t rely on trumpets to lead the songs. They sing pretty much continuously throughout the game regardless of score (and the Kobe game was rather dull). I sat in the cheap home section behind the goal. These seats are unreserved which possibly helps to improve the atmosphere.

Two interesting things about going to the football (the same applies to the Yakult Swallows; more on them another time). First of all there are far more female fans in Japan. Secondly, although your bags are checked on the way in, presumably for fireworks and the like, you can bring your own food and drink into the stadium. Families turn up early and bring a little picnic. For evening games, like the Kobe game, people pick up some dinner at the Combini (convenience store) to have in the stadium. Nobody really drinks so much at the game although beer is available.