We came back to Thomas’s home again after three years.

Guten Tag, this is Ken.

After re-charging in Japan for one week, came back to the land of Europe again!
To the land of Germany, here we are.

Speaking of Germany, this is our memorable country in 2006 World Cup when Atsushi and I were trotting around all over Germany in Love Wagon.

Oh yean, it’s been more than three years since then… 



※ Please refer to the Atsushi’s Blog about stories of Germany World Cup, before Libero reminiscences were formed. 

Well, I was immediately joined by Atsushi at first arrived in Germany, it was neither in Berlin nor in Frankfurt but…

in Magdeburg!


Here, this is a small town where Tomas lives 

Tomas and I met in the previous World Cup in Germany.

Not even listed in Lonely Planet, the city of Magdeburg is located 150km west of Berlin.

View Larger Map

For the first time in three years and three months, we visited Thomas again in his house.

We were picked up by his car from the station. .

Looking back, it was such a dramatic first meet with Thomas.

When we went to watch [Spain vs. Ukraine @ Leipzig] in Germany, we noticed a soccer-loving family sitting in front of us. 

Before kickoff, I gave a wristband of Japanese team to the child as he was so cute, and the father was so pleased that he said “Come, come and stay with us,” he invited us to stay at his place.

Thomas is second from the right and his son, Till. (then seven years old)

Unfortunately, we had already secured a place to stay in Leipzig that night, (it was a camp ground though) we promised to visit his house after watching another game the very next day in Berlin.

It was two-hour driving from Berlin to Magdeburg. I remember that Atsushi and I drove all the way to his place though down pouring heavy rain, then finally we managed to get there.

I give you an example If we were to describe this rather strange incident. 

As if Japan were Germany, there was a rather little suspicious Arab duo, down came to the Kashima Stadium, and met a Japanese person who is a complete stranger and they had an instant rapport. Then down came from the National Stadium the next day, with no maps, all they had was a hand written note in English which was unable to read. They anyhow hit the Tomei highway, in the bucketing rain right in the rainy season, managed to get off at Numazu Interchange, kept driving the road or the fire trail or whatever, and somehow they finally reached the house…

Something like that.

This is the picture, expressing the joy of meeting together at the time in three years ago.

Team Chon mage in German branch

At the time of World Cup, German run a huge campaign called "A Time to Make Friends”. 


 Apparently, it was for breaking the common international images against Germans which is unkind and serious looking, and all the German people seemed to be so kind to us foreigners. 


You can say Thomas was a prime example.

And today, I went to watch the game of Wolfsburg team whom Hasebe is playing for, with Thomas. Wolfsburg is also Thomas’s hometown where he grew up.

It’s been three years since then. 
Do we look much older compare to before?

We will report about the game later in another entry in this blog!

Returning to home after the game, his wife, Andrea, was waiting for us with plates full of German version of SUSHI she made.

Simple Salmon and Avocado Sushi

The taste of vinegar rice was very good, there even Kikkoman soy sauce was on the table. It was so delicious that the taste was as good as an authentic Japanese sushi!

Who could imagine being able to meet Sushi Bomber here in Germany?

Now, I am going to watch the highlight of the match then go to bed.

Tomorrow, I'm going to watch Till’s soccer game, who has turned 10 this year!

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