Not all get kick out of World Cup

By Yuri Kageyama
Associated Press

On the eve of Japan's World Cup soccer match against Turkey, shoppers packed a sports merchandise store in Tokyo. Japan's success in the tournament has meant booming business for some but declines for many others. Associated Press

"I definitely want them to lose," said Matsuura, whose Asakuma restaurants have suffered a

20-percent drop in revenue as people stay home in droves, glued to their TV sets. "Business is important. Not everyone loves soccer."

Soccer madness has consumed much of Japan, which is co-host of the World Cup with South Korea through the end of June. And the Japanese team has put on a stunning performance, advancing to the round of 16 after tying Belgium and defeating Russia and Tunisia.

But the good news has spelled disaster for some businesses, such as Asakuma. Fans turning stadiums into waves of blue, Japan's team color, or dancing wildly in the streets may hog media attention. But most of the country is doing its rooting at home.

Even overseas travel has fallen by 14 percent this month, said Hiroshi Ueno, spokesman for JTB Corp., a major travel agency.

Korean Air Co., Asiana Airlines Inc., and South Korean and Japanese travel agents say demand during the World Cup soccer tournament is disappointing as would-be travelers opt to sit in front of the TV instead.

Sales of Korean Air, the nation's biggest carrier, totaled 56.2 billion won ($45 million) in the first seven days of June, 5 percent less than in the same period a year earlier. Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Japan's No. 2 travel agency, said the number of customers booking package tours to South Korea in June fell 90 percent.

Kinki Nippon received 16 percent fewer reservations for June overseas tour packages, compared with last year, said spokeswoman Eiko Sato, blaming the drop in package tours to South Korea mostly on a lack of available hotel rooms as visitors from other countries got in first.

But it hasn't been all bad news. The travel agency said the value of bookings from foreign travelers for June has doubled so far, compared with June last year, and it has made nine times as many reservations for overseas travelers at hotels compared with last year, Kinki Nippon's Sato said.

Korean travel agents are also seeing the number of Japanese tourists fall. Lotte Tours, one of South Korea's biggest travel agents, said it has booked 3,919 Japanese-tourist visits to South Korea this month, 49 percent fewer than in the same month last year.

On the other hand, World Cup fever is doing wonders for TV sales. People buying tuners for satellite TV to get broadcasts of all World Cup games surged threefold in April from a year ago.

Blue jerseys — the $110 official team version as well as $80 replicas — are selling briskly, said Akira Suzuki, spokesman for retailer Japan Sports Vision Co.

"There were so many dramatic scenes for the Japanese team," he said. "Without moving moments like that, people don't buy the products."

Sumitomo-Life Research Institute, a Tokyo think tank, has published a report predicting the World Cup will boost Japan's economic growth by 0.1 percent. That will come courtesy of extra spending by spectators from both overseas and within Japan. A total of 1.35 million people are expected to attend matches here.

About 10 percent of Japan's population, or 12 million people, are soccer fans, adding to healthy sales of jerseys, scarves and pins, the report said.

If everyone starts feeling good, it may even prompt consumers to spend more, a welcome change for the struggling economy, said Sumitomo-Life researcher Yasuteru Yamamoto.

Convenience-store chain Family Mart is selling not only the jerseys but also boxed lunches supporting the Japanese team with two fried shrimp forming the letter V on a bed of noodles.

"We have pork-kimchee rice balls and teriyaki-chicken-mayonnaise rice balls made to satisfy the tastes of young soccer fans," said spokesman Yuzuru Ujiie. "Sales are going so well, we're screaming for joy."