Footy Japan through the Fujifilm 100-400 mm lens
I found some Footy Japan photos from 2021. They were on a hard drive in a drawer under some jeans. Why did I put them in that place? I have no idea! It would be a tragedy if I had lost them because they were my first soccer pics. They hold special memories. Now you can see them! You can also see how the Fujifilm 100-400 mm lens performed.
You’ve probably heard of the Japanese J1 League. But, there are also many independent domestic competitions. I reached out to one of them, Footy Japan. FJ generously allowed me access to one of their games, FC Sagarmatha against King George FC. As a photographer, it was a fun learning experience. I’ll do it again for sure.
Footy Japan has quite a serious competition. It has three levels. The game I photographed was in Division Three of their Tokyo Metropolis League. It wasn’t the highest level, but the guys were serious. They went hard at it all game.
The game took place at the Mitsubishi Yowa-Kai soccer field. It was very close to Sugamo Station on the Yamanote line. The grounds are next to the tracks, but you must walk around a few blocks to get to the entrance.
For anyone wanting to play football in Tokyo, I’m sure Footy Japan would have something for you. On top of that, they are a friendly bunch of people. They are another highly recommended group.
I don’t remember much from this game, as it took place a long time ago. But, the players had a good level of skill and played hard. Later I found some of them also played in the higher-ranked divisions.
What is the Footy Japan?
Footy Japan has four components. They are the Tokyo Metropolis League (TML), the Footy Japan Cup, the Footy Japan 7′s, and the youth Interliga tournaments. The stated goals on their website are:
- To provide an organized and competitive football infrastructure for Japan’s international community
- To enhance international relations through football
- To engage with Tokyo’s international community by 1) facilitating communication between its members, 2) providing a platform for the promotion of various causes, and 3) supporting charities through football competitions.
It started at the beginning of 2004. There are thirty teams across three divisions. They play organized competitive eleven-a-side football. The schedule is like that of many European domestic leagues.
Players are of many different nationalities. Many of them are multi-lingual. But English is the common language.
Using the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm lens for football photography
This game was the first time I used the Fujifilm 100-400 mm lens for sports photography. Here is what I found:
- To hold that huge lens for a long time was tough. After the game, I was exhausted.
- If you use it for an extended amount of time, a monopod will support the weight.
- As the lens is variable aperture, I’ve heard people say it’s not the best sports photography lens. Yes, I would appreciate better lowlight performance, but as it stands, it is acceptable.
- The picture quality is terrific.
Conclusion
Domestic-level soccer in Tokyo is very competitive. Luckily, there are groups to join if you are a non-Japanese speaker. To find out more about Footy Japan, see their website here. They also have a Facebook page.
And if you are a Fujifilm photographer looking for a long sports lens, consider the 100-400mm. It is a little heavy but its benefits make it worthwhile. Its images are beautiful. Please leave questions and comments below.
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