Bye now

Aska at 01:06 AM JST - 2nd July It's pretty clear that the goalie net comment was a joke. I like it.

lol, the fact that you had to point that out makes it clear to me that most people here have no sense of humour.

I commend this team on their show of gratitude and their good sportsmanship.

It's pretty clear that the goalie net comment was a joke. I like it.

its clearly a fence, all nice & straight & the re-inforcement rod in there certainly wudnt be in a net

Why would there be a goalie net at an airport??

Here is another photo of this scene (click on the right arrow next to the photo in the link to see another photo), and even though the foreground is blurry, you can see the loops of razor ribbon near the top.

http://southafrica2010.yahoo.co.jp/photos/detail/20100630-00000117-jij_vanp-socc.view-000

The whole team are wearing their matching suits and ties. They may look more like Japanese salarymen than soccer players, but the look is dignified and they do appear to be smiling most of the time.

The title of the JT photo here is "Bye Now" but could also be "Bow Now" as the coach and player bow to receive the flowers from the 2 girls.

Yeah Honda is going to be able to make a ton of $$ since he aint owned by some J-team he can do CMs & the like & pocket the $$ without some J-team skimming most of it!

I still think it is a goalie net.

@cactusJack

Great shot through the goalie net.

This is a photograph of the scene shown on Japan TV news as the team was leaving at the airport. That is not a goalie net in the foreground. It is a security fence, topped off with razor ribbon.

I am sure that Honda is smiling the most since he will likely come back to Japan as the 'favorite' of the media and the public.

The English players didn't sneak out. They were carried from the pub straight onto the airplane.

japan did a fantastic job at the world cup! i feel very grateful for all the players and staff.

So much nicer than the England team sneaking out at daybreak to avoid their fans...

Actually hope the team will keep themselves better then ever so that come possibly matches with others they will stand out as a good soccar team.

hold your heads high. Mr Okada has a big smile in this photograph

They did really well, and, is it just me, or did they manage to protect the players from being constantly hounded by the Japanese press this time ? The picture seems to suggest this. That would have a big effect ; not constantly having a mic shoved in your face and being asked "how do you feel ?" every 5 minutes...

I feel sorry for Okada ( the manager who never knowingly smiles ) No matter what he does ; getting Japan to qualify, getting them into the last 16 ; he never seems to get any credit, but gets all of the blame.

To be honest the team did better than I thought they would, good for them.

Next stop the 2012 Olympics.

It's time to get prepared, if they want to do well in the next WC.

Great shot through the goalie net.

Good to see something that Japan can be happy about. Go Blue Samurai!

....living on a jet plane.

Pretty sure it's leaving on a jet plane.

....living on a jet plane...