The team woke up at 6 AM for a walk and calisthenics. It was still dim around 6 AM.
After breakfast, they left the hotel around 8 AM.
The opening ceremony was conducted like an ancient ritual. It took place not in a stadium, but in an area carved out of a mountain, solemnly progressing as the birthplace of soccer. The tournament name, "Origin of Soccer Cup," is said to have originated from this very place.
After the opening ceremony, all teams visited the Cuju Museum to learn about Chinese culture rich in history.
In the courtyard, the players experienced Kemari, a traditional football game played since ancient times. Other teams also participated, but the Japanese players were shy and hesitant, not stepping forward easily.
After returning from the opening ceremony and museum visit, they had lunch around 12:30 PM. From 2 PM, a press conference was held at the hotel, where player Kaito Karasawa represented the team and spoke about his aspirations for the tournament and his impressions of Zibo, China.
Official practice was held at the stadium where tomorrow's match will take place.
The Zibo Sports Center Stadium is a municipal stadium with a capacity of 45,000 spectators. The home club is the local team "Zibo Cuju". This club's name is the city name plus the Japanese characters for "Kemari". It is currently in the third division of the Chinese league.
Training lasted from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Although it was originally scheduled for an hour, the organizers kindly provided lighting. Since they had only traveled yesterday and hadn't been able to move their bodies, they warmed up with active movements to loosen up.
They also checked the pitch conditions with 6-on-6 possession drills with two free men and shooting practice. The pitch surface was loose and slippery. To prepare for tomorrow's match, they formed a huddle and united their spirits, ready to fight.
They returned to the hotel, showered, and had dinner around 7 PM.
After dinner, they celebrated Hayato Ueki's birthday, which was today, with a cake and congratulated him.
To prepare for the matches starting tomorrow, lights out was set for 9:30 PM.