SAMURAI FC
Past Junior Events
Since Dec 2021, Samurai FC has hosted 9 holiday football clinics, 2 Japanese style athletic days, 3 seasons of indoor football with the junior team and many one on one coaching lessons. Enjoy the timeline of events below.
January 2024
Samurai Soccer Clinic January 2024
At our ninth and 2nd year anniversary holiday program, we had the theme of “Eto” the Japanese Zodiac, and also reflecting on last year’s goals and setting new a new goal for 2024. It was fantastic to see that so many participants achieved their goals for 2023! With the 1-day tournament, Christchurch Takoyaki sponsored us with Takoyaki vouchers.
September 2023
Samurai Soccer Clinic September 2023
At our eighth holiday program, our theme was “Otsukimi”, a Japanese ritual in this season where we watch the full moon and eat Odango, a type of rice cake ball. The participants learnt about this event and even got to eat some on the last day with our fundraiser! This was the last holiday program that Coach Leader Ginji led, as he departed NZ after 1.5 years with the community. Thank you for everything Ginji!
July 2023
Nadeshiko Open Training Event
Samurai FC Youth Leader Kosei had the opportunity to MC this event in front of a crowd of over 200 people, as local and Japanese people from across the city gathered to watch the players high quality training. Furthermore, Samurai FC children and coaches had the opportunity to interact and hand over a flag with our messages to the team, which was a once in a lifetime experience for all!
July 2023
Nadeshiko Airport Welcome Event
The Women’s Football World Cup 2023 was co-hosted by NZ and Australia, and the Japanese women’s national team held their base camp in Christchurch. So, in collaboration with the Japanese Society of Canterbury and Canterbury Japanese Supplementary School, we organized over 50 people to welcome the team to ÅŒtautahi. It was fantastic to meet some of the best players in the world in person!
July 2023
Samurai Soccer Clinic July 2023
At our seventh holiday program, we had the theme of “Japanese Games” and participants learnt how to play common Japanese Games that primary school children would play during lunch time. Because there are not a lot of opportunities to play such games in NZ, the children loved it and it was one of the best themes we have had yet!
April 2023
Samurai Soccer Clinic April 2023
At our sixth holiday program, our theme was “Ohanami”, and participants learned about this event where people gather under the cherry blossoms and have a picnic. Also, we had a surprise theme of “Mother's Day”, where the children wrote messages to their mothers and handed it as a Samurai Letter, making such a wholesome and memorable event. With the 1-day tournament, Ippin Ramen and Bowl sponsored us with vouchers!
Oct 2022-Mar 2023
Junior Six Second Season
In the second season of Samurai Junior Six, we had an extended team with 12 players, playing in the Action Indoor Sports U8 league for Term 4 2022 and Term 1 2023. The team managed to take the championship, winning the final in a close 4-3 match.
January 2023
Second Japanese Style Athletics Day
At our second annual Japanese style athletics day, we split into team Japan and team NZ to compete in multiple Japanese athletic events created through DIY props for the events such as “Tamaire”, “Shougaibutsu race”, “Cardboard race”. Team Japan were crowned the second champions.
January 2023
Samurai Soccer Clinic January 2023
At our fifth and Samurai FC 1st Anniversary clinic, we had the theme “Japanese New Years” and participants wrote out their goal for school or football for 2023. With the 1 day tournament, we followed on from the Japanese National Team’s World Cup campaign in December and winners received supporters items from the tournament.
November 2022
Special One Day Clinic
We had a Special 1-day clinic with a guest from Auckland, Hide who has played Goalkeeper at a high level in Australia and New Zealand, and has coached junior teams in Japan too. He brought in a new skill set and method of training which Samurai FC has utilized ever since.
October 2022
Samurai Soccer Clinic October
At our fourth holiday program, we had a new head coach, Ginji who recently graduated from Higashi-Fukuoka High School, which is one of the strongest football schools in Japan. He brought in a new perspective and a new program to the football clinics. The 1 day tournament was very enjoyable too with the coaches cosplaying, which Sakimoto Japanese Bistro sponsored us with Bento vouchers.
July 2022
Samurai Soccer Clinic July
At our third holiday program, we introduced themes to the event, with our first theme being ”Tanabata”, a Japanese festival held in July every year where people write their wishes on colourful paper and hang them on bamboo branches which is said to make their wishes come true. Also, Purple Dragon sponsored us with Ramen vouchers for the 1-day tournament. This was also the last clinic for three of our cofounding team, Keisuke, Jun and Lucas as they departed on their journeys. Thank you for the past 8 months!
April 2022
Samurai Soccer Clinic April
At our second holiday program, we brought in the three Samurai values. 1. Punctual on time, 2. Using Manners, 3. Positivity, which brought a sense of culture in the community. Also, this was the first time we implemented our 1 day tournaments which we host on the last day of each clinic. Teppanyaki Takao sponsered us with vouchers for the winning team!
Feb 2022-Mar 2022
Samurai Junior Six
The Samurai Junior Six team was formed in February 2022 playing in the Action Indoor Football league for Term 1 2022. The team managed to claim their first victory on this day of the photo!
Jan 2022
Samurai Athletics Day 2022
At our first-ever Samurai Athletics Day, Team West Japan and Team East Japan competed in events such as Dodgeball, Volleyball, Futsal and Relay. Team West were crowned the first champions.
Dec 2021/Jan 2022
Samurai Soccer Clinic
Our first-ever holiday program was held for one day in December 2021 and three days in January 2022, attracting 28 participants.
And so much more to come...
Check out the Upcoming events page for the latest information!