JAPAN: SOCCER - DAVID BECKHAM VISITS A TOKYO PRIMARY SCHOOL AND ATTENDS THE BECKHAM CHOCOLATE EVENT AS PART OF HIS PROMOTIONAL TOUR.

Record ID: 190205

  • Title: JAPAN: SOCCER - DAVID BECKHAM VISITS A TOKYO PRIMARY SCHOOL AND ATTENDS THE BECKHAM CHOCOLATE EVENT AS PART OF HIS PROMOTIONAL TOUR.
  • Date: 20th June 2003
  • Summary: (U2) TOKYO, JAPAN (JUNE 20, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. CAMERAMEN FILMING ON TOP OF BUILDING / PAN TO HIGH VIEW OF STUDENTS AT SCHOOL PLAYGROUND 2. DAVID BECKHAM APPEARING AND WAVING 3. PEOPLE LINED UP ON THE BRIDGE TO SEE BECKHAM 4. BECKHAM WAVING, GIVEN FLOWERS BY STUDENT 5. PEOPLE WATCHING BECKHAM THROUGH FENCE 6. PEOPLE WATCHING BECKHAM ON BRIDGE 7. BECKHAM KICKING BALL TO STUDENTS 8. WOMAN WATCHING THROUGH OPERA GLASS ON THE BALCONY 9. BECKHAM SURROUNDED BY CHILDREN AND SHAKING HANDS WITH CHILDREN 10. PEOPLE WATCHING ON THE BALCONY 11. STUDENTS WAVING TO BECKHAM 12. BECKHAM WAVING, LEAVING SCHOOL 13. RIOT POLICE BUS OUTSIDE TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FORUM WHERE BECKHAM CHOCOLATE EVENT IS BEING HELD 14. POLICE 15. PEOPLE WAITING FOR BECKHAM 16. WOMAN HOLDING TICKET FOR THE CHOCOLATE EVENT 17. PEOPLE MAKING A QUEUE TO GET IN THE EVENT 18. POLICE 19. OB VAN LINING UP 20. PEOPLE WAITING FOR BECKHAM 21. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) WOMAN FAN WHO DECLINED TO BE IDENTIFIED SAYING: "I want to see him in the flesh least once." 22. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MIKA KASHIMA, 32 YEAR OLD RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE, SAYING: "I like him because he is very good soccer player and he is so handsome. My children also like him as well. He is so popular amongst kids." 23. PEOPLE WAITING FOR BECKHAM 24. BECKHAM COMING OUT OF BUILDING IN A CAR, WAVING TO CROWDS FROM CAR 25. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RUI OMODA 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT SAYING: "He really looked great, he looked so cool. Everything was perfect." 26. BECKHAM LEAVING IN A CAR / FANS SCREAMING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA1494KHIL6UDDSISSRJS4YXD5E
  • Story Text: Tokyo continued to be gripped with Beckham mania when
    the soccer star appeared at a downtown primary school.



    Helicopters whirred overhead and office workers in
    suits and ties lined the roof tops of buildings of a Tokyo
    neighbourhood on Friday (June 20) as soccer star David Beckham
    visited a primary school.

    The 28-year-old England captain, on the third day of a
    promotional Asian tour, showed off the skills that have made
    him world famous at the school in the Tsukiji area, a brief
    walk from the fashionable Ginza shopping and entertainment
    district.

    Over 300 students in blue and white school uniforms lined
    up in orderly rows on the school sports ground, each carrying
    a pink carnation, their impatience barely contained by nervous
    teachers.

    Entering as they screamed "Konnichiwa" -- hello -- in
    unison, Beckham accepted a bouquet of red flowers from a
    little girl and kissed her on the cheek.

    A smiling Beckham then had a brief session with members of
    the school football team, in which he gently passed the ball
    back and forth to several youngsters.

    "Seeing these kids' faces and how happy they are, this
    just makes my trip," Beckham said.

    In a question-and-answer session, one girl asked what
    hairstyle he planned next, a reflection of the Japanese
    obsession with his hair that sparked imitators of his Mohawk
    cut after last year's World Cup.

    "I don't know," a smiling Beckham replied. "Do you have
    any ideas for me?"
    Thousands of people, including office workers on their
    lunch breaks, pressed close outside the school gates, cameras
    and camera-equipped mobile phones at the ready, hoping for a
    glimpse as Beckham's limousine whisked past.

    A few held banners reading, "We love you, Beckham."
    Others lined the windows and roofs of office buildings
    overlooking the school.

    Beckham, who is working on an autobiography due out later
    this year, is due to go to Spain in early July to finalise his
    25 million pounds ($41.87 million U.S dollars) move to Real
    Madrid from Manchester United. He has still to sign his
    contract and pass a medical.

    Selected fans got to meet David Beckham at another event
    in Tokyo.

    There crowds lined the streets to get a glimpse of the
    superstar as he left.

    "I want to see him in the flesh at least once," said one
    Beckham fan who declined to be identified.

    "I like him because he is very good soccer player and he
    is so handsome. My children also like him as well. He is so
    popular amongst kids," said Mika Kashima who left her
    restaurant across the street to catch a glimpse of Beckham.

    "He really looked great, he looked so cool. Everything was
    perfect," said fifteen year old Rui Omoda who was one of the
    lucky fans who saw Beckham in the flesh.




  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register