Every day during the Global Challenge Bowl, the event’s media team of Michael Preston and Lauren Hickey will post an update here on the official site of Team Stars & Stripes.

Tuesday update by Michael Preston – First of all, let me inform the familis of Achilles Flowers, Jason Simpson, William Griffin and Steve Caruso that our four late arrivals arrived safely at the Sunroute Hotel in Kawasaki along with the family of Jason Faipler at about 11.30pm tonight.

Before Lauren Hickey adds her blog to the website, here is a look at the press release that went out to media today concerning a visit to the Mayor of Kawasaki’s office…

Representatives of Team Stars & Stripes were officially welcomed to the City of Kawasaki by Mayor TAKAO ABE after the 45-player roster practiced in Kawasaki Stadium for the first time since their arrival in Japan.
 
Head Coach JEFF SCURRAN of Santa Rita (Tucson, AZ) High School, three players and Global Challenge Bowl organizers PATRICK STEENBERGE and SHINZO YAMADA were guests of Mayor Abe in his city chambers.  The group were joined by Team Japan head coach TAKAO YAMAZAKI and two of his players.
 
Linebacker TRAVIS FREEMAN from Cleveland (Ohio) Grenville School, running back / safety STETSON SHEARER from Burlington Edison (Washington) High School and female kicker MAILE LABOR from Santa Rita (Arizona) High School represented Team Stars & Stripes.  Running back MASAKI MATSUOKA and defensive lineman SHOTA TOMITA flew the flag for Team Japan.
 
The second annual Global Challenge Bowl kicks off at 2pm at Kawasaki Stadium on Saturday, March 21 in front of an anticipated crowd of 7,000 Japanese American football fans.  The Team Stars & Stripes roster of US high school all-stars, selected from 12 states and 27 high schools, will face the Japanese under-19 junior national team at 2pm local time.
 
“We are delighted to be back in your wonderful city again and always find the people of Kawasaki to be very gracious and welcoming,” coach Scurran told Mayor Abe.  “Your city is even more beautiful this year than I remember it being before.”
 
Organizer Patrick Steenberge added: “Thank you for inviting us.  We love your city and your people and we hope we are invited to return for many years to come.”
 
All three players had an opportunity to address Mayor Abe.  Linebacker Freeman said: “You have a very beautiful and safe city and the people are very nice.  I want to thank you not only for the opportunity to play this game, but also to line up against players from another country in a venue that is very different from what I am used to.”
 
Mayor Abe responded by telling the American and Japanese contingent: “We wish good luck to both teams and are sure that the fans and people of Kawasaki will enjoy the game.  I hope you enjoy your stay and the cultural experience.  We heard very positive things from the host families last year and they are pleased to welcome your players back into their homes.”
 
The players had a true taste of Japan on Monday when they spent their first night living with host families from the Kawasaki and Tokyo area.  Despite the unfamiliar surroundings of a new home thousands of miles away from home and some language barriers, the visiting student athletes all spoke of a positive experience.  Some are housed close to the stadium, while others travel to and from practice on the vast Tokyo train and subway network.
 
“The house where I am living seems to be a mix of traditional Japanese décor and modern styles,” said lineman ANTONIO TATE from Villa Angela-St Joseph in Cleveland, OH.  
 
Wide receiver TRENT DeBRAGA from Churchill County High School in Fallon, NV, added: “The train station here is crazy.  There were people everywhere.  I have never seen so many people in one place.”
 
On Tuesday morning and afternoon, the team had their first chance to practice at the venue for Saturday’s game, Kawasaki Stadium.  Quarterbacks BRANDON CLUFF (Cesar Chavez, Phoenix, AZ) and KODY DAY (Sahuarita, AZ) were the busiest men on the field as Team Stars & Stripes installed a passing game plan having spent two days at Yokota Airbase perfecting the ground attack.  The American team’s defense continues to impress and produced several interceptions to add to the run-blocking tactics that had proved effective in earlier practices.
 
Team Stars & Stripes will resume practices at 11am and 2.30pm on Wednesday at Kawasaki Stadium before attending a welcome banquet for both teams, VIP guests and media.