Fans give athletes in Tokyo ‘home advantage’
Published:Tuesday | September 16, 2025 | 12:10 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
WHETHER IT is people from the Jamaican community in Japan, or fans flying thousands of miles to see their favourite athletes in action, Team Jamaica has been well supported in the opening days of the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
As Sunday’s schedule saw the final to the men’s and women’s 100-metres, it would be hard to miss the pockets of black, green and gold that flooded the Japan National Stadium.
As Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson finished first and second in the men’s 100m, respectively; and Tina Clayton took silver in the women’s equivalent, it was a celebratory night for all Jamaican fans.
A nation with a population of just under three million people, Jamaica has continued to punch above its weight on the track and in the field and as such, has unsurprisingly attracted fans both locally and internationally.
One such ardent supporter is Chanise Henry, a Jamaican who has been living in Japan for the past five years.
Henry, who was in attendance at the stadium with her family on Sunday, said no matter how far away she may travel from home, she will always wave the Jamaican flag proudly.
“Listen to me, every day there will be three dots or four dots of Jamaicans who will be out there every single day, as a reminder that Jamaicans can be found across the length and breadth of this earth,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter where it is, wi outside!”
Hailing from Standpipe in Kingston 6, Henry moved to Japan in 2020 for a job opportunity as an assistant language teacher.
She lives with her husband and son, a family structure she says has grown into a mixed blend of Jamaican and Japanese culture.
Henry explained that the World Championships has brought an athletics fever which has swept across the thriving Jamaican community in Japan.
The World Championships has also reignited the rivalry between Jamaican and American fans, who have turned out in their numbers to support their countries.
“It feels like wi a carry a piece of yaad here and show it to the Japanese people, and show them how we rock with athletics,” Henry said.
“I live in a city that has a lot of foreigners, and they don’t seem to share the same excitement that I have about being able to adorn my country’s colours and run out.”
“I live in a community that is also filled with Americans, and they know what time it is. We have to remind them that we don’t run certain jokes.”
Henry also explained the impact the World Championships has had on the spread of Jamaican culture across Japan.
According to her, the Japanese are fascinated by Jamaican culture and are massive fans.
“Where I live, there are several bars that claim to sell jerked chicken; and two bars in particular, every other week they have a Caribbean party,” she said.
“Jamaica flags are always in their bars and in my tenure here, I’ve had the opportunity to go to dancehall Japanese parties and trust me, they party as hard as we do back home.
“They love their Jamaican culture and they’re big fans of everything Jamaica.”