Kicking tells the story of what happened off the pitch during the 2002 World Cup when, for an extraordinary moment in English footballing culture, the most feared and distrusted fans in the world became the most popular, most imitated, and most adored people in Japan. While other commentators had their eyes on the pitch, David Willem was following the fans into the bars, restaurants, entertainment districts, and even the courthouses around the grounds in order to record this unique event. But Kicking is more than just an account of this cross-cultural love-in. It is also an introduction to Japanese culture, and an examination of the way in which the national identities of England and Japan express themselves through football.
