Russia Part 1

The 2018 Summer FIFA World Cup hosted by the Russians gained worldwide praise. Both Russia (Group A) and Japan (Group H) advanced to knockout stage, our mutual fairy tale expectations fueled up, eyes drawn to hot games at 12 modern Russian FIFA Stadiums, including Luzhiniki and Spartak in Moscow, Zenit Arena in Sankt Petersburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Sochi, etc. The results were not as good as Russia and Japan expected, but we surely enjoyed the thrill, passion, emotions and we have fallen in love with Russia, I’m sure. I’m glad that I found Zenit Arena Stadium completed in 2017; it was designed by the late Kisho Kurokawa, one of my favorite Japanese architects, the first sign a Japanese was involved with Sankt Petersburg infrastructure. Kisho passed away in 2007, so he didn’t see the completion of the project. Kurokawa built another FIFA class stadium – in Toyota City in 2001 in Aichi Pref and Oita City (2002) in Japan, a kind of sister stadium to Zenit Arena.

I refer to the Web site of “Transstroy”, the general contractor for the Zenit Area or Piterarea. It is stated there that "the idea of the stadium-attraction of global scale with maximum application of high technologies and progressive design is laid in the conceptual basis of the stadium laid by architect bureau Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates. We saved an innovative architectural concept and adopted it according to the last security requirements. " Please visit this site and enjoy the photo library and 3D-Tour.

The site has ticket information, as well as hotel recommendations – lots of information in English. Zenit Arena is located on the western tip of Krestovsky Island, north of Vasilyevsky, the biggest Island in Neva River, 7.5km away from the Palace Square. The nearest Metro Station is Krestovsky Ostrov on the purple line 5 which runs from the city center. Mind you, a little exercise awaits you. It is a 25-minute walk from the subway station through Maritime Victory Park, sport venues for tennis, polo, sailing, etc.

It was the summer of 2000, the turn of the century, when I visited Sankt Petersburg as a solo traveler. I depended on a Russian friend who speaks English, introduced by my Lithuania-born friend in San Diego. He agreed to the task but responded to me late. His entire family went to "datcha" near Moscow and returned to Sankt Petersburg just a couple of days before my arrival. Even in the worst case scenario, I didn’t mind spending my 10 days solely on the visit to the Hermitage Museum. However, to my big relief, I received confirmation close to my departure. He greeted me at the Pulkova Airport, gave me a complete “how-to-ride their Metro” (subway) guidance, showing me most of the famous sightseeing spots the day I arrived.  I was able to use the Metro with a few mishaps and without interpreters.  He took me one day to Peterhof, Peter’s Summer Palace & Garden, 25km west of Sankt Petersburg, with his friends. That was a truly great gift he gave me. The site has 1,500 acres and close to 200 water fountains.  It was a gorgeous garden!

I talked recently with a Japanese friend who claimed he had traveled to Sankt Petersburg over 10 times since 2005.  He said he visited Engllsh Toastmasters there and I couldn’t believe it.  He sent me the Web site to prove it.

He is promoting Russian Language Toastmasters in Saitama, Japan and I congratulated and wished him success.

Many Japanese corporations, particularly automobile manufacturers, Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki are in Shushary, Sankt Petersburg and thousands of Russians are employed there. Next should come what we call "a group clustering" of industries related to automobiles and the number of Japanese expats will increase.