Frequently Asked Questions
What does "TSHA" stand for?
"Tokyo Street Hockey Association".
Are you guys an official league of some kind?
No, we're just a bunch of guys and gals who like to play street hockey. We don't have set teams or uniforms or anything. Each time we play we form teams based on who showed up.
What is "street hockey"?
Street hockey is basically the same game as ice hockey as played by the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America, and other ice hockey leagues around the world. The main difference, is, of course, it's played on the street and not on ice. But the sticks are the same and the rules are basically the same.
Where did street hockey originate from?
It originated in Canada and the hockey playing areas of the US where kids who loved ice hockey and the National Hockey League would play in their back alleys or wherever there was an open playing surface during the summer months when there wasn't any ice or in towns that didn't get all that cold in the winter.
Do you guys play on roller blades?
No, we play in running shoes.
Why don't you guys play on roller blades?
Roller blades may look cool, but because you can't stop and start quickly as you could with ice skates, a game on roller blades is, in some ways, not as exciting as playing with sneakers. There is also the issue that roller blades take an investment in the money to buy them and the effort of bringing them down to the park with you. Our game is more easily accessible.
But probably the main reason we don't play with roller blades is because that's not how we played when we were kids. We were playing street hockey out in the back alleys of our homes long before there were any such thing as roller blades, and so it's a game in it's own right with it's own traditions and nostalgia.
Is what you play similar to field hockey?
We get a lot of guys from South East Asia and Europe who wonder if we play field hockey. We don't. Field hockey is played on grass with short sticks that resemble umbrella handles. What we play more closely resembles ice hockey, and is played on asphalt or concrete with the same hockey sticks that are used in the NHL.
I play field hockey and have a field hockey stick - can I play with you guys anyway?
Sure, what the hell. It's happened in the past. We used to have a couple of French guys who played with us using their field hockey sticks. But be prepared for the style of play and the rules to be quite different from field hockey.
Can I play?
Anyone who has an interest in playing is welcome, whether they've never seen a hockey game before or if they've played in the NHL (believe it or not, one time there was a guy who had - a French Canadian guy who played goal for the Maple Leafs for like, one game or something). We're really easy going and play for fun. It's not a league or an official team in any sense.
Can women play?
Of course! Since it's inception, there have always been women playing with us. Most women who play with us are Japanese, but we currently and in the past have had a few foreign women.
Is it all foreigners who play?
The people who make up the TSHA are mainly foreigners, most of whom are long term residents. The majority are from Canada or the United States. But we also get French, Finnish, German, and various other nationalities. There are a number of Japanese who play with us, usually young Japanese who have lived abroad somewhere where they were exposed to ice hockey.
Do Japanese play?
Sure. We welcome everyone, regardless of race, background, whatever. But wherever you're from, you should consider the next point:
Can I practice my English with you guys?
No, we're here to play hockey and enjoy ourselves, not to be English teachers.
Are you guys really competitive?
No, we're here for a good time. Every week there's some different people, and so we pick teams then and go for it. Sometimes the games can be a little competitive, and sometimes they're just running around for a laugh. It all depends on the mood of the crowd.
How many people are in the TSHA?
Our mailing list currently has about 120 people. Of those, about 30 to 40 are active and regular attendees. The rest come infrequently, and there are probably some on the list who have never actually come down to the park to play.
How many people usually come down to play?
Because of our mailing system, we are ensured a minimum of 8 people. But it's rare to have so few. On any given Sunday we have between 15 and 20 people. Our best turnout ever was just shy of 30 people.
How do you divide up the teams?
Depending on how many people arrive, we divide everyone up into two or three teams. We do this by throwing everyone's sticks into a pile and then seperating that pile into two or three piles. Which pile your stick is in determines which team you're on.
There are usually less women than men, and because of the difference in average skill level, the women throw their sticks into a seperate pile. After dividing into the appropriate numbers, they decide for themselves which teams to join.
We usually play with three men and one woman on the "ice", and hope to have no more than two subs per team.
Do you play all year round?
Yes! We play every week, all year round!
Isn't it too cold in the winter?
No! The winter is perfect for hockey! The days are crisp and clear, and once you get running around, you're glad for the cooler air.
Isn't it too hot in the summer?
No! The summer is perfect for hockey! You can bike down to the park in your shorts and enjoy the warmth between plays.
Let me guess... the spring and fall are perfect for hockey too?
Yes, absolutely!
Do you take any breaks at all during the year?
Traditionally we have taken a break around Christmas and new years because a lot of our members leave for the holidays. We refer to this as out "All Star Break". However, this is subject to change because our group is getting larger and larger, and more people are around during the winter holidays, so it's possible that we may continue playing right through the new year.
When do you guys play?
We play in the afternoon on Sundays. For most of the year we start at 1 PM, but during the summer we push the time back to as late as 5 PM in order to avoid the worst of the heat. In order to know exactly which time we're playing, you'll need to join our maling list.
What if it rains?
We don't play in the rain. You can check the weather forecast to see if it's going to rain on any Sunday.
Hey, that link for the weather is in Japanese - what's the deal?
The weather report on the Japanese page seems to be more accurate, more specific, and gives a longer range forecast than other sites I've seen. If you know of a better place to get the weather for Tokyo, then mail me.
What if it's been raining Saturday night, and most of Sunday morning, but then at noon on Sunday, an hour before game time, it suddenly clears up and it's all sunny - is there a game then?
We have a system for dealing with this. Check out our Keitai Mail System if you want to be sure of whether or not there's a game.
What about after the game, do you guys do anything social?
Currently the favourite apres-hockey activity is to go to a nearby sushi restaurant. Whether or not we do anything just depends on whether or not anyone feels like it.
What about Equipment? Where can I buy a stick?
Sticks, clothes, places to buy stuff, and protection are all covered on our Equipment page. Please read that page if you are wondering what to do about sticks or other equipment.
Do people get injured?
Little scrapes and bruises happen occasionally, and more serious injuries are thankfully even rarer. Because we emphasize having fun and discourage high intensity moves like slap shots, injuries are kept down. But of course, you should accept that there is some risk - everyone is running fast on pavement, armed with sticks, chasing a fast moving and hard plastic ball. We accept no liability in case you get injured and you assume all risks and blah blah blah...
Do you have a first aid kit or anything like that?
We have a little kit with some band aids and disinfectant and that sort of thing, but no one is a certified nurse or trained in first aid, so we can only help with the small stuff.
Doesn't it get too hot to play in the summer?
We move the game to later in the day to avoid the heat, but yes, it does get hot. Bring sun screen and plenty of water and it's fine.
Why do you guys play on such a crappy surface?
The surface we play on is comprised of concrete bricks, which are a little rough. The ball tends to make some odd bounces and it can wear down the blade of of your stick. It does suck, but it's the best place we found to play in.
What park regulations?
In parks in Tokyo, they have a rule that all activities that are considered dangerous are forbidden. These include just about all sporting activities including roller blading, football, and definitely hockey. However, in some parks, such as Yoyogi Koen and Komazawa Koen, they "turn a blind eye" to these activities. This means that if they wanted to, they could kick us out without any warning. And if you try to play in any of the places where they don't "turn a blind eye", that's exactly what they will do, in short order. We know this from experience and from conversations with park officials.
How do I get into the hall of fame?
Just like the Hall of Fame of real leagues, you have to retire. But you also have to do something notable.
Who decides who goes into the Hall of Fame?
There is no official process, although it usually comes down to the guy who runs this site because he has to do the work of writing text and making the pictures. However, it's usually pretty obvious who has made enough of an impression to merit inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
Do you know of any groups playing street hockey like you guys do in other towns in Japan, like maybe Osaka or Sapporo?
We don't know of any other groups, but we'd love to! There was, and may still be, a small group in Odawara, but their web page has been down for a while, so we assume they're not very stable.
It's our dream to do a road trip within Japan and play against some other teams! If you know of a hockey group outside of Tokyo, or thinking of starting one, contact us and we'll support you any way we can and hopefully we can come and play a tourney with you!
Do you know of groups playing either ice or roller hockey in Tokyo?
There are groups playing ice or roller hockey around town. There is, or was at least, a group of foreigners playing roller hockey down at Akihabara. And there is a group of Japanese that plays roller hockey beside where we play, but they seem to be only active in the summer. As for ice hockey, there is, or was, a group called "The Tokyo Canadians" doing semi professional games, and possibly another group in Takadanobaba playing just casual games.
We don't really keep track of them and what they do or who to contact. Some of the people who also play in those groups also come play with us, so if you come down to one of our games you might meet someone who knows more about what's going on in other types of hockey in Tokyo. But it can't be guarunteed.
While we support in spirit other groups playing other sports, especially the different forms of hockey, we just can't make any promises about maintaining quality information about them. Most social groups for foreigners in Tokyo fluxuate quite a bit in terms of organization, which makes it tough to keep track of what their status is at any one time. So for that reason, we don't provide a links page, and if you e-mail us asking about other groups, you'll get directed back here.
If you're a member of a group that is playing ice or roller hockey, and your group is stable and consistent enough that you'd like us to add a link here, then please feel free to contact us and say so.
There's a lot of information on this site - are you really anal, or do you just have a lot of free time?
The TSHA has been around for a number of years, and all the information on this site has just accumulated over time. Every question, rule, and piece of information on this site was added at one time or another when an issue came up or a question was asked. It is a lot of information, but don't get the impression that the TSHA is at all strict or really intense when it comes to playing street hockey. We just do this for fun, and the web site is just another part of the fun.
What if I don't like the way this thing is run or have a complaint of some kind?
The TSHA is totally open to new suggestions, but keep in mind that this is purely a volunteer effort and the few people who run it have put a lot of effort into making this thing happen. Ultimately, if you really don't like the way any part of this is handled and the TSHA does not agree with you, then you might be better off starting your own group.
Where can I watch NHL or other hockey games?
Various sports bars around town carry hockey games from the NHL, Olympics and possibly other tournaments. Right now our recommendation is that the most likely place to see some hockey is the Maple Leaf Sports Bar in Shibuya. It bills itself as Tokyo's one truly Canadian bar, and as such it gives hockey more priority than other places.
The TSHA can not answer any questions about when they will show games, or which ones, so please go to their web page and talk to them directly if you're looking to watch some professional hockey.
© 2008 Tokyo Street Hockey Association
