SAI creates ‘Little Japan’ in India: Athletes get a taste of life in containers at Asian Games

Inside SAI’s ‘Little Japan’ (Photo by TOI) BENGALURU: Shipping containers with exteriors painted with cherry blossoms and chochins – traditional Japanese lanterns – hung from the sides have been converted into two-bedroom accommodation. Inside is modern equipment, an LED screen displaying information about the Asian Games and Japanese books such as Ikigai and Kaizen. The menu includes ramen, an assortment of sushi, tempura and yakitori.It could easily be Japan. Not yet.It is the Sports Authority of India (SAI) South Center in Bengaluru.SAI has created a country section at its South Center and Patiala facility to help Asian Games-bound athletes acclimatize to the culture, living conditions and food they will encounter in Japan. The equipment has already been used by athletes from several disciplines, and the containers are expected to house team sports athletes.Built at a cost of around Rs 20 crore, the containers emerged from an idea that originated earlier this year.“We planned to do it in January but due to various factors we could not prepare them. The containers have been in operation for a week now and the volleyball team was one of the first to experience it,” Vishnu Sudhakaran, Regional Director, SAI South Centre, told TOI.Each container holds four athletes and was completed in 45 days. In addition to staying overnight, athletes and the women’s hockey team also used the facility during the day.And this is not a temporary arrangement. The structure is designed for permanent use.“Our athletes spend a lot of time away from home and often have more than two family members visiting for short periods of time. We will use this facility as transit accommodation for visiting athletes’ families,” Sudhakaran said.

THE TASTE OF JAPAN

The effort to recreate the Japanese experience extended to the dining room.While continental food was introduced last year to help athletes traveling to Europe acclimatize to the cuisine, Japanese dishes have gradually been added to the menu since January this year.Chefs at the SAI center have undergone specialized training in Japanese cuisine under Chef Vaibhav Soni of Snowy Foods.“First, the athletes and chefs were introduced to Japanese culture, such as what and why they eat a particular type of food, what ingredients they use and what they prefer during breakfast, lunch and dinner,” explained Soni.“The chefs then went through a theoretical process followed by practical knowledge. They were then trained to prepare different types of ramen, sushi, robatayaki, tempura, etc.,” he added.Soni visits the center regularly to oversee the process and ensure the kitchen is prepared as intended.For Indian women’s hockey team forward Lalremsiami, the experience offered athletes more than just a taste of Japan. “Some of us are used to eating sushi, but for many athletes it was their first taste of Japanese food. Since we have been experiencing the kitchen for some time, we know what ingredients go into a particular dish and what we can expect on our plate. The dishes gave us an experience of what we can expect from the accommodation,” said the young man.The idea, according to Sudhakaran, is simple – to make Japan a little less foreign before the athletes get there.