The avenue leading to Ajinomoto Stadium in the western Tokyo city of Chofu was abuzz with activity on Nov. 5, with vehicular traffic blocked so a row of food trucks and other attractions could entertain nearly 35,000 fans attending the J. League first-division season finale between FC Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale.
For Tokyo fans, the inaugural “Ao-Aka (Blue and Red) Street” was a welcome step toward pre-pandemic normality, with the atmosphere outside Tobitakyu Station resembling those of the club’s record-setting 2019 season in which it broke the 30,000-per-game attendance barrier and finished runner-up in the J1, both for the first time.
It was also a welcome respite for 24 Ukrainians living in Tokyo after fleeing the Russian invasion, who were invited by the club as part of its growing community outreach efforts.