Tokyo Rises Early for Women’s Gold Medal Game

TOKYO — Soccer fans were napping to prepare for what the local news media were calling the battle of the century, the women’s Olympic gold medal match Thursday between Japan and the United States, which was scheduled to kick off at a ghastly 3:45 a.m. here. “It’s national sleepiness day!” says Miki, who tweets at @Mikilin999.

A disappointing exit from the Games by the men’s team after its semifinal loss to Mexico on Tuesday meant Japan’s women carried the hopes of the nation, with bars across the nation staying open until the wee hours to televise the game.

The superstar Homare Sawa, the current FIFA women’s player of the year and former team captain, who led Japan to its World Cup victory over the Americans last year, remained at the center of attention, and not just for her play on the field.

She raised eyebrows when she quipped about the women’s team flying economy out of Japan, while its lower-ranked male counterparts flew business class on the same flight.

She may have made some men squirm, but her straight talk has earned her kudos among adoring female fans.