No Joy in Korakuen

We had a great time at the baseball game tonight, but the Giants lost to their crosstown rivals, the Yakult Swallows, 6-1. The pitchers for the Swallows really shut down the Giants, who only got 3 total men on base and scored their only run on a solo home run. But, the fun was taking in the atmosphere.

In Japan, the fans are very organized. You only cheer when it is your team's turn to do so. Each player has their own cheer, mostly playing with their name. So, Masmoto's cheer was (I think) moto-moto-Mas-a-mo. You can hear this type of cheering in the background of this video:


Here's a clearer view of the field from our seat.

And, the food at the ballpark is pretty different. Here's my dinner:


Of course, you can still get a hot dog. And, there's plenty of beer (and whiskey) for sale in the stands. Giants fans very enthusiastic until the end, and most stayed until the last out was made even though they had virtually no chance to come back.

I'm also happy to report that there's plenty of merchandising at these games. There's a wide variety of souvenirs available, and the fans are decked out in jerseys, hats, and various incarnations of the Giant's mascot, Giabbit.

Giants Pride!

Our preparations for the trip continue. We aren't planning the trip to tightly, but one thing we have set up in advance is a Japanese baseball game. We were able to purchase and print the tickets over the Internet, which solves some logistical problems. We're seeing the Yomiyuri Giants, the Japanese version of the Yankees. They don't play games every day, and there are only a few home games in Tokyo during our stay. So, Saturday the 27th was our best chance. It's interesting that the Giants promote the team with the image of their manager, #88. And, they have a first-place team, so they must have some good players.

I don't follow the team at all, but I've been to a game in Japan before. It's a different experience, with organized cheering for each team. It's also a great chance to do a lot of people watching. At least the rules are pretty much the same.

Look for some ballpark pictures after our game, including some updates on the ballpark food.