Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
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Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
[ Author: Guest: Rob Dorsey | Posted: Jul 23, 2008 9:53 AM
]
Glad you enjoyed the games.
I was in Japan in 1997. I, too, went to a Giants home game at the Tokyo Dome (aka the 'Big Egg'). I knew that most Giants' games sell out, so I stood in line for hours to get a ticket to get in. Even after I got in, there were no seats, so I had to stand for the entire game.
Re: the chanting, not being familiar with Japanese, I didn't understand what the fans were saying in their chants. But eventually, I realized that for many chants, all they were saying was "Let's go-o (batter's name)." E.g., for Hideki Matsui (who played for the Giants then), the chant was "Let's go-o Matsui" repeated over and over to a certain musical accompaniment.
I also went to a Nippon Ham Fighters game at Tokyo Dome (that was their home stadium before they moved to Hokkaido). The contrast in attendance to the Giants' game was like night and day. Looked like only about 6,000-7,000 people. I also had a ticket for a Seibu Lions game, but I never made it to the game.
Hope you had a chance to visit the Japanese Hall of Fame, which is right at the Tokyo Dome.
I'm seriously considering going back to Japan this year. I'm planning to go to Hokkaido, so maybe I can see a game at the Sapporo Dome, hopefully when Darvish pitches. I also plan to see a game at the old Jingu Stadium, home of the Yakult Swallows. Would love to take in Koshien Stadium also, but I dont think I'll make it there.
I was in Japan in 1997. I, too, went to a Giants home game at the Tokyo Dome (aka the 'Big Egg'). I knew that most Giants' games sell out, so I stood in line for hours to get a ticket to get in. Even after I got in, there were no seats, so I had to stand for the entire game.
Re: the chanting, not being familiar with Japanese, I didn't understand what the fans were saying in their chants. But eventually, I realized that for many chants, all they were saying was "Let's go-o (batter's name)." E.g., for Hideki Matsui (who played for the Giants then), the chant was "Let's go-o Matsui" repeated over and over to a certain musical accompaniment.
I also went to a Nippon Ham Fighters game at Tokyo Dome (that was their home stadium before they moved to Hokkaido). The contrast in attendance to the Giants' game was like night and day. Looked like only about 6,000-7,000 people. I also had a ticket for a Seibu Lions game, but I never made it to the game.
Hope you had a chance to visit the Japanese Hall of Fame, which is right at the Tokyo Dome.
I'm seriously considering going back to Japan this year. I'm planning to go to Hokkaido, so maybe I can see a game at the Sapporo Dome, hopefully when Darvish pitches. I also plan to see a game at the old Jingu Stadium, home of the Yakult Swallows. Would love to take in Koshien Stadium also, but I dont think I'll make it there.
Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
[ Author: No.1BayFan | Posted: Jul 23, 2008 2:42 PM
| YOK Fan
]
Tickets for a Tigers game are easily the hardest to get in Japan as 98% of the games sell out before hand so there's absolutely no walk up. So, be extra careful to check on tickets for a Tigers game at Koshien if you really want to go.
Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
[ Author: Guest: Number 26 | Posted: Jul 23, 2008 7:31 PM
]
Thanks for sharing your experience. Jingu is a nice, small, cozy stadium which I like. Last time I was in Jingu I remember I was able to bring in a 6 pack of beers into the stadium. They had no rules against it.
As for the fans, though, Marine Stadium is more often than not half empty. Lotte fans are by far the loudest fans in Japan. And Lotte's got the coolest chants, too.
As for the fans, though, Marine Stadium is more often than not half empty. Lotte fans are by far the loudest fans in Japan. And Lotte's got the coolest chants, too.
Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
[ Author: No.1BayFan | Posted: Jul 24, 2008 12:04 AM
| YOK Fan
]
L O T T E OHHHHHHHHH LOTTE!!!!!!
Have to disagree with Marines Fans being the loudest. That title easily goes to Hanshin's Fans.
Have to disagree with Marines Fans being the loudest. That title easily goes to Hanshin's Fans.
Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
[ Author: Guest: Number 26 | Posted: Jul 24, 2008 6:26 PM
]
Benny is a legend and Benny's ouenka is not bad. I like Fukuura's ouenka more, though, and Takehara.
Re: Attended Two Japanese Baseball Games
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Jul 24, 2008 9:16 PM
| HAN Fan
]
If Benny's ouenka is not bad, I shudder to think how the others could be classified.
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1. Dragons @ Giants - Tokyo Dome:
It was a sellout and I had a seat in the upper level down the left field line in the Dragons' section. I was impressed by the loudness of both teams' fans, even when nothing important seemed to be happening in the game. Unlike American fans who seem to only be able to cheer when the scoreboard tells them to, the Japanese fans seem to be active the entire game. I think they get more exercise cheering than the players get playing. I loved the different chants and songs that would be sung for each of the players.
The food selections were awesome, although at the 7th inning stretch I went to get something to eat and most of the concession stands were out of things. Must eat early at the games. It was a great game with the Giants taking an early 4-0 lead, but with the Dragons eventually tying it up 4-4. The Giants scored in the bottom of the 8th to win 5-4.
2> Fighters @ Hawks - Yahoo Dome:
I filled up on many of the different foods before the game. I had a seat about 6 rows up from the field, right down the right field line, just a little foul of the foul pole. Great seat as I was close to all the outfield "action." I loved the 7th inning stretch with the big yellow balloons. I did not know about this beforehand and was confused why vendors were sellin balloons during the game. I only wish I had known because I didn't buy a balloon. But I was smart enough to use the video function on my digital camera to get video of the entire spectacle. And it was a great game. The Fighters had a 2-0 lead, but the Hawks came back, tying the game then scoring the winning run in the 9th inning to win 3-2. And it stunned me that no one left when the game was over. Everyone stayed for the post-game on-field interview with the star player, then fireworks inside Yahoo! Dome. An amazing experience.
Next year, I'm already planning a week's trip to Japan just to go to baseball games.
I also attended a Eagles @ Bears game in Seoul. The fans cheered as loudly as the Japanese fans, but there were only about 5,000-7,000 people at the game. Still a lot of fun.