In October 2010, I was invited by my friend to a baseball game at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama. I gladly accepted his invitation. I’d never been to a baseball game in Japan before. This game was game 2 of the first stage of the Pacific League Climax Series between the Saitama Seibu Lions and Chiba Lotte Marines. I’m not a fan of baseball, but what interested me was how the fans cheered. It was very different than anything I’d seen in Canada. Every player had their own chant and song. The fans would do the chant whenever each player came out. Far from home plate, way at the back of the stadium, there’s a section where fans do a choreographed show of flag waving and singing. Very interesting to see that. Unfortunately for the Lions fans, they lost the game 5-4 in extra innings. Enjoy the pictures and video of the cheering.
It's a beautiful autumn day at the Seibu Dome
Lots of people are here to see the game.
Hot dogs! Yes, I had one.
This is shortly after I entered the Seibu Dome. My seat is on the right, near 3rd base.
The players are warming up before the game.
This is from my seat. I was surrounded by Lions fans. My seat was pretty close to the field.
Looking up at the dome. The dome is actually an addition to the stadium a few years after its construction.
Fans can buy big balloons to blow up. On command, they're all released at once, and they are quite noisy.
Game over! The Marines beat the home team.
