I’m not a soccer fan, but I am very happy Japan won the Women’s World Cup. This should be a huge morale boost for Japan, which is still feeling the effects of the earthquake and tsunami. What I am disgusted about is how many Americans on Twitter and elsewhere have been badmouthing Japan with comments about Pearl Harbor and racial slurs. Honestly, grow up and take the loss like an adult who doesn’t dwell on the past. It’s a great thing for Japan to have this win.
On a related note, I wasn’t upset and insulting Americans when the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Boston deserved the win. Japan deserved this win.
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.
On September 13, 2010, I attended my third sumo tournament of the year. There are 3 sumo tournaments in Tokyo each year, with the other 3 being in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. This is the first tournament after the return of the suspended sumo wrestlers. As I mentioned before, those sumo wrestlers were suspended because of illegal gambling on baseball. For this tournament, I was seated even closer than I had been before. Directly in front of me was a walkway, so I had no one sitting in front of me to block my view.
This day had a little excitement. First was a crazy fan of the sumo wrestler Hakuba. He was shouting and cheering Hakuba’s name, and even ran a quarter of the way around the arena to try to get Hakuba’s attention. Down below, you can watch a video of this fan. Also, I happened to see 3 retired sumo wrestlers that I recognized quite well. First was Tokitsuumi, who is now the head coach of the Tokitsukaze stable. Then I saw Kitazakura, one of my favourites who retired this year. He was well known for throwing large handfuls of salt. And finally, I saw Takasago, the head coach of the Takasago stable, which was Asashoryu’s stable. Tokitsuumi was the only one to walk directly in front of me. But the biggest thing was when I arrived. I arrived at the same time as Goeido, a young sumo wrestler who is thought to be the next best hope to become Yokozuna in the future.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures and videos!
This is a Makushita division match.
The lower seats are mat seating, while the upper seats are stadium seating. I always get stadium seats.
This is my view at this tournament. It's closer than ever.
This is the ceiling. It looks like pretty much any indoor arena.
This is Takamisakari versus Mokonami. Takamisakari won.
Takamisakari is a big fan favourite, because of how he acts. After this match, I got to watch the crazy Hakuba fan. Here’s the video I took of him.
This is Tokusegawa versus Tochinoshin. Tochinoshin won.
This is Sekiwake Aran versus Kotoshogiku. Kotoshogiku won.
This is Kyokutenho versus Sekiwake Tochiozan. Tochiozan won.
This is Ozeki Harumafuji versus Homasho. Harumafuji won.
This is Wakanosato versus Ozeki Kaio. Kaio won this match. He's the oldest active sumo wrestler, and is very popular. He's been one of the longest Ozeki in history.
This is Ozeki Baruto versus Komusubi Kisenosato. Kisenosato won.
This is Komusubi Kakuryu versus Ozeki Kotooshu. Kotooshu won.
Finally is Yokozuna Hakuho versus Tokitenku. These are some of the sponsors for this match, including McDonald's.
They're still going through their preparations. Hakuho won this match. He's going for a record winning streak.
Finally, here’s a video of Yobidashi singing near the main entrance as I was leaving. Yobidashi are the men who sing the names of the sumo wrestlers before their matches, basically acting as musical announcers. They also do other odd jobs around the ring.
On Sunday, October 10, I went to my first Japanese baseball game. It was a playoff game between Saitama Seibu Lions and Chiba Lotte Marines. The game was at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama prefecture. The Marines won the game 5-4 in 11 innings. Long game! This picture was taken from my seat.
The NHL season is starting soon, but as hockey isn’t very popular in Japan, it’s difficult to see any games. The only place I can go is online for that. However, watching streaming games is sometimes difficult. There are live streaming games that are only available in North America, there are unofficial streaming games that are rather choppy and difficult to watch, and there are radio feeds that are free, but provide no video. What I usually do is watch the highlights. The games are played when I’m going to work, anyway. It’s a difficult thing to watch in Japan.
I got my seat, and my view is unobstructed by anyone in front of me. I’m closer than I’ve ever been. On my way in, I saw Goeido arriving. I wish I had time to get my camera out. This is my third tournament this year, every one that’s been in Tokyo. Will I do the same next year? Unlike the previous 2 times, I’m not taking pictures of matches. I need a new camera.
Jay Dee in Japan 