take me OUT

One of Graham's co-workers is a big baseball fan and his team is doing particularly well this year so he invited us all out to a game to help cheer them on. We did not bring the kids to the game but will definitely take them (or at least Blue) before we leave. Even if he only makes it through thirty minutes it is quite the experience.


Baseball game in Japan from Micaelan Davis on Vimeo.

Each fan base has their own set of cheers, chants, and props that they use to encourage their team for the ENTIRE game. There are cheerleaders (funny, because I am sure it is an American rip-off but we don't have cheerleaders in baseball) but there is also a cheer leader who stands on a podium in the stands and literally conducts the cheers. The Carp (our adopted team) have little plastic baseball bats that they raise in the air or bang together as their signature prop.

 

    

There were groups of middle-aged women at the game enjoying it together. Some families packed their dinner and ate from little tupperware containers (you can bring your own food and drinks!). Overall, it was a far cry from the male-dominated, sometimes coarse tone of American sports.