Baseball, Unlike The Traditional American Experience

Baseball may have originated in the United States, but Japan just made the experience much more fun and enthralling!

Take me out to the old ballgame... images of peanuts, cracker jack, and beer, probably come to mind.  If you've been to a Major League baseball game, it can be fun, with the best players on the game's biggest stages.  Sure, but in Japan, the game is elevated... and by that I mean the entire package is of a higher pedigree.

Yokohama DeNA Baystars vs Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium

As you might recall, my Japanese baseball story as a fan of the Yakult Swallows has roots in the kimono, so my experience in getting into this fandom, dare I say, is one of the most unique ones around.  So, as the story goes, I traded a shared kimono wearing experience for an introduction to baseball in Japan.  And on that first game, at Meiji Jingu Stadium featuring the Yakult Swallows against the Hiroshima Carp, I noticed several aspects that Japan has bettered the MLB experience in.  Since Japanese baseball always seem to have its "A-game" on no matter what the day, each aspect is highlighted accordingly:

The wise friend who introduced me to the Swallows

Nippon Ham Fighters vs Tokyo Giants at Tokyo Dome

- A musical experience, even if you don't understand the language.  And no, I'm not talking about batter walkup songs played on the stadium speakers.  Every player has a song which the fans song in unison when he steps up to bat.  Sometimes you can tell who the big star players are by how spirited the fans next to you sing the song.  For some teams/players, there is a choreographed action/dance that goes with the song as well; keep your eyes on those around you as well as on the action on the field!

- A Lucky Seven.  Before the top and bottom of the seventh inning, instead of the "seventh inning stretch", Lucky Seven is when fans for each team sing their team's theme song.  A moment to inspire the team to win, or a lone moment to feel good, depending on the game.

- A props to the fans.  Each team has a signature fan "prop", whether its banner-type towels, hand waving towels, or in the case of the Swallows, umbrellas.

- A beautiful girl serves you beer every time.  Beer girls in Japan... you might have heard of them.  They are everywhere at the stadium, and happy to pose for a pic if time/space allows.

- A game, nothing more, nothing less... but a great game.  Fans want their team to win, some more badly/desperately than others.  But here, they never seem to be overly high or low with the outcome of each game.  They come to have fun, sing along, cheer their team on, and otherwise have a great time at the ballpark.  Not to get trouble or curse/fight with others over a ball game.

- A pleasant experience, no matter your rooting interest.  Entire sections of the stadium are officially/unofficially designated for supporters of the visiting team, which makes it easy to find yourself among fans of your team.  And I have never witnessed any heckling/fighting of opposing fans in Japan ever, even if they are unable to find seats in their respective team section, which is quite the opposite compared to what I've seen/experienced in the US.

As I say (too often?), the best (and most overlooked) aspect of Japan are its people.  It's the people as a whole, not just the players on the field but the thousands more who pay to go to the game, that take the Japanese baseball experience to a higher level than that of its country of origin.  Take me out to the ballgame in Japan, any time!

Recommendations:
- Wear comfortable clothing; Japan's seats seem to be a bit smaller than the US standard, so be warned if you tend to be on the bigger size.

- Buy tickets well in advance: gone are the days when you could show up on game day/night on a whim and get tickets, as popularity of the game has skyrocketed in the past couple of years.  Some teams (notably Hiroshima, and Giants) are impossible to get tickets at if not done months in advance or even before the start of the season.

- Keep an eye on the weather, especially if attending a game outdoors (Swallows, Marines, Baystars home games in the Kanto area).  The Tokyo area gets more than its fair share of rainy evenings, which could literally put a damper on the game plan.  Be flexible, or better yet, be prepared with rain gear; one positive is that the stadium is less crowded when the rain occurs.

- If the language barrier/strangeness factor makes you hesistant to give baseball in Japan a try, find a local friend to take you!  It'll reduce the stress and make for a more fun (and possibly educational/insightful) experience.

Specifics:
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Regular Season: April thru September/early October
Postseason: October