Tokyo Swallows v. Bay Stars!

I went to my first baseball game of the season: In Tokyo!!!

We had a day of orientation where we heard from some of the faculty at TU Japan's campus and got our schedule for the semester (we have one long holiday weekend so I may try to go see Mt. Fuji, I'm not trying to be a hero and climb it, but would like to see it). The campus is about a 40 minute walk away, located two neighborhoods away. I love all the walking I'm doing though, I'm averaging about 2 hours a day and Tokyo is very hilly (so I'm getting ready for beach week!).

That evening we had a baseball game planned. I walked to the stadium with a couple of classmates (about a 40 minute walk) and we met up with a scout from the Cleveland Indians who gave us free Swallow jersies (score!) and we were escorted to our seats (right behind first plate).

The game was very similar to minor league games in the U.S., with a lot of "beer girls" roaming the almost empty stadium, including ones with mini-kegs on their back. Our big group of caucasian tourists seemed to be a bull's eye of sorts. I had a burger and fries at the ballpark and stayed until the 8th inning, when it was clear the Swallows were going to win (5-0) and decided to start the long trek back to the hostel.

One unique aspect of the game is that both fan-stands had pieced together marching bands of just random fans. Also they all had small umbrellas that were used to hoist in the air every time a run was scored... kind of like a Mummer's Day Parade/Mary Poppins re-enactment.

The walk back was lovely, Tokyo is so pretty to walk around at night. I got back and dropped into bed and finished up my book I started in Shanghai. For some reason here I get sleepy early, but I don't mind catching up on all the sleep I lost this past semester!