Despite being well-known as “America’s Pastime,” the sport of baseball is immensely popular throughout Japan as well. Baseball was introduced to the country during the Meiji Restoration when the country adopted more and more Western customs and practices. The sport became even more popular after WWII, when it was heavily promoted by American GIs stationed in the country, and has only continued to gain popularity since. Fans of the MLB likely already know several All-Star players hailing from the country, and Japan recently won the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami.
Attending a baseball game in Japan is one of the best ways to experience both the similarities and differences between Japanese and American culture. On the surface things appear similar – game rules are (nearly) identical, fans dress in team colors and cheer on the team, vendors sell food/drinks in the crowd, etc. – but being there you experience all of the little differences. To name just a few examples: beer vendors in the stadium are all female and serve beer directly from a keg carried on their backs; each individual player has their own specific cheer from the fans; and the team has cheerleaders in addition to a mascot.
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend a baseball game during our time in Japan, and share the experience with you here. We caught a game in Tokyo, rooting for the hometown Yomiuri Giants. From subway station to the stadium, getting food/team gear, buying drinks from the uriko (beer girls), and cheering along with the local fans, we had a great time. Hopefully this inspires you to catch a game on your next visit!
