Second day, to me, it was the most exciting event that I expected for many years. It was: to watch a baseball game in Koshien (甲子園). This is really a dream come true for a boy who was fancying when he was a kid and read so many amazing Japanese comics/manga. You may have heard about those comics: Touch, H2, Cross Game...etc, from Mitsuru Adachi (安達充). High school baseball league's final stage is Koshien. Like the Holy Temple of Jedi.
On this day, we got up around 9. And ready for the trip to Koshien. The game would be started at 1400. But, as the location from the place that we were staying is quite far. We had to take train to Nanba station. Basically, it is a huge central station for passengers to transit to different trains and lines. So, at Nanba station, we took train to Sakuragawa station. When reached there, we took another train to Koshien station. Yes, quite a difficult trip but it is really worthy.
Koshien nowadays is not only the holy temple of high school baseball league, but it is also the home of the team, Hanshin Tigers, which is one of the teams in the professional Japanese baseball league. Thus, in the stadium, there is a museum of high school baseball league, two souvenir shops which sells souvenirs of the Tigers.
As the game started at 1400, we grabbed some lunch like fired noodles and some snacks outside the stadium. Out side the stadium, there were a lot Tigers fans gathering. There were families, friends and fans organisations. All people were wearing Tigers jerseys, caps, with towels, hoodies. I doubted why previously, but now I understand and will tell you later.
When the time came, we queued up and rolling into the stadium. Our seats were at the third base side, in the range between third base and out field. Quite far actually, but can have a better view of the whole court. Before the game began, there were some events to drive all audiences moods to a higher level. A person which was costumed as a tiger played with some children. Did some dancing steps, baseball catching drills, looks interesting and all those kids were very excited.
When the game was almost started, there was an engaging event of the two teams' coaches. Exchanged gifts and flowers with hand shaking. Showing the friendliness from both sides before the game. By the way, the opponent is Tokyo Yault.
The game started on time. As my first time watching a baseball game, I really had no idea what the run down it would be. And, I realized that there were many 'time out' discussion in the game. Especially, when risk was coming. That means the pitcher was not performing well or some how out of control. The main idea of those 'time out' discussion is to calm down the pitcher in order to try to make the pitcher to a steady performance. The formula seems like this, when 4 'ball' or two bases loaded, 'time out' discussion would be triggered by the coach.
After 9 innings, it was almost sun set. But the result was tied. Thus, extended innings were needed.
Finally, the game finished at around 1930 and the result was, still a draw game. Lucky the Tigers was not lost.
During the game, I realized that all fans are quite obsessed. When it was the turn a player walking into the batting box, there was a particular song which would be sung by the fans. This really drove up the entire environment with fans' high moods. In the 7 inning, it was called as lucky seven, and all fans in the stadium would prepare long balloons and released. That moment is really amazing. I was very impressed.
p.s. hoodies and towels are needed because it was too sunny. You will probably sweat a lot especially if you are not sitting under shade.
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