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The professional baseball team here in Sapporo are the Fighters. Julie and I ventured out on our own this week to watch a game at the Sapporo Dome. The Dome is 4 subway stops and a short walk from our apartment, so it was easy to find. Buying tickets and finding our seats was a little trickier, but everyone was really helpful. In Japan you don’t get tickets for a specific seat, just a section. That took awhile for us to understand, but the usher finally just made some big circle gestures pointing at all the seats below us and off we went. He didn’t follow us, and no one kicked us out, so we figured we were good.

The fans were as entertaining as the game itself. At least 80% of them were wearing a home jersey, 95% had little plastic clubs with Fighters logos on them that they hit together during the cheers and 99.99% of them knew the chants (with actions) that accompany each of the Fighters players when they are up to bat. We just sat back and watched and listened in amazement. For lots of the batters, the fans would bring props out of their bags and wave or hold as well. These included signs, inflatable objects, towels, and for one guy… an American flag.

Things We Learned Today – 1. Recycling is big in Japan. Instead of garbage containers, they have a huge recycling area. Fans take the time to sort out their “waste” into the proper bin. Ice is even emptied from the cups before they’re put neatly in a receptacle. 2. We have to buy our own plastic clubs before the next game. 3. The 0.01% of the fans who didn’t know the cheers… Julie and I… and the Fighters won the game 11-5.

Check out some of the fans (and props) in our section.