Weekend 2: Baseball Game

The Blundy's and Buffalo Bell

This weekend we went to the Oriz Buffalo's game - which is a baseball team in Japan.  Jim had seen the Buffalo's play about 5 years ago while in Japan.  We felt like we were going to a Reds versus Cubs game because 2/3 of the stadium seemed to be Giants fans (the opposing team).  The Giants are the "Yankees" of Japan.

There are really only two things that are different at a game in Japan.  First, people don't really cheer when the other guy/team gets out...you cheer when your team and players do well.  There is a very polite culture here and Jim and I suspect this goes along with that.

The other is when a batter gets up to bat, each one of the Reds may have a song that is played.  Here, when a player goes up to bat each player has his own cheer that the fans in the outfield say and do.  You have these cute little bats that you beat together (also used place of clapping if you have them) and you do the cheer...I filmed the outfield cheering for one of the Buffalo's while he was at bat here:

Here are the girls using their bats.  This was later in the game and they were hot and tired, so they were running out of steam.

Here I am eating noodles.  A perfectly 'normal' thing to eat at a baseball game (in Japan).



Here is the beer girl.  I don't know why I'm sharing this.  We didn't drink beer.  I think just because they carry a keg on their back and I felt like that was a really good idea (versus lugging a cooler around in front of you).  Jim says he's seen that at a Blackhawk's game in Chicago once, so it's not unheard of.  I just thought it was smart.

Here are the Buffalo Cheerleaders on the big screen.  From where we were sitting, this was a better picture for you.

Another little tradition they do during the seventh inning...they blow up these really long balloons and then send them off.  In some stadiums they pass them out and everyone has one.  In this one, you buy them (4 in a pack).  My wonderful hubby gave his to the kid next to him who didn't have one.  Here is a video of them launching from our seat.  I wasn't ready for them to go, but I did catch most of it.

And lastly, the final score of the game.  Of course, this is also us turning ourselves in.  Yes, we left before it was over.  Jim and I don't like when that happens at ballgames - stay until the end, Reds fans!

But, it was getting late, the girls were hot (and tired) and everyone, including us, would be trying to get on the train to go home.  We decided with two tired girls we probably should beat some of the crowd and not have to sit or stand on a jam-packed train to go home.  So, we left in the top of the 8th.  And, the Buffalo's did win...7-2 just like the scoreboard says!