Day 12-no rugby, but there is always baseball

None of the teams had any rugby games today so the Earl Marriott team decided to go to a major league baseball game in Japan and, since my husband loves going to baseball games, we went too!

Before we left Hakata, we discovered another area of shops in the station that we didn't even know was there. The Hakata train/subway/bus station area is huge!!! The building is 10 floors above ground with the train and subway lines below that. Everywhere you go, you discover something new!

 These ladies were heading out to perform at the big festival today. It is a holiday and there is a parade and other events all over the city. It was really crowded on the buses and subway today! It is part of Japan's Golden Week celebrations.

 I am not sure what this is, but it was quite expensive.

 These were huge sushi rolls...about 5-6 cm in diameter and 15-20cm long.

 prawn tempura

 vegetable tempura

 fish, fish and more fish!

 clams

 fresh fish

 At this store, they put the price sticker right on the fish!

 salmon steaks

 some kind of squid thing

 Don likes fried rice!

 packages of fish roe (fish eggs)

 Don's new friend...she was working and turned around to face this giant. Her response was "Whoo!!"

The game was in the Fukuoka Dome, a large domed stadium. We took the subway to the station closest to the dome and walked the rest of the way. The dome is near the ocean so it was quite breezy there.

Every now and then you could see women wearing beautiful kimonos

We got to the dome early, but it was already crowded with people...baseball is very popular in Japan!

Another new friend for Don!

 People seems to have gardens and plants where ever they can, even on the sidewalk

 We made it to the ocean! There are lots of bridges in Japan!

 A boat in the river

 On the bridge, heading to the baseball game.

 Don was so friendly today, but these guys didn't say much!

 Don's new look...wait, it is the same look as always

 The Fukuoka Softbay Hawks' new mascot!

 ...and even more new friends!

 Go Go Hawks...
Don did manage to get me to another baseball game but only because the boys were going to be there too!

 The boys were about 6 sections over from where we were sitting and up quite a way. At the Japanese games, the home fans sit in the right field section and the away fans are in the left field. Our EMS guys ended up with the away fans. At first, they were just sitting there calmly and a bit later, when we looked over, they were all up on their feet chanting and cheering with the Seibu Lion fans...it was so hilarious!

 These are some of the Saitama Seibu Lions fans from Tokyo

 The Lions' head cheerleader

 Going for snacks

 Which one do you think is faster, the runner or the ball? 

Was he safe or out?

 Can you spot the patch of green and orange?

 A Fukuoka Hawks super fan!

 At the beginning of the seventh inning, the away fans get ready to launch their team coloured balloons. Almost everyone has one of these balloons to launch. Since our boys were honorary Lions fans, they got in on the action...a few of the boys let their balloons go early because they just couldn't wait!

 Getting ready!

 The boys made it onto the big screen!

 Next, it was time for the Hawks to launch their balloons!

 ...almost time!

 It was just a sea of yellow!

 The boys all had their devices out and ready for the yellow launch.

 And there they go!!!

 Getting ready to head out...the boys left after the 7th inning to meet up with the coaches who were sitting in better seats. They got a lot of good-byes and claps as they left their cheering friends!

 You never have to leave your seat at a Japan baseball game...every 30 seconds or so, there is a vendor with a backpack full of beer strapped to his back, ready to fill your glass! Here is one happy guy who was very excited when our friends, Tino and George, ordered beer from him!

 
When the boys left, the score was 5-1 for the home team. Just after they left, the Lions had their bases loaded and up comes their batter who hits a home run to tie the game. They away team fans went wild! At their next bats, the Hawks answer back with their own home run to get ahead. We left just before the game went into extra innings so I do not know what the final score ended up being.

 Taiko drumming

 The subway was so crowded today...we heard that 2 million people came into the city for the parade and festival this weekend!

 The friendships continue with Don meeting some of the rugby parents from South Africa.

 Our friends, Tino and George...we went to a teppanyaki restaurant. The cook is right in front of us, preparing our food on a grill! We had delicious steak, stir fried bean sprouts, miso soup and, of course, rice!

It was another wonderful, exciting day in Japan!!!