Dancing with the Doala

Japan has become the land of firsts for me. First time I've lived in a different country; first time I've been to an international music festival; first time I've climbed Mount Fuji etc.

Well, last weekend brought about another first for me: I went to a baseball game for the first time.

One of the trainers, organised a huge group to go to a game and I was invited along. Since I know about as much about baseball as I do about Scientology you may wonder why I decided to accept this invitation. Basically, I thought it was about time I found out what the world of organised sports was really about. I got told at the last minute that watching baseball is just like watching the cricket. If I'd been told that earlier there would have been no way you could've gotten me to that game.

Thankfully the game wasn't nearly as boring as cricket. Baseball is a very huge thing in Japan. And what makes the games the most interesting (for me at least) was the fans.

Walking into the stadium, I felt as if I'd walked into the quidditch scenes in the Harry Potter movies. The fans are so super-genki enthusiastic. The different supporters sit on opposing sides of the stadium and try and out do each other with their flag waving, dancing and chants. Anyone who was anyone had plastic clappers and stomped, jigged and yelled along with the team chants.

The local team are the Chunichi Dragons but their mascot is a beige koala (meh?). Their mascot was like Bruce Lee with a giant, flat faced head. He pulled some pretty spectacular flips and twists in between innings.

Unfortunately, the local team lost. I swear it wasn't my fault. I didn't even watch the game that closely so I couldn't have jinxed them with my creepy staring.

My lesson of the day: One doesn't go to ball games to actually watch the game. Socalising, drinking beer and people watching are the true aims of the game.