A Visit to the Tokyo Dome

The Tokyo Dome looks just like the Metro Dome in Minneapolis.

Last weekend I went with many of the students from Hongo Student Center to the Tokyo Dome to watch my first Japanese baseball game.  Baseball is called Yakyu  (Yah-Q).  I have a lifetime goal of going to all the Major League Baseball Parks, so I was excited to see what Japanese baseball would be like.

The Tokyo Dome is built almost exactly like the MetroDome in Minneapolis.  When I lived in the Twin Cities, I pretty much spent my summers watching the Twins play in that beloved bubble. Love it or Hate it, I had a special relationship with the MetroDome, so I was very excited to see the Tokyo Dome.  The most obvious difference between the two domes is that the Tokyo Dome is designed just for baseball...there is no big blue wall in right field.

Inside the Tokyo Dome.

Going to the game was pretty much the same.  I used to ride the bus to the Twins Games or drive when I went with friends.  This time I took the train.  I still had to wait in line to get in and they searched my purse.  I was given a free poster and coupons once I was through the door.  (If I had been a child, I would have gotten a fun paper Pikachu hat).

I walked about checking out the concessions.  I ended up getting some Peanut M&Ms and a Fanta.  All the concession boards were in Katakana and it takes me forever to read Katakana, so I decided not to even try.  But yes, they did have hotdogs, fries, popcorn, and pretzels.  They also had soba, sushi, and yakitori (meat on stick).

Japanese Concessions at the Tokyo Dome.

Finding my seat was a little bit difficult...and I don't blame this one on language.  Things just were not labeled very clearly.  There were also so many people.  And it was loud!  American Baseball games are quiet and relaxing.  I usually just sit and keep score (I didn't see anyone keeping score at the Tokyo Dome, or find a scorecard).  It was seriously ridiculously loud.  I couldn't even hear the person next to me.

I also noticed we did not sing the Japanese National Anthem.  There was a Japanese flag hung, but it was smaller than the team flag.  Each team's fans had special cheers and chats for each player as they came up to bat.  During the 7th Inning Stretch there were cheerleaders and mascots dancing and singing.


The other thing I noticed was the vendors.  In the US most vendors are older men.  Here they were young pretty girls wearing short shorts/skirts and make-up.  There were also selling competing beers and sodas.  At an American baseball game it would be rare to have a Pepsi and a Coke vendor.  Most stadiums are contracted out by one company.

I left the game early because I didn't want to have to deal with crowds on the train.  It was a great experience, but I think I prefer the quiet slow pace of American Baseball.

~Tauna