Japanese baseball has begun and my Lions won on opening night (4/3/09). I’m hoping they can keep it up so that by the time we get there they will still be in the thick of things.

If you ever go to a baseball game in Japan note that your experience will be radically different depending on where you sit. Sit in the outfield and, not only will you pay much less for your ticket but, you will be in the thick of the ouendan (応援団), or cheering sections, of the crowds. Sit near home plate and things will be much less lively, perhaps even boring. The fans in the outfield tend to be much more friendly too.

Posted on April 4th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: baseball, people, seibu lions, tokorozawa. Comments Off on Opening day

This is the guy in Owakudani that has the thankless job of putting the eggs (dozens at a time in these wire baskets) into the boiling sulfur water. The smell is unbearable. I suppose he gets used to it. We couldn’t stand to be in this location for more than a minute or two. The kurotamago (黒玉子–black, hard-boiled eggs) that he is transporting are sold to tourists for outrageous prices. Eating them is supposed to give you a longer life. I have a hard time believing that working in sulfur everyday will do anything but shorten your life. Needless to say, we didn’t partake.

Posted on February 28th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: hakone, japan pictures, people. Comments: 1

While at Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto I spotted a group of kids all in traditional kimono. I’m not sure why they were all in kimono. It was a Sunday morning. They weren’t with a school group. It wasn’t around seijin no hi (January 14). Nor did these kids look old enough to be turning 20. They looked great whatever the reason.

Posted on February 26th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: japan pictures, kyoto, people. Comments: 1

The beer vendors at Japanese baseball games are always female. They carry a huge keg on their back, something you can’t imagine seeing at a game in the U.S.

If beer isn’t enough to put a smile on your face at the game, though, you can always wait for the Whiskey Girl. They canvas the stands as well and will be more than happy to provide you with a shot, or two, or three… Again, something that blows the mind for those only familiar with Major League Baseball games in the states.

Posted on February 16th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: baseball, beer, japan pictures, people, seibu lions, tokorozawa. Comments: 4

While wandering the grounds of Himeji Castle we came upon a man with a pet squirrel. He had the squirrel on a leash, but the leash wasn’t really necessary as the squirrel immediately jumped into his arms on command. Needless to say, the kids (both mine and the many Japanese youngsters) thought this was about the coolest thing they had ever seen.

Posted on February 8th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: japan pictures, kids, people, pets. Comments: 4