Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan. While soccer has its moments of excitement, baseball has held the top spot for decades. If you have the chance, I highly recommend watching a professional baseball game in a stadium in Japan. You’ll be waving your arms and shouting at the top of your lungs. Join in the chorus of cheers and chants. Once you witness that spectacle, the image of Japanese people being shy will disappear.
In Tokyo, there are two popular baseball teams: the Yomiuri Giants and the Yakult Swallows.
Osaka is the holy land for passionate fans of the Hanshin Tigers.
I often go to the stadium to watch baseball games, and just being there fills me with excitement. It’s like being in the midst of a festival.
Japanese professional baseball is different from Major League Baseball. Of course, the rules are the same, as they are both the same sport. However, Japanese baseball lacks the intensity and grandeur of MLB, but it has its own unique liveliness. It’s somewhat like a festival. This is just my opinion, but people who love Japanese baseball don’t watch much of MLB, and vice versa. The atmospheres of each are so different that they hardly feel like the same sport. If you’re looking for an extraordinary experience in Japan, I highly recommend attending a professional baseball game. Enjoying the excitement while sipping beer will surely create wonderful memories.
By the way, I personally would love to watch an NFL game in Jacksonville. I’d love to see the Jaguars versus the Bills game. It would be amazing to witness Trevor Lawrence’s touchdown pass.