{"id":14229,"date":"2022-10-26T18:33:14","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T09:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/?p=14229"},"modified":"2022-10-27T11:24:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T02:24:03","slug":"osaka-baseball-japan-series-buffaloes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/2022\/10\/26\/osaka-baseball-japan-series-buffaloes\/","title":{"rendered":"A Peek at Osaka Baseball &#038; the Japan Series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a baseball fan, and even if you\u2019re not, this is one place you don\u2019t want to miss! Japanese Professional Baseball will knock your socks off with incredible plays, stadium food, and fun vibes. When you\u2019re in Osaka, definitely check out a game. <\/p>\n<p>\u2028\u2028On more than one occasion, I\u2019ve taken friends to Kyocera Dome or Koshien Stadium. And on more than one occasion, I\u2019ve been met with, \u201cOh, why didn\u2019t I think of that? That was so much fun!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So here\u2019s a quick peek at Osaka Baseball so you know what to expect, and a glimpse at the Japan Series.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px; background: #f7f7f7;\">\n<h2 style=\"color:#00a0cb; margin: 10px 0 0;\">\uff3bContents\uff3d<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor1\"> Two Teams, Two Leagues<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor2\"> The Japan Series <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor3\">The Dome <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor4\"> General Japanese Baseball Fun <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"anchor1\" style=\"color:#00a0cb;\">\u25a0 Two Teams, Two Leagues<\/h2>\n<p>Osaka\u2019s most famous team is, without a doubt, the Hanshin Tigers. Playing most of their home games out of the glorious <a href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/spot\/access-to-koshien\/\" title=\"\u962a\u795e\u7532\u5b50\u5712\u7403\u5834\">Koshien Stadium<\/a> in neighboring Hyogo Prefecture, the Tigers also call <a href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/spot\/kyocera-dome\/\" title=\"Kyocera Dome (\u4eac\u30bb\u30e9\u30c9\u30fc\u30e0)\">Kyocera Dome<\/a>, in Osaka, their home away from home. <\/p>\n<p>Their cartoonish tiger mascot Tolucky is adorable and has two sidekicks who help him drum up team spirit.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u30ec\u30c3\u30c4\u30c0\u30f3\u30b9\uff01\uff01\u300eLet\u2018\uff53 Go\u30c8\u30e9\u30c3\u30ad\u30fc\u300f\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-htw3rsKuwc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Tigers have been around since 1935, when they were known as the Osaka Tigers. They are one of Japan\u2019s oldest teams and have some of the most devoted and notoriously routy fans. The Tigers belong to the Central League often abbreviated to Ce League (\u30bb\u30ea\u30fc\u30b0). In the narrowest sense the team represents Osaka (\u5927\u962a)  and Kobe (\u795e\u6238), borrowing a character from each word to build the term Hanshin (\u962a\u795e) meaning the Osaka\u2013Kobe area. However, they are loved throughout Kansai and celebrated throughout Japan.<\/p>\n<p>Japan Professional baseball also has a Pacific League which unlike the Central League does use designated hitters. This is where the famous Osaka-born pitcher Yu Darvish got his start before moving on to MLB in the US. <\/p>\n<p>The Pacific League, or Pa League (\u30d1\u30ea\u30fc\u30b0), is where you\u2019ll find Osaka\u2019s other team\u2014the Orix Buffaloes. The Orix Buffaloes are an old, but new team. Officially formed in 2004, they have a long messy history which involves the Hankyu Braves (1936), Orix Blue Wave (1991) and Kintetsu Buffaloes (1949). After transfers, mergers, and sales of teams, which both confused and devastated fans, we have the modern-day Orix Buffaloes. And who also happen to be the Pa League champs! <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-pa-league-champs-e1666776515969.jpg\" alt=\"Orix Buffaloes, Pacific League Champions sign in Osaka\" width=\"799\" height=\"714\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-pa-league-champs-e1666776515969.jpg 799w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-pa-league-champs-e1666776515969-768x686.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Buffaloes play most of their games out of Kyocera Dome, which is conveniently located in the middle of Osaka. More on that later. The Buffaloes also play a handful of games out of Hotto-Motto Field in Kobe and you can catch them on the road too. <\/p>\n<p>Notable players from these teams would be recognized by serious baseball fans, but let me just drop one name here\u2014Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro started his career in 1992 with the Orix Blue Wave and there is a mini shrine to him inside the Dome.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-ichiro-memorial-e1666769237283.jpg\" alt=\"Memorial to Ichiro starting his career in Osaka's Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14199\" \/><br \/>\nHere&#8217;s his signed jersey&#8230;<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-ichiro-jersey-e1666769250264.jpg\" alt=\"Signed Ichiro jersey in Osaka's Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"1066\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14198\" \/><br \/>\nand cleats from his first 200 hit season.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-ichiro-shoes-e1666769226720.jpg\" alt=\"Ichiro's cleats from first 200 hit season in Osaka's Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14200\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Buffaloes are represented by two mascots, a bright pink Buffalo Bell and the navy blue Buffalo Bull who slightly resemble bobble-head figures with horns. They kick off the game with appearances on the field pre-game and can be seen waving to fans during breaks. Also look for the BsGirls cheerleading squad. Fans are rallied by the team song <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/xNwce4gHQyE\" rel=\"nofollow \"><em>Sky<\/em> by Mega Stoppe<\/a>. Unless you are a serious student of Japanese, just hit the \u201cAh Orix Buffaloes\u201d chorus and you can join in the fun during the Seventh Inning. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor2\" style=\"color:#00a0cb;\">\u25a0 The Japan Series<\/h2>\n<p>And so with the two leagues, there follows that there is a championship game between the two\u2014the Japan Series aka Nippon Series (\u65e5\u672c\u30b7\u30ea\u30fc\u30ba). The Central League and Pacific League champs duke it out in a 7 game series in early fall. \u2028\u2028And although the Buffaloes don\u2019t have as strong of a fan base as the Tigers, they have been proving themselves as a team to be reckoned with! In 2021 they faced off against the Yakult Swallows from Tokyo after winning the Pacific League Pennant for the first time in 25 years. Sadly, they came up short 4\u20132, but it was still a huge win for Buffaloes fans to see their team in the Japan Series. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-field-e1666769152920.jpg\" alt=\"Japan Series at Osaka's Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14208\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Again, in 2022, as I write this, the Buffaloes are busy giving everything they\u2019ve got to fend off the Swallows. In an interesting turn of events, Game 2 was settled in a tie after 12 innings. And there is a new rule regarding ties, written specifically for the 2022 series. Theoretically, if no teams has bested the other with 4 wins, the 7-game series could be extended to an 8-games. According to the new rule, <em>if<\/em> there is a final Game 8, it will be played until either team wins. There is no cap on the number of innings. That\u2019s wild! <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-fans-e1666769160339.jpg\" alt=\"Baseball fans cheering Japan Series at Osaka's Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14207\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If the Buffaloes manage to eke out a win, this will be the first time they\u2019ve won since 1996 and the fifth time in history. Go Buffs!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor3\" style=\"color:#00a0cb;\">\u25a0 The Dome<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/spot\/kyocera-dome\/\" title=\"Kyocera Dome (\u4eac\u30bb\u30e9\u30c9\u30fc\u30e0)\">Kyocera Dome<\/a> is conveniently located in the heart of Osaka. It\u2019s accessible from 4 different Stations on 4 different trainlines. The closest stations are Dome-mae on the Hanshin Railway and Dome-mae Chiyozaki on the Osaka Metro. The Dome is also a short walk from Taish\u014d Station on the JR, and is even walkable from Osaka Metro\u2019s Kuj\u014d Station.<\/p>\n<p>The cheapest seats you can get are in the outfield and these also happened to be the only seats I could get for the Japan Series. They weren\u2019t easy to get, and seeing as how I was seated 3 rows from the very top of the stadium, I\u2019d say they were some of the very last few available. <\/p>\n<p>But, look, I can see the whole field and even Buff Bull out on the field with the Bs Girls! <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-outfield-roof-e1666769217502.jpg\" alt=\"kyocera dome outfield view of Japan Series\" width=\"800\" height=\"1066\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14201\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s something about watching a game in the dome that makes it easier to see. The lighting is good and it never rains in here!<\/p>\n<p>The other thing about being in the outfield is that you\u2019re near the biggest fan sections. In left field you have the visitors section. Buffaloes uniforms and other fan gear is prohibited here. You\u2019re not allowed to cheer the home team from those seats either. It is literally prohibitted.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-visitors-e1666769306141.jpg\" alt=\"Kyocera Dome visitors section during Japanese baseball game\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14192\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Both teams have cheering sections in the outfield, that play drums, lead cheers, and hoist these huge flags waving them over the roaring crowds.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-visitor-flags-e1666769322741.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese baseball team flags waved over audience\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14191\" \/> <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor4\" style=\"color:#00a0cb;\">\u25a0 General Japanese Baseball Fun<\/h2>\n<p>Get your miniature bats ready! It\u2019s time to cheer!\u2028<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-bats-e1666769286358.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese baseball cheering bats for Orix Buffaloes\" width=\"800\" height=\"1066\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14195\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Back in pre-Covid times, Buffaloes fans would release screaming balloons into the air during the 7th inning. But after the wave of awareness about airborn pathogens, I don\u2019t think this tradition is coming back anytime soon. But that doesn\u2019t mean their aren\u2019t other ways to cheer. Fans have been clapping out rythms and banging plastic bats to cheer whichever team is up to the plate. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an amazing experience to be in the dome, completely full of fans, and hear the massive crowd clapping or banging out the same rythm. You can feel how deeply the fans are behind their team. And of course they are\u2014this is the Japan Series!<\/p>\n<p>Today, I skipped the drinks, but I usually get a draught beer from one of the vendors fitted with beer backpacks. There\u2019s nothing like a cold beer served at your seat while watching the game! \u2028\u2028And what is a ballgame without food and snacks? Japanese baseball favorites include bento, yakisoba, and Osaka\u2019s famous takoyaki. You can even get a baseball helmet full of <em>karaage<\/em> (fried chicken).  Choose your favorite team!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-karaage-helmet-e1666769192673.jpg\" alt=\"baseball helmet full of karaage fried chicken\" width=\"800\" height=\"487\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14204\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Plus Kyocera Dome sells the famed <em>Itemae Dog<\/em>. Essentially, this is Kyocera Dome\u2019s version of the footlong, but it is actually two dogs, sandwiched in a hearty bun. There are variations based on Buffaloes players. So that adds a little extra fun to the menu. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-players-hotdog-stand-e1666769200675.jpg\" alt=\"Itemae hot dogs at Kyocera Dome, a popular baseball food\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14203\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Today, I ended up at Mosburger and could not resist the okonomiyaki-style katsu burger. Since you can only get this burger at Kyocera Dome, I had to try it. And it did not disappoint. It was just as good as the regular katsu burger, but with the addition of eggs, shredded cabbage, and a classic okonomiyaki flavor. When in Osaka, you must eat okonomiyaki. So that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing here. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-mosburger-e1666769137424.jpg\" alt=\"Mosburger menu item limited to Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"1066\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14210\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I had a great time between the cheering, the exciting plays, and the ballpark food. Even if you can\u2019t make the series, get tickets to a regular game. It\u2019s a great night out!<\/p>\n<p>Oh! And one more thing! The Buffaloes fans have yet to throw a KFC statue in the river, so the Colonel Sanders curse doesn&#8217;t apply. Whatever happens this year, you can look forward to seeing the Orix Buffaloes in the post-season again!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kyocera-kfc-e1666769116839.jpg\" alt=\"KFC in Osaka's Kyocera Dome\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14212\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u25bcRead more<br \/>\n<a style=\"display: flex; border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px; background: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/2022\/08\/05\/access-to-koshien\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1499\" style=\"display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px; object-fit: cover; width: 100px; height: 100px;\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/08\/access-to-koshien-main.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"70\" \/><span style=\"display: block; align-self: center; text-decoration: none;\">Take me out to the ballpark!<br \/>\nHow to get to Koshien Stadium by train<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a baseball fan, and even if you\u2019re not, this is one place you don\u2019t want to miss! Japanese Professional Baseball will knock your socks off with incredible plays, stadium food, and fun vibes. When you\u2019re in Osaka, definitely check out a game. \u2028\u2028On more than one occasion, I\u2019ve taken friends to Kyocera Dome [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":14202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,161],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"author_id":"","author_name":"","author_image":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14229"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14261,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14229\/revisions\/14261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}