Between goodbye parties and last minute packing, I had the chance to go to my very baseball game ever!

Nagoya’s baseball team is the Chunichi Dragons, and the city is very supportive of their baseball team. After spending an entire semester living close to Nagoya Dome and seeing fans everywhere, my interest in baseball was admittedly piqued. Baseball is a big deal in Japan, with roots dating back before World War II, so who was I to ignore tradition? I expressed an interest in going to my host parents this semester after seeing my host brother obsess over them (he knows all the starting batters and players. All of them.) and seeing merchandise around the house. As a gift to me, my host mother and sister and I all went to a game.

We got pretty decent seats, not too into the crowd, so we weren’t surrounded by screaming people or anything, but it was still insanely loud and noisy. We were in the bleachers that were closer to the opposing team, the Lions, and every time the Lions were at bat, we had crazy fans screaming around us, and then cursing loudly when the Dragons were at bat.

I have only a vague understanding of baseball, but I pick up quite quickly. The beginning of the game was pretty uneventful and even disappointing, as the Lions managed to get in a good homerun, but the Dragons pulled in after the 7th inning and we left by the end of the 8th with Dragons pulling in 5 more runs, which was amazing. There was a lot of screaming and cheering at that point, from me included.

As baseball games go, that one was pretty fun. I got a grasp on some of the main players in the Dragons, and I’m definitely excited to see more, American or Japanese, regardless, though it was more fun here to see people bring out their bento boxes and sushi and buy Japanese beer. Baseball is a fun game to watch and the attitude of the crowd is infectious. Now all I need to do is learn all of the Dragon cheers and I’ll be ready for another round.

By the by, Dragons won 6-2! Good game!

Location: Nagoya Dome, Nagoya, Japan

A personal dream and goal of mine has been to buy a kigurumi in Japan. Basically, it’s like a huge costume of a stuffed animal toy, but warm, comfortable, and generally fun to waddle around in. Way back in Tokyo, my friend Steff and I both finally got to accomplish our goals; we chose tiger and dinosaur. Or dragon, as some people think that my costume could be either.

A little while ago, we had the goodbye party for our Japanese class, and who were we to resist dressing up a little bit and causing general discomfort for Japan for the day? Riding the train and subway to school got me stares and general giggles. Being on campus in the outfit was another story altogether.

It was basically as if Steff and I were walking to and from class naked, that was the amount of attention and stares we received. Students actually stopped in their tracks to watch us go past, others were bold enough to wave and tell us how cute we were. Another boy actually followed us from the cafeteria to the convenience store on campus to ask us what exactly we were up to (and ended the conversation by urging us to watch anime, of all things). The oddest occurrence of all, however, was being stopped by Nanzan’s fashion club and being submitted to a tiny photoshoot because apparently, they saw our get-ups as “fashionable.”

I had also decided to top off my ridiculousness by being as outlandish as possible, toting around aviator sunglasses, bright yellow star headphones, and a robot bag. Some could potentially argue that I was being bold. I would answer by saying I was wearing pajamas and resembling a clown. As it turns out, we’re going to be included in the next fashion magazine. Lucky us!

Despite it being generally far too warm to wear a fleece bodysuit and enduring far more attention than I thought was possible for an entire day, it was actually almost refreshing to finally have Japanese students find strength in our boldness to actually approach us. My host mother even showed me off to my host father because she thought I looked hilarious. I can now say that after parading around Japan dressed as a dinosaur, there’s not much left for me to do that will potentially harm my dignity. I have done the ridiculous, and I did it with swagger.

Location: Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan

In Japan, it’s fairly common to see huge packs of elementary school kids stomping about in waves of little matching yellow hats and loud yelling. The other day, my JR train was hit with such an attack, filling almost all 6 cars. Despite how adorable and precious kids are, I went out of my way to pick the one least swarming with the tiny little hooligans.

As luck would have it, I picked the train car with the bathroom, which is apparently a course of neverending amusement to kids that age who are on a fieldtrip, but still, only 15 or so kids were in the car, I assumed I could deal. I stood by the doors, reading away, but the second to last stop before my own ended up emptying out the seats nearby. The children rushed to grab them before I did, leaving me standing behind a seat of 4 kids attempting to get into a seat meant for two, and even more tiny bodies crowded around me. All of them were starting to give me curious looks.

Eventually, two girls in the seat were bold enough to catch my eye. Both bowed their head in greeting, and I returned the gesture with a smile. They continue staring, leaning in as close as the back of a train seat would allow. Finally, I say hello, earning a gasp from both of them, the shyer one muttering “Oh, she can speak Japanese…?”

The tide was broken. The unspoken rule of not speaking to the foreigner smashed. The gaggle of boys joined in the conversation, as did the students seated across from me. Where are you from? How long have you been here? They threw out all the American phrases they knew (which, for I’m sorry, thank you, hello, how are you, and it’s nice to meet you, wasn’t half bad. I told them as such.) I threw some back: what year are you guys, are you guys going to school? How’re your English studies coming along?

The rest of the passengers of the train are actually watching me, listening and half-smiling to themselves as I’m bantering with the kids. I still can’t tell if they were testing me or simply amused.

One particular boy was particularly sure of himself, walking up to me to ask me my favorite and least favorite foods.

“Ramen.”
“Hmm. And least favorite?”
“Natto.” “Natto?! I. Love. Natto.”

To which I protested that it was terrible amongst the laughter of his friends. They were excited when we reach the final station and I tell them I’m getting off as well. As I finally turn, they see some of the One Piece keychains on my bag. The same Nattoboy is apparently a fan as well. As his peers start tugging curiously at parts of my bag, he asks me who my favorite character is. Turns out we like the same guy; he was pretty excited about that.

As we walked through the ticket booths at Kozoji, I turned to go my own way, seeing the childrens’ teachers and not wanting to be a bother. Immediately, a roar of “BYE BYE” washes over me as I walk off. I’m half-way down the station and they’re still yelling my way. It seemed that everyone wanted me to turn around and wave at them. I certainly gave it my best.

It was this sort of curious, inquisitive attitude of children that, in all honesty, is saving Japan. You see many older folks glare foreigners down, half-wishing you weren’t there. Then you have kids, who are bursting with questions, wondering where you’re from, excited to use the handful of English they know on you.

If they can keep that sort of attitude into the next generation, and the next, then Japan surely has a chance of finally opening up and remembering that the rest of the world is not as monogamous as theirs. While at the same time, with a smile and a friendly conversation, one can see that perhaps we’re not so different after all.

Location: Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan