Baseball in Japan

We have been working hard everyday in the office but we still take a few hours once in a while to go out and enjoy the culture  of Japan. Here we are on our way to our first Japanese baseball game. We are standing by Hiroaki Mizuno, the travel coordinator at our office and possible the biggest baseball fan ever. He arranges the missionary travel.  Hiroaki went on a mission to the Ukraine, and he also got his Masters degree when he studied in England so he speaks English with a sort of English accent.  He arranged tickets for our group, and so after a few different train rides we made it to the stadium. Hiroaki's favorite team is the Cheba lotte Marines, so that is the team we went to see.

Here are some of our friends, Brother and Sister Maetani 

They are dressed in the Marine shirts of Hiroaki's

favorite team.  Brother Maetani is a retired District Court

Judge from Provo.  He and Sister Maetani are the Associate

Public Affairs people here in Japan for the Church.

Here was some of the entertainment at the game.

A Japanese baseball game is something everyone should witness

at least once in his or her life.  At the game, everyone is very orderly and very quiet when the opposing team is up to bat.  The other team's fans have organized cheers and they beat a drum and sing songs and make lots of noise when their team is up to bat.  Both teams also have cheerleaders just like at a football or baseball game. When our team, the Marines, were up to bat then the opposing team sat very quietly while we did our cheers and drum playing and singing and hand actions and anything else you can imagine.  They even have a set time for everyone to  blow up balloons and then let them go into the stadium, after which, they have a huge group of people gather the balloons in about 20 seconds.  After the 4th or 5th inning, they then have a fireworks display outside of the stadium which you can watch from the stadium. The cheers at the game are all written down so Hiroaki printed themup for us to practice before we went to the game. People can read them and sing them with the other fans when they're at the game. I thought the vendors were interesting.  They walk quietly without saying anything in front of the fans.  If someone wants to buy a drink or something, they raise their hand and then the person, usually a cute young girl comes up quietly and sells it to them.  Everything is very quiet and orderly.

All in all, going to the game was a very interesting experience!

The mascot and cheerleaders on the field.  Unfortunately,we lost.  The last time the Marines lost, Hiroaki almost had to be carried out of the stadium.  He is that much of a fan.

We got to see a little of Tokyo Disneyland on the train to the game.

If you look way back in the background, you can see

the Disneyland castle.

Now we're back home again. My brother, John, said things are probably seeming normal now, and they are, but he said that I should still try to notice how things do look a little different.

Here are some store fronts from our daily walks. I'm thinking Tokyo really does look a little different than South Jordan.

Here's what a typical bus looks like, but we like to take the trains.

Last night we took several trains to go teach English lessons.

We had a wonderful time and met many great people who want

to be able to speak English well.  I think they are very ambitious

to spend nights studying when they spend long, long hours

at work every day.

Here's a typical; telephone booth

Here's a typical telephone in the typical telephone booth.  We have one that is bright pink in the lobby of the temple annex where we go to church.  It sits on a desk looking very normal to me now.  I'll get a picture of it some time.

Mickey mouse?  Chinese men in front of a store.

One of my favorite things to watch for are stores with funny signs.
Here's one where I have no idea what it is or what they sell.  Perhaps
this is where
missionaries could go
to get a new face?

(Have a great week everybody!  We're off to do missionary work!)

By the way, we are very happy that Rosa, a sweet sister who Gary has helped to teach missionary lessons to in Spanish, will be baptized on Sunday.  Elder Chandler (Gary) has been asked to confirm her to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He will do that in Spanish so that she will be able to understand well.