Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! Nendoroid Figure

Business travel isn’t what it used to be. Because of COVID, my husband is among the many who are no longer jetting all over the globe for work. As such, my stream of Asian souvenirs has dried up. (But the plus side as I get more time with my husband!)

However, for my birthday, my husband surprised me with this:

A Shoyo Hinata Nendoroid figure! Isn’t he cute? This particular version is dressed in the orange Karasuno uniform, and his accessories include a volleyball and a raw egg over rice.

My husband found him while browsing at a local swap meet. Most vendors there had only video games, but one also had figurines she picked up during her last trip to Japan. (So it kind of fits the category of Asian souvenir…) My husband spotted Hinata among her wares, and tada! his birthday gift shopping was done. (Good job!)

We’ve never had a Nendoroid so we’re still getting used to the mechanics of posing and swapping out the different pieces. However, it’s fun and gives us something Haikyu!! related to do while we wait for Season 5 of the anime to come out.

Souvenirs from Asia Follow Up: Shimada Mart Pig Plushie Has a New Owner!

Back in 2018, I posted about Haikyu!! character goods my husband brought from Japan, which included a Shimada Mart pig plushie. While it was very unique (how many smiling pre-sliced porkers are out there anyway?), I couldn’t warm up to its slabby figure, so I mentioned it was available for sale.

Four years, a pandemic, and a house move later, Shimada pig was still with me (and unopened), but I’d forgotten about my shout-out for best offers. So I was perplexed when I got an email from an address I didn’t recognize with the subject: The Pig. To be honest, I almost didn’t open it because I thought it might be a weird phishing scheme.

But phishing it was not! Rather, it was artymis from the Lone Star State inquiring if the piggy plush was still available for sale. I was astounded. My blog post had actually connected with an interested buyer!

A few email exchanges and 24 hours later, the plushie was in a box on its way to its forever home. Shipping with it were Haikyu!! Engeki (Haikyu!! Musical Stage Play) DVDs. We’d upgraded to a 4K TV, and my husband also upgraded our three Haikyu!! Engeki DVDs to the Blu-ray versions. Since we didn’t need multiple copies, I offered them to artymis. I figured anyone who was enough of a fan to pursue a Shimada plus pig might take the DVDs–and she did!

Our porker’s journey out of the Golden State took about a week due to winter weather delays. However, it is now safely in its forever home with artymis in the Lone Star State, where it goes by the name “Shimada no buta-san,” which roughly translates to Shimada’s Pig. May you enjoy freedom from your packaging and bring piles of joy and hog jokes to your new owner!

Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!! Blu-Ray Videos: “The Strongest Challengers,” “The Dumpster Battle,” and “View from the Top 2.”

My husband and I have been fans of the 2.5 D musical series, Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!!, ever since we saw their second show “Karasuno Revival” in Fukuoka in 2016. When their new Karasuno cast made their debut with “Fly High” in 2019, my husband, who was working in China at the time, made a weekend trip to Osaka just to see the show. (And he saw it twice!)

Unfortunately, seeing subsequent shows was made impossible to us and just about everyone else when the pandemic struck. Like all theater productions, Engeki Haikyu!! was hit hard by COVID. “The Strongest Challengers,” which began March 2020, had to cut its run short.

Despite the disappointment and financial loss this must have caused, Engeki Haikyu!! persevered. During the shutdown, they released an amazingly creative YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO-mLXG3MtA) with nearly every performer involved in the production. Then once things opened up, they went on to produce “The Dumpster Battle” and the final show, “View from the Top 2.”

And fortunately I was able to get these videos through Animate International (www.animate.shop).Thank you, Animate International for shipping internationally! Thank you, Toho Animation for producing the Blu-rays! (The videos are also available through amazon.co.jp.).

So for those who are sad that the Haikyu!! manga has ended and need something to tide you over until the next anime season, consider the Engeki Haikyu!! videos! You’ll need a Region 2 player to play the discs, and unfortunately, the show and extras are entirely in Japanese. However, if you read the manga, you will get the gist of what’s happening. In addition, various kind people have made show translations available for free on the Internet. At the writing of this post, my husband found subtitles for nearly all the shows and some of the curtain calls here:

https://kanasmusings.tumblr.com/post/614980635395833856/masterpost-engeki-haikyuu-subtitles

If you do decide to watch Engeki Haikyu!!, please support them by buying the videos! And for more details about the pandemic releases, please read on.

Contents

If you have any of the previous Engeki Haikyu!! videos, you’ll immediately notice some differences. The biggest difference is that “The Strongest Challengers” and “The Dumpster Battle” are a dual release that consists of three discs:

Disc 1

• The Dumpster Battle (edited and wide angle version)

Disc 2

• The Strongest Challengers (edited and wide angle version)

Disc 3

• The Strongest Challengers Backstage Footage
• The Dumpster Battle Backstage Footage
• The Dumpster Battle Curtain Call

The Strongest Challengers and Dumpster Battle dual release discs, disc case, and sleeve

Sadly, there’s no curtain call for “The Strongest Challengers.” Usually, that’s recorded at the final show, and it got canceled due to COVID. In addition, “The Strongest Challengers” video was not filmed before an audience. They still give a good performance, but I do miss watching the actor for Tanaka ham it up with the audience during curtain call.

“The Dumpster Battle” did get recorded before a live audience and have its curtain call, but it has obvious COVID modifications. The actors wear clear masks, which I didn’t find too distracting, but they sometimes interfered with the sound quality of the actors’ dialogue. Also, the curtain call was conducted in small, socially distanced groups rather than the mass lineup they usually have.

With “The Strongest Challengers” cut short and theater capacity limited for “The Dumpster Battle,” it’s not surprising Toho Animation packaged the shows together for the fans who couldn’t see it live. It certainly made it easier for me not having to order and ship two items.

Moving on…

View from the Top 2 discs, cover insert, and case sleeve

“View from the Top” consists of:

Disc 1

• View from the Top 2 (edited version)
• Curtain Call
• Special Ending Credits

Disc 2

• View from the Top 2 (wide angle version)
• Interview with the director, composer, Kotaro Daigo (actor for Hinata), and Ryunosuke Akana (actor for Kageyama)
• Backstage Footage
• Studio live session performance by the composer

Because I preordered my Blu-ray from Animate, I got a bonus item which turned out to be four buttons with Engeki Haikyu!!’s version of team mascots. I pinned them to the totebag my husband purchased at the 2019 Fly High performance.

Fly High tote bag with my View from the Top bonus buttons

Like “The Dumpster Battle,” “View from the Top” got filmed before a live audience with protocols in place (i.e. clear masks for the performers, no cheering from the audience). Unfortunately, a couple cast members tested positive for COVID while in mid-run so the last several performances, including the Tokyo grand finale, got canceled.

As a result, this curtain call isn’t the usual fun interaction with the audience where actors are as likely to burst into tears as they are to ham it up with their fans. Instead, each performer makes final remarks solo in front of their character’s team banner. It doesn’t have the same impact as pre-pandemic curtain calls, but I appreciate their efforts.

Production

The stage arrangement, aside from minor details on the periphery, were identical for the three Spring Tournament shows. This might have been due to budget constraints, but it does also make sense from a storytelling standpoint. (All of the matches are taking place at the Orange Court, after all.)

There are two (!) rotating tables at the front of the stage, an elevated platform at the rear, and a retractable ramp connecting the two levels. The front of the stage, the ramp, as well as the rear wall of the stage function as surfaces for Engeki Haikyu!!’s namesake high end projectors to cast their magic. This gives projections huge flexibility upon the stage and really makes images pop. Throughout the shows, you’ll see various cast members wiping off those surfaces (under the premise of cleaning the sweat off the Orange Court).

“The Dumpster Battle” and “View from the Top 2” also use flying harnesses but only very briefly. The majority of action is comprised of performers moving in sync with projections, dance numbers, and dramatic scenes.

Review

Most preceding productions incorporated two matches into a single show, but Engeki Haikyu!! dedicated an entire show to each of the Spring Tournament matches. Given the prestige of the competition, it was a good call. Plus, it was less exhausting for me as a viewer. “The Best Team,” which covered the Aoba Johsai rematch and the Shiratorizawa match, was a long show, and though I enjoyed it, I was worn out by the end.

Of the Spring Tournament shows, “The Dumpster Battle” is the one I’d watch over and over, even with the COVID masks. “The Strongest Challengers” was set up as a setter battle similar to “The Winner and The Loser,” but Kageyama doesn’t have the intense history with Atsumu that he did with Oikawa. Also, a lot of attention is given to the Miya Twins, but the Inarizaki team as a whole doesn’t have a distinct identity the way Dateko, Nekoma, or Nohebi do. Also, nearly every team has a signature dance move, but if Inarizaki had one, it didn’t stand out to me.

Nekoma, though, is a team included in several Engeki Haikyu!! shows, has a distinct personality, and has multiple rivals among the Karasuno team. The Dumpster Battle is the culmination of a relationship that dates back to old Ukai and Coach Nekoma’s youth, and Engeki Haikyu!! did a fabulous job incorporating all those elements as well as the childhood promise between Kenma and Kuroo.

On top of all that anticipation and emotion, the show capitalizes on Kenma’s gamer mindset to maximize projection effects. There’s a hilarious fantasy interlude at the opening of Act 2 that has nothing to do with the plot but uses their projections in a spectacularly entertaining way. (Seriously, I’ve watched that scene eight times, and I still think it’s awesome.)

It’s worth noting that the actors who play Kenma and Kuroo (and a few other Nekoma players) have been with the production since Nekoma first appeared in “Karasuno Revival.” As such, they get extra attention and screen time in the Curtain Call and Backstage Footage. So be sure to check that out if you’re fans of Kondou Shouri or Nagata Takato.

Oh, and Fukuzawa Yuu, who plays the Nohebi captain Suguru, returns to make commentary on the dumpster battle. This guy’s moves are so captivating, my eyes automatically jump to him anytime he’s in a dance number.

“View from the Top 2” runs into similar issues as “The Strongest Challengers” in that Kamomedai doesn’t quite have a memorable collective personality or signature dance. This matchup is mostly framed as a battle of little giants between Hinata and Hoshiumi before the OG of little giants, Udai. It also weaves in a Kageyama character arc outlining his journey from lonely King of the Court to one surrounded and supported by his team, but it has more to do with Kageyama and Karasuno than with Kamomedai.

Act 2 of “View from the Top 2” serves as a postscript for our characters. Hinata’s years in Brazil gets summarized a few lines of narration then the timeline jumps to the evening of the Schweiden Adlers-Black Jackals match where we see what everyone looks like post-high school. As they’ve done in other productions, Engeki Haikyu!! projects video of previous cast members (some of which interact with the live cast) to show how their characters fare as well. Although the manga dedicates three volumes to the Schweiden Adlers-Black Jackals match, Engeki Haikyu!! limits it to the highlights, which works well to wrap up the production without dragging it out.

Thus, Engeki Haikyu!! reaches its conclusion. Clearly, COVID ruined a lot of plans (including our plan to see the final show in person). To tell the truth, my husband and I were afraid the company would fold when “The Strongest Challengers” got canceled. Yet they persevered to bring Haikyu!! to a valiant finish, and for that, they have our heartfelt thanks and admiration.

Souvenirs from Asia: Really Random Stuff

My husband and I have gone off the beaten track (sometimes WAY off) in our Japanese pop culture travels, so our friends have sometimes accused us of going out of our way to get bizarre stuff. However, all of these following items my husband bought at Narita Airport. Meaning that the Japanese want visitors to buy these as souvenirs, and you can’t blame my husband for picking them up when the airport authorities made it so convenient.

So first of all we have that favorite Japanese dish—curry!  Inside this box is a single serve pouch  of curry; just heat and serve. However, thing that makes it interesting—and therefore worthy of occupying space in an airport souvenir shop—is the meat they used. That’s not an ordinary pig on the box—it’s a wild boar!

Yes, folks, it’s wild boar curry. You, too, can pick up a box at Narita Airport and enjoy this novelty for a mere  ¥600!

Also, at that same store for the same low price is another curry. It’s a little more difficult to tell from the package illustration, but this is “Bakayarou Curry.” Or to translate: “Idiot Curry.”

 Now this is a pun that requires explanation, so much so that I’m surprised they put it in the airport with the intention for foreigners to buy. As mentioned above, “bakayarou” translates into “idiot” or ”fool.” The jinchuuriki Killer B from Naruto often uses that term in his raps. However, the word bakayarou is written by putting together the kanji characters for “horse”and “deer.” (Don’t ask me why, that’s just how it is.) And the meat used in this particular curry pouch is—you guessed it— a blend of horse and deer meat.

And you can bring it home from Narita Airport for just ¥600!

Moving on from curry, we have a snack that looks like it was inspired by the west but took on a life of its own in Japan: Tohato Bacon Sticks!

This he picked up at the airport convenience store. I kind of thought it would be a shorter version of a slim jim, but this snack actually has a texture closer to a Pocky or potato chip. It’s definitely not a 100% meat product, but it still emits that enticing smoky aroma that is distinctly bacon.

We put it out during our last Bible study gathering, and it was a massive hit. There’s just something irresistible about bacon, and Tohato has harnessed its qualities into an unexpected crowd-pleaser.

And finally, my husband brought home this:

In case you’re not familiar with it, “The Wave” is an iconic piece of Japanese art, and the creators inserted Godzilla, another Japanese icon,  into the scene. Even though it’s been about a half century since Godzilla first stormed onto the scene, he remains popular around the world. He’s certainly popular with my husband, and we had a little fun superimposing Godzilla onto our kitchen noren.

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! Off-Season Character Goods

As mentioned in my previous post, Haikyu!!  fans are in the midst of a long wait for our next season of anime. In addition to fighting impatience, fans also have to contend with something else: a decline in character goods. There are hundreds of manga and anime in existence, and even as large as as Animate and The (Shonen) Jump Shop are, there’s only so much shelf space. As such, stores tend to stock merchandise of series that are currently airing or about to air, and only mega popular titles like Naruto get year-round dedicated space.

However, even though it’s been a couple years since the last episode of Haikyu!! aired, its fan base is apparently strong enough that my husband found some items on his last trip to Tokyo. It’s nowhere near the quantity and variety he witnessed in 2015, but he still found some interesting items to go with our Haikyu!! musical Blu-ray sets.

First, we have something that can only be described as really really random. Remember Shimada-san, the Karasuno alum who teaches Yamaguchi the jump float serve? If you’ll recall, he works at the family business, a supermarket called the Shimada Mart with a distinct piggy logo. Anyway, for some reason, someone thought it would make a marketable piece of merchandise, and for some reason. my husband thought I’d like it and bought it.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised they made a Shimada pig plushie considering a gal dressed up as the Shimada pig at last May’s Fanime Convention. At any rate, the pig plushie is still in its packaging, and if you want it, message me with your best offer.

This next item, on the other hand, I am totally keeping. It is the kind of accessory that sets you apart from all the other Haikyu!! cosplayers, and the best  ¥5000 my husband spent on this trip—a vinyl Karasuno gym bag! It’s got an adjustable strap and a side compartment in addition to the main one. Plus, it’s perfect for stowing street clothes during a cosplay meetup. I just have keep a close eye to make sure another Haikyu!! enthusiast doesn’t try to take off with it during said meetup.

And lastly we have an edible product: latte art in a package by Takara Tomy Arts! It’s kind of a cute concept, given the popularity of latte art. Apparently, they’ve solidified the milky foam stuff into solid discs. Just drop a disc into a cup of hot coffee, and you have insta-art!

However, it is a little disappointing that the creators didn’t choose a more detailed illustration for this product. My husband also bought the One Piece version to show what Takara Tomy was capable of producing, and as you can see below, the One Piece illustrations are much more intricate.

Next up: Really Random Souvenirs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! 2017 Musicals: “The Winner and The Loser” and “The Summer Evolution”

Haikyu!! fans are in the midst of a long waiting season as far as the anime goes. The last season was released 2016, and although it’s already 2018, there’s been no official announcement about when Season 4 will come out. Fortunately, the manga is still ongoing, and those in Japan had the opportunity to relive the drama in the Haikyu!! films and musicals.

As I mentioned in a post last summer, the Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!! production company presented the third musical The Winner and the Loser and the fourth musical The Summer Evolution in 2017. Unfortunately, my husband and I were unable to attend either show. Fortunately, as with their previous productions, the company collaborated with Toho Animation to release DVDs (Region 2 only) and Blu-rays of the musicals.

These are available through the Toho Animation online store and Amazon Japan, but both those outlets require a working knowledge of Japanese to make a purchase (and probably a Japan based credit card, I suspect). So my husband got them the old fashioned way: he ran to Akihabara during a 9-hour layover in Tokyo and bought them at Animate. (Arigatou, Animate!)

As with the previous releases, there are no English subtitles (although  the closing song for The Winner and the Loser does have English lyrics). And yes, it is pricey. Is it worth it? We think so! We only understand about one-tenth of the dialogue, but if you’re familiar with the series, you shouldn’t have any trouble following the overall plot. Also, the packaging, especially for The Winner and the Loser is really slick. The case includes a clear wraparound cover, and when you slide it off, you get a pretty cool image of Hinata in mid-jump. The Summer Evolution’s packaging isn’t quite as flashy, but its cast is the first to include females. Even though watching men play female bit parts is funny, it is nice to finally have actual women step onstage.

By the way, just like in the anime, the musical incorporates flashbacks in its storytelling. As such, these shows have references to previous productions, and those who’ve seen the first two musicals will have a more comprehensive entertainment experience.

Next up: Haikyu!! Off-season Character Goods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A visit to World Cosplay Summit 2017!

If you’re an anime fan visiting Japan, Akihabara, Ikebukoro’s Otome Road, and the Ghibli Museum are probably on your list of places to visit. If you happen to visit in early August and can afford a detour to Nagoya, you should also consider the World Cosplay Summit (WCS)!

WCS 2017 participants

WCS is what it sounds like, an international gathering of cosplayers. The main feature of the week-long summit is a competition. Every year, participating countries choose representatives (the United States picks its delegates at Anime Expo), and they join on one stage to determine the best in the world. Entrance to the two day competition proper requires the purchase of tickets, but even without tickets to the main event, there’s still plenty to see and enjoy, as we discovered.

While my husband and I enjoy cosplay, we are definitely unacquainted with competitive cosplay. As such, most of what we learned about WCS came from its website, and the English language portion unfortunately had few details on events and schedule. Unsure whether the tickets were worth it, we decided to simply go to the venue the final weekend of WCS and “people watch.”

Saturday, August 5, 2017
Aichi Arts Center and Oasis 21

Cosplayers swarming Oasis 21.

The Aichi Arts Center in Nagoya was where the ticketed events took place. Directly adjacent are Oasis 21 (a shopping center and transportation hub) and Central Park (an underground mall). With WCS taking place at the art center, we figured we’d see a few cosplayers coming and going.

There were way more than a few. The whole area was packed shoulder to shoulder with cosplayers and photographers, too. On the art center lawns, in the restaurants, by the Oasis 21 fountain, in the mall bathrooms, on the stairs, in the train station…I’d never seen so many cosplayers in one place.

Cosplay performance with taiko drums!

We quickly discovered WCS had an official presence outside the paid Aichi Arts Center area. The Oasis 21 courtyard has an outdoor stage, where WCS entertained the general public. Cosplayer teams performed sketches, and between acts, WCS hosts invited random cosplayers from the crowd to the stage to show off their costumes.

Cosplayers of all ages!

The heat is no joke….

Not surprisingly, the average quality of outfits and paraphernalia of the WCS crowd was a level higher than what I’ve seen at Fanime and Anime Expo. Properly colored wigs and tinted contact lenses were the rule, not the exception. These people were out to look good, and what made it even more amazing with that they were fully decked out at the height of summer.

WCS takes place during Japan’s summer break. This makes it easier for students to attend. It also means it’s crazy hot and humid. I was wearing a hat, tank top, and shorts, and I found the heat oppressive. I couldn’t imagine what it was like for those in long wigs, long sleeves, and cloaks. Even the scantily clad ones had to contend against sunburn. Suffice to say, the lines for shaved ice and soft serve ice cream were long, and you could sense the collective relief when the sun went down.

Sunday, August 6, 2017
Osu Shopping District

Oasis 21/Aichi Art Center hosted more of the same on Sunday (except with BIGGER crowds), but before we went there, we packed onto a train with several German-speaking cosplayers and headed two stations away to Osu Kannon Shrine.

The 2017 WCS contestants!

WCS coincides with the Osu Summer Festival held by Osu Shopping District, a covered arcade encompassing several blocks of shops. The shopping district is adjacent to the shrine, and apparently, it’s tradition for the international delegates to parade from the shrine through the shopping district. We figured that was worth seeing, and apparently, so did many others. We arrived an hour early, and Osu Kannon Shrine was already bustling with cosplayers (which certainly helped entertain us till the main event).

The marching band that led the cosplay parade.

The parade was a somewhat smaller affair than we expected. It began with the fifty or so international delegates posing on the shrine steps while an announcer introduced the group over loudspeaker. Then a high school marching band struck up and led the way for the representatives to promenade through the shopping district. I thought more cosplayers would be part of the procession, but no. It was just the main contenders, and the other cosplayers present were there to support them or just get a really good look at their costumes.

One of the best things we’ve ever eaten in Japan.

Thus, it was a very short parade. However, the Osu Festival also had a stage with idol performances after the parade, and we enjoyed their shops and food stands (the beef skewers were AMAZING and only ¥600) before returning to the main gathering at Oasis 21.

Osu Summer Festival idol performance

So in short, it was crowded and hot but the skill and enthusiasm of the cosplayers were amazing to behold. If you have an interest in cosplay, it’s worth checking out. As for us, if we’re in Japan in August again, we might just purchase tickets for the competition stage .

Summer Koshien: The 99th National High School Baseball Championship of Japan!

If you watch sports anime, you know the dream of high school athletes is to go to nationals, and of the myriad sports tournaments in Japan, none is more prestigious than Summer Koshien, the high school baseball championship. The tournament takes place in the beginning of August at Koshien Stadium (also home to the Hanshin Tigers) in the Kansai Region. As it turns out, the opening of the two week tournament coincided with the tail end of our Osaka vacation, so my husband and I got to attend the 99th Koshien!

Actually, we nearly didn’t get to go because of a typhoon. Typhoon #5 hit Kansai the night before Koshien’s scheduled start. So the tournament got pushed from Monday to Tuesday, and for a little while, it looked like it might get pushed to Wednesday, the day we had to return home. Fortunately, the rain let up early Tuesday morning, and we were able to join the crowds August 8 for Day 1 of Koshien.

The 2017 competitors!

Opening Ceremony

As former marching band geeks, my husband and I have an appreciation for displays of pageantry, and given that Koshien is a venerable institution, we anticipated a certain amount of pomp and circumstance. We were not disappointed.

Procession of the flags

The opening ceremony began with a band (playing Sousa’s National Emblem!) marching in with a choir. Next came a series of flag bearers. The flag of Japan entered first, then the Koshien banner, followed by what I’m guessing were Japan’s prefectural flags.

Finally, the baseball teams paraded in. Each team was preceded by a girl carrying a sign indicating their prefecture. Next came a player bearing the team’s banner, and the remaining 17 players followed in rows of three. And they were marching. Like seriously high-stepping and swinging their arms. Teams varied in their level of coordination and the height to which they picked up their heels, but there was no mistaking their energy and excitement. And once all 49 teams were lined up on the field, they made a colorful, festive sight.

Players marching in!

It rather reminded me of the Olympics. And like the Olympics, Koshien has its own anthem. After the raising of the Japanese flag, the choir and band led the tournament theme song as the Koshien flag went up.

Speeches followed. I couldn’t understand most of it, but I found it interesting that one speaker sprinkled his address with a bunch of English words. Then a representative player stepped to the mic to lead the sportsmanship oath. Again, I couldn’t understand a word, but the composed young man did a fine job as far as I could tell.

With that, the band played a recessional for all to exit, and it was time to play ball!

The Games

Confession: I am not a baseball fan. Most of the time I find baseball mind-blowingly boring. However, I figured Koshien would be different, and it was. Because it’s a high school competition, most players only have one chance to be in the tournament. Because a single loss puts a team out of the running, everyone’s bringing their A-game. And with representatives coming from every part of the country, their energy is palpable. These athletes are living a dream, and there’s nothing jaded about the excitement on their faces.

Of course, that excitement plus their youth brings a certain amount of unpredictability to the matches. In Game 1, Hasami (Nagasaki Prefecture) scored first with a single home run and maintained a lead in the latter half of the game, but eventually lost in a dramatic ninth inning play by opponent Hikone Higashi (Shiga Prefecture). In Game 2, Tochiku (Fukuoka Prefecture) was hitting balls like mad (total 13 hits) but only got four runs in. Plus, they kept making fielding errors, the kind that you wouldn’t see in a professional game, and ultimately lost to Saibi (Ehime Prefecture). Between errors and random home runs, I was pretty well entertained.

Fans, Bands, Traditions

Entertainment was also to be had in the stands. As previously mentioned, my husband and I were in a marching band so we find bands and cheer squads as interesting as the teams they root for. With Koshien being such a huge deal, we anticipated schools and families pulling out all the stops.

Hikone Higashi’s team acknowledging their cheer squad

They did. Sections of the stadium are designated for the fans of the competing schools (more on that in “How to go to Koshien”). The size of each group varies (i.e. schools located closer to Koshien tended to have more fans present), but they definitely stood out in their identical colors and garb with matching clappers, towels, etc. Fans stood as one, sang as one, shouted as one, jumped as one (yes, one group was jumping). It was the first time I’d seen Japanese cheering, and I was impressed how well-coordinated they were.

Pep bands also varied in size and instrumentation. Saibi had a huge brass section and repertoire to match (they were constantly showing off their trumpets). In contrast, their opponent Tochiku had a band that hardly played at all. Most of Tochiku’s noise came from a massive bass drum and shouting directed by the cheer squad’s cue cards.

Watching the different expressions of school spirit was fun, even if I couldn’t understand cheers or recognize tunes. (We only recognized two: “Popeye the Sailor Man” and “Dr. Who.”) Stadium etiquette is different, too. In the States, bands play when there is a break in the action so as not to distract players. In Japan, the bands (and all the fans) make the most noise when their players are at bat. When their side retires, everyone sits and quiets down while their rivals’ supporters start yelling/playing/clapping, etc. And when a time out is called, everything stops.

We got to see this when lingering clouds from the typhoon dumped rain in the middle of Game 2, forcing a halt. Our college band would’ve taken the opportunity to entertain the crowds with our music. The Japanese bands didn’t play once during the break. In fact, some band players fled the stands.

The diamond after a downpour. Note the tarps on home base and the pitcher’s mound.

In their defense, the downpour came down hard for a good ten minutes. The ground crew only had tarps for the pitcher’s mound and home plate so the dirt from the infield looked like it was melting into the grassy areas. By the time the rain stopped, the diamond was a sopping mess, and then watching the ground crew clean it up with towels and wheelbarrows of dirt provided a different form of entertainment.

But getting back to stadium etiquette … other interesting differences include the singing of each team’s anthem (couldn’t tell if it was the prefectural or school song) in the first inning, the raising of the winning team’s banner at the end of the game, and all the bowing. Teams bow to one another at the start and end of the game, and they bow to their fans before they exit the field.

One more thing they do before leaving: collect dirt. Players scrape dirt from the Koshien diamond into bags to take home. Kind of odd, but it is regarded the traditional keepsake for participants. At the very least, I didn’t see any spitting so it’s probably less disgusting than dirt from an American stadium.

How to go to Koshien

So if you’re thinking of going to Koshien, I would highly recommend it. If you’re already in the Kansai area, it’s affordable, and aside from infants (the weather is way too hot for babies), every demographic in the age spectrum was present. While middle-aged men were in the minority, I saw more dads with sons than I’d seen anywhere else in Japan. People were selling and buying beer in the stands at 7AM (the sake doesn’t come out till noon), but from what I could tell, no one was being an obnoxious drunk.

Getting to the Stadium

Take. The. Train. Unless you are in walking distance, the train is the way to go. Especially because the stadium parking lot is unavailable to the general public during the tournament.

Plus, Koshien Stadium is just two blocks away from Koshien Station. You can see the stadium from the station, and on game days, all you have to do is follow the crowd. You can get more information on exactly which trains to take from your particular location using hyperdia.com or Google maps (use the public transportation tab).

Tickets

Koshien offers special box seats, but I’m just going to focus on the four types of general seating, which are shown in the diagram below.

Seating chart for Koshien tickets

Covered Section (shown in green)
This was the section we sat in. It is the most expensive, but ¥2000 (roughly $20 U.S.) isn’t bad for an entire day of baseball. In addition to getting a prime view, you also have shade, a significant benefit because the heat is no joke. Seriously. During opening ceremonies, one of the sign bearers passed out and had to be carried off. We were also spared having to flee our seats when the Game 2 downpour hit. Along with weather protection, you also get foul ball protection from a metal wire barrier.

Partly Covered Section (shown in blue)
¥1500 will get you here. The awning will shade you for a portion of the day, and only the upper seats will protect you from rain. Obviously, it’s a less centered view of the diamond, and you need to pay attention if there a hit because foul balls will come flying!

Cheering Squad Section (shown in pink)
There’s no shade in the ¥600 seats. HOWEVER, these are definitely the most energetic and rambunctious sections because this is where the cheer squads/pep bands sit.

Bleachers- FREE zone (shown in yellow)
They’re in the outfield, and there’s no shade, but you might get the chance to catch a home run!

Koshien ticket and keychain souvenir (Konan is this year’s Okinawa representative).

No tickets are required for the free seats. It’s simply first come, first served. All other seats require a ticket. However, seats are not assigned. The tickets let you into your designated section for the day, and then you take whatever’s available in that section. So whether you are going for a free or ticketed seat, it behooves you to to go early (or send someone early to hog seats for your group).

As for purchasing tickets, advance purchases are available online a few weeks before the tournament, but this summer those sold out within a day (my Okinawan friend suspects scalpers were purchasing them).

End of the ticket line sign guy. Note Koshien Station and the Ace of Diamond banner in the background.

Fortunately, they also sell tickets on the day of each game. As long as you’re willing to get up early, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a ticket. (Ticket sales began 7AM. We lined up at 6:30 AM.) Just go to the stadium and look for the guys carrying the end of the line signs. You know you’re in the right line if the price on the sign matches the cost of the ticket you want to purchase.

Additional Information

The stadium Kentucky Fried Chicken stand’s colonel in Tiger garb.

One nice (and surprising!) thing was we didn’t have to go through a metal detector to get in the stadium. And if you want to bring your own food or drink, that was okay too, as far as we could tell. So take advantage of that! Bring plenty of cold fluids along with your sunscreen, hat, cooling scarf, etc. because you will need it.

If you forget to bring food/drink, no big deal. They’ve plenty of food offerings at the stadium, and there isn’t a huge markup. (¥200 for a bottle of water, ¥600 for a squid skewer.)

 

So there you have it. Summer Koskien 2017 continues till the end of the week so those in Japan still have the opportunity to go. If my husband and I find ourselves in Kansai during a future August, we’d certainly go again.

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Baumkuchen and Fake Toast

As mentioned in my last two posts, a happy convergence between my husband’s last business trip and a Jump Shop promotional event resulted in a massive load of Haikyu!! goodies. However, not all the gems in his souvenir stash were Haikyu!! related.

Baumkuchen is a European pastry very popular in Japan. It is often sold as a souvenir in airports and train stations, and the Narita Sanrio shop went all-out with this apple kuchen. The packaging is adorable, and instead of the traditional ring shape, this kuchen is apple shaped.

Hello Kitty Japan apple kuchen

My husband also picked up baumkuchen at Tokyo Station. As you can tell from the photo, this baumkuchen and the box of cookies beside it are designed for your name. movie fans (my review for the your name. light novel coming soon). Unlike the apple kuchen, the your name. kuchen comes in bite-sited, individually wrapped pieces. The cookies are also individually wrapped, and each has the movie logo baked on top.

your name. cookies and baumkuchen

Do not eat! Its not real toast!

This final item is not edible though it looks like it might be! Fake toast! It looks like a cosplayer prop for that classic late-student-running-to-school-with-toast-in-mouth. However, there’s all sorts of warnings about not putting it into your mouth, which makes me wonder what its intended purpose is.

Anyway, that’s it for this round of souvenirs!

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! snacks!

As mentioned previously, a change in my husband’s business trip itinerary allowed him to get to the Jump Shop’s Haikyu!! promotional event. The interesting thing was that about half the items he bought back were edibles, mostly snack foods. I’m not sure what marketing consultant drove the Jump Shop in that direction, but I guess it worked, considering my husband bought a bunch.

Choco-caramel and chocopuffs

So to start we have the sweets. Karasuno, Shiratorizawa, and Aoba Josai chocolate candies. As with many Japanese food products, a lot of effort went into the packaging. I will definitely keep the containers, but the Shiratorizawa and Aoba Josai tins only contained 5 choco-caramel candies each. As for the Karasuno one, it didn’t contain chocolates but chocolate flavored corn puffs. When we tried it, we felt like we should pour the whole thing into a bowl and add milk.

Although the packaging for these next candies isn’t nearly as durable, it is clever and super cute. The Haikyu!! characters are occasionally shown with milk or juice boxes which is the inspiration for this candy set. Not really sure about a giraffe for the chocolate candy box, but the cow makes a nice design for the milk caramel.

Choco candy and milk caramel in juice box packaging

Next, pie from the rivals! The pie, by the way, comes in (tiny!) individual servings that are of course well encased in packaging. I haven’t yet tried the leaf pie so I’m not sure what that’s about, but the filling for the apple pie is more like apple puree. So it looks cute, but it wouldn’t be my first (or second or third) choice for a snack.

Apple and leaf(!) pie from Karasuno rivals

More appetizing is the Karasuno manju. They’ve updated it since two years ago, and this version has a cute crow shape and comes with bonus postcards!

Crow shaped manju!

With player stats on the side!

The majority of snacks my husband bought were sweet, but there is a savory one in the mix. Position snacks! Each box features one or two players with their stats on the side. Pretty cool in the package design department. As for the snacks themselves, well… they kind of taste like a barbeque-ish version of the corn puffs from the Karasuno chocolate flavored corn puffs.

Position Snacks!

And finally, what all shonen like to eat: curry! I don’t know what makes it cafe curry or why the rival cats and owls got put together, but it still makes a nice visual on the box.

Nekoma and Fukurodani curry!

By the way, as part of the Jump Shop promotion, customers received a Haikyu!! sticker per a certain amount spent. Because of that, my husband and I now have more stickers than we know what to do with.

Jump Shop promotion Haikyu!! stickers

Next up: Not Haikyu!! but still cool.