baseball: keio vs waseda

Imagine RHUL vs UCL. Times 10. Times 100. Keio and Waseda University are archrivals since forever and the baseball game (twice a year) between the schools is a huge thing. To begin with, baseball here is something like college basketball in the U.S. They broadcast the games on TV and stuff. And today was the big day. Actually, yesterday was the big day #1. See, they play the teams twice in one weekend, and there has to be a decision. For example, Waseda won yesterday and if Keio would win today, they'd go at it again tomorrow (which would mean all classes cancelled!).

The arena

I've never ever in my entire life watched baseball before, and had no idea about the rules except that they are similar to Swedish brännboll. Of course now I am an expert. At the end of the 8th inning I'd figured out the scoreboard and what would give us points (with help from Canadian friends) and all of a sudden it got exciting! Keio was down 3-2 for the last inning and still had a chance to win, but because of silly, silly mistakes they lost by 4-2 in the end, and classes are all on tomorrow. Was a cool experience though, even if it really isn't an exciting sport. The game took well over 3 hours and was largely a coordination workout with the cheerleaders chanting more or less all the time, having us clap and shout the names of the players. And whenever Keio scored, there was a special dance where the rows of people would hold around each other's shoulders and sway with the music. The kind of cuteness only the Japanese can do.

Very sad we lost, however (and not just because of classes!), but Waseda won't win the league this year so at least there's that. Keio won it last year, but will end up 2nd I think this time around. Vengeance is mine, Waseda...(which so happens to be the title of the Japanese film I am now going to watch for class - Smooth Transition, you are my bitch).

Jo x