If you were to head out of Koshien directly behind the museum entrance, you will see a shopping mall called Lalaport Koshien. Follow the road south past Lalaport, and on the same side of the road, you will come across this shop:
Its name says タイガースグッズ、虎虎. The first part is easy – Tigers Goods. The second part is read “Tora Tora” (Tiger Tiger). The shop is full of yellow and black merchandise… ever wonder where people get those huge baggy pants with all the slogans/stitch-ons on them? This would be one of those shops. They’ve got a whole wall of iron-on patches so you can customize your jersey in any way you could possibly desire.
The shop has apparently been around since the mid-1980s, but moved to its present location sometime around 2005. They have relics from the past but also get new stock in frequently. If you buy your jersey at the shop, or bring in a “fan club” jersey given out by the team, the pressing fee is waived. If you have a different jersey, or bring in your own iron-on patches, there is a pressing charge, but it’s not too bad if you only have a few. Here are some examples of jerseys they can make.
First up, the Zorny special. He saw this one hanging outside their shop and said, “I want THAT!” So after he bought a jersey that fit him (the display model was clearly too small), the ladies pieced it together on his shirt in a matter of minutes, and he was able to wear it to the Tigers-Giants game that very night!
And then we’ve got the T-Ray original, which is an homage to every import hitter the team has employed since his fandom started back in 2014. The ladies at the shop helped with making it look the way it does, adding in flames and stars. There could be extra accessorizing on this jersey in the future, too! And you can be assured that it will all get done at this shop!
If you get to Koshien Stadium early, take a short walk down the road and see if you can find something extra to wear at the game. Yes, you too can add to the notoriety of crazed Hanshin fans!