Most of us are not native Japanese speakers, not born and raised in the Kansai area, and Hanshin is not our default culture. Many of us grew up watching or playing a sport other than baseball, and yet here we are, obsessed with the Hanshin Tigers. These are stories of how some of you became fans of the team.
Henry – Adelaide, Australia
Australians, unfortunately, have little interest in baseball. That included me up until February 2016 when my girlfriend convinced me to take a break from University and make the big move from Australia to her family’s home in countryside Ehime.
Aside for general pleasantries, I really struggled to make any sort of connections with her family for the first couple of months as my Japanese language knowledge was absolutely zero.
A couple of months into living in Japan, I followed my usual routine of finishing my morning’s employment, driving home, eating lunch and quietly heading upstairs to study. One afternoon, I was startled by a knocking on my bedroom door. My girlfriend wasn’t due home for another couple hours so I really had no idea as to who it might be. On the other side of the door I was greeted by her grandfather. He started talking to me in Japanese but soon realised that everything he said was going straight over my head and instead gestured for me to follow him downstairs. He led me into the television room where he had prepared an icy cold can of Asahi for me and a couple bags of snacks. Pointing to the television, he asked “ 野球を見る?” (Yakyu wo miru? = Wanna watch some baseball?)
From that point onward we spent hours together on the lounge while watching game after game. He taught me all about the ins and outs of baseball and his favourite team, the Hanshin Tigers. Don’t tell my girlfriend, but the hours spent with him are some of my fondest memories of Japan.
Moving back to Australia in late 2017, I was pleasantly surprised how easily accessible watching games here is. I think we have had a reasonable start to the season and hope to see the team carrying on strong.
I’ve learnt a lot about baseball in the past couple of years, but I am no expert… hell, I can count the games I’ve been to live on one hand, but something about Hanshin has been stuck in my heart and mind and I’ll keep supporting them whenever I can, wherever I may be.
B.K. – Osaka, Japan
Growing up in Michigan, I was a big baseball fan and have supported and followed the Detroit Tigers for over 40 years. When I moved to Osaka three years ago, it was a choice between Orix and Hanshin, so the nickname connection made it natural to cheer for the Hanshin Tigers. The tradition and festive atmosphere at Koshien Stadium sealed the deal for me.
There is also a strong parallel between the Tigers of Detroit and Hanshin. The last World Series title for Detroit was my senior year of high school in the autumn of 1984. The last Japan Series title for Hanshin was 1985. Waiting 30 years for another title is something I am used to, so I hold out hope for both Tigers to win a title in my lifetime. Every April, there is always hope and I always think that this will be the year…
S.J.M. – United Kingdom
I first became a Hanshin fan in 2006. I was working in a Japanese school in Okayama Prefecture and was strongly encouraged by the ‘kyoto-sensei’ (vice principal) to support the Tigers. I followed the next two seasons, and continued to watch when I moved to South Korea, and then back home to the UK.
I’ve always been inspired by the passion of the Hanshin fans, and Rokko Oroshi was the first Japanese song I learnt to sing at karaoke – on a recent return trip to Japan I enjoyed singing it with people I’d last met ten years ago! On the team I first followed, I always had a soft spot for lead-off hitter Norihiro Akahoshi, as well as occasional pinch hitter Keisuke Kanoh (who never got as much game time as I think he deserved!). On the current team, Randy Messenger has been a great servant to the team over the last few seasons. I never got to attend as many Hanshin games as I would have liked, but I did see a ‘sayonara’ home run win against the Swallows at Koshien – the score was 6-5, on the 30th April 2008. I’ll remember that score and date forever!
Sean – USA
I became a Hanshin fan 3 years ago. I was up late one night and missing Japan (I had been there 2 times already and was trying to plan a trip back) and I was thinking of the time I saw a ton of Hanshin tigers fans coming out of a bar in Tokyo one night. They seemed so energized, so happy, I needed to find out why. After researching the history of Hanshin Tigers, and how dedicated their fans were and are year after year I was hooked.
I’m an Orioles fan and that can be heartbreaking every year, but even when the Tigers lose, there is a pride I feel, a feeling that no matter what we will keep fighting. While it may be a bit typical, Messenger is my favorite, the way he keeps battling, even after loss, after injury… to me that’s the Tigers fighting spirit, the baseball spirit, and most of all, the human spirit. オウ オウ オウオウ 阪神タイガース！フレフレフレフレ!!
Thanks to these four for entering the NPB English Media Guide contest. H-TEN would love to hear your story, too. If you would like to share your story with us, feel free to send it by e-mail. And if you have a picture of yourself at the stadium or something, send that our way, too! Once we’ve collected a few more, we will do another posting of fans’ stories.