Original Article (also written by T-Ray) can be Found Here デイリースポーツの記事はこちら
There’s some validity to people boasting that the proof of their Hanshin Tigers fandom is in their fan club membership. But then, all that really requires is a few hundred yen a month, and if you attend enough games, your investment pays for itself through discounted tickets.
I would argue that proof of true fandom, albeit slightly overboard fandom, is in passing the Hanshin Tigers Proficiency Test. What? There’s such a thing, you ask? Welcome to Japan, my friend, land of certification tests. You can get qualifications in any number of subjects or topics, the most common of which are English (also known as eiken) and Chinese characters, or kanji (a.k.a. kanken).
Last December when I was first featured in a Daily Sports article, the journalist asked me if I had ever considered taking the Tigers test, also known as toraken. (For the record, it is officially endorsed by the club.) That was the first I’d heard of it, but after looking it up online and seeing that they have a sit-down test every September, I signed up as soon as I could locate the application form.
The test comes in three levels, each more difficult than the last, but I figured, “If I’m going to put down some money and actually make an attempt at this, I may as well go for the hardest one.” I mean, pass or fail, it makes for an interesting story, does it not?
Fast forward to test day. I have not had any time to study. How does one study for this test, anyways? The challenge before me: get 80 multiple-choice questions out of 100 right in 60 minutes. I’ll admit, some of the questions were pretty easy. Others, I knew because I’m a supernerd and have read dozens of books about the team. Still others, I could deduce based on reasoning. But there were some that had me completely stumped.
What types of questions were there, you ask? Let’s just say you had to know the team from nearly every angle: history, math, business, entertainment, geography, literature, fashion, and even health.
I’ll also say this: though I doubted myself throughout the test, wondering what I had gotten myself into, I also thoroughly enjoyed the process of reading questions, shaking my head at how little I really knew, and then somehow calming down and reasoning through which answer was the most plausible. Then choosing it, then doubting my choice, but still moving on to the next question, hoping to be right.
When I left the examination room with question booklet in hand, the staff handed me an answer key. I rushed home and excitedly checked my answers. Then counted my score. Then double-checked everything to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The result…
Eighty-two out of a hundred. I passed!
A month later, I received a certificate in the mail with my name on it, showing that I am in the exclusive club of top-level fans. I have a business-card-sized proof of passing. After confirming with the Tigers Proficiency Office, I discovered that I was the first and only foreigner to have attempted the test, which means I am also the only one to have passed it.
I’ll take the Tigers Proficiency Test as proof that I am a fan. Are you prepared for the challenge that lies ahead of you? Go on, prove your fandom. Take the toraken.