According to Tokyo Shoko Research, the sixth company to declare bankruptcy in direct correlation to the spread of COVID-19 in the Tokyo area was toymaker Marusa Saito Gom Co, Ltd (Sumida Ward), manufacturers of rubber balloons sold at convenience stores, supermarkets and large retailers. Not only has it become increasingly difficult to receive materials and supplies from China and Southeast Asia, but the postponement of events nationwide have all but squelched demand for the company’s products. The company filed for bankruptcy on April 6 at a Tokyo court with a reported debt of ¥200 million.
In a similar way, all rubber balloon makers nationwide face dire circumstances moving forward. Jet balloon launches have become a regular part of cheering at professional baseball games, but the season has yet to start due to the spread of coronavirus.
As you may know, fans at many NPB stadiums perform a jet balloon launch before the bottom of the seventh inning, called the “Lucky 7.”
The first balloon launch was performed by Hiroshima Carp fans, but it became a common occurrence among Hanshin Tigers fans in 1985, the year they won the Japan Series. Around 2000, other teams started to launch balloons as well, and the balloons are now official team merchandise (for Hanshin’s balloons, ¥220 will get you 4).
At present, nine clubs sell their own jet balloons: all six Pacific League teams, plus Hanshin, Hiroshima and DeNA. Balloon makers in Tokyo and Osaka supply for all teams.
“The greatest consumers are Hanshin Tigers fans at Koshien Stadium. When fifty thousand people hold the balloons in both hands before the bottom of the seventh, and then send more flying after games they win, sales are in excess of ¥10 million for one game.” (PR company representative)
Unfortunately, the season has not yet started and a date has not even been set, and the balloons were even banned at exhibition games back in February.
“The thinking is that people will fear that the saliva in the balloons could rain down on them, causing ‘spray infection.’ It only makes sense that a lot of the media at stadiums like Koshien Stadium, where press boxes are behind home plate, leave their seats and seek shelter from the balloon launches near the vendors on the concourse during the 7th inning stretch. With coronavirus, the balloon launches will surely get people’s attention again, and some people have never particularly appreciated them. People are going to be sensitive to the virus when baseball resumes, and no one is going to want other people’s saliva raining down on them. Seems natural that there will be no more balloons launched this season, and maybe even ever.” (Anonymous sportswriter)
How this situation gets dealt with moving forward could very well affect the health of balloon makers, but also threatens to render one of the charms of NPB fandom extinct.