Friday Night Baseball

Everyone at work was waiting for the bell to ring at 5:30, the start of the 1 week summer vacation. Hot and humid, everyone sweaty and a little smelly, last-minute questions of where are you going, then yeah, I remember I already asked you last week. Most people took off right away, and I took the subway to meet Bill at Tokyo Dome. The area around it is very futuristic and a great attraction. The complex has a big hotel, a spa, a ferris wheel and roller coasters, and is hard to describe, but pretty futuristic. http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/map/
Met Bill and we went to a 7-11 and stuffed our bags with beer cans. Cans aren't allowed in, so they have ladies in the entranceway who pour your beers into paper cups.

Bill's seats were season tickets that were courtesy of the US Embassy, so they were right behind home plate, which was great. We didn't watch much of the game, especially since Tokyo Giants' star players (Kiyohara, Tuffy Rhodes, etc.) weren't in the lineup and the din of mindless mass cheering, as if even the game is secondary to the shouting. Mostly we caught up on news and chatted, and watched the concession ladies (they're all young girls in neon uniforms) as they walked by. Most have mini kegs attached to their backs and pour 800yen beers in seconds. Picture highlights are the star of David at the entrance with Chagall images, and a KFC chicken ring snack...