Lions is the Asia Champion for '08

The Saitama Seibu Lions crinched their first Asia Series title yesterday with Tomoaki Satoh' s game winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Taiwan's Uni Lions. The final score was 1-0. Hideaki Wakui pitched 6 and 2/3 strong innings. Home Plate umpire, whom from KBO, ruled many calls for a favor to Japan's Saitama Seibu Lions. In the bottom of the ninth inning, he didn't call a strike at the at bat of Yoshihito Ishii when it looked like the inning ending strike out ball. After that, Ishii got a walk; then, he scored the game winning run from the first base.

When and the after the ceremony, both Lions teams greeted each other. It was a really good scene. Taiwan's Lions got a many cheer and a standing ovation from even the Japanese Lions fans in the Tokyo Dome. That was really good emotional feeling. I believe the Asia Series is really great international event. I think the Ashia Series is an more important international event than tax money wasting Olympics.

Cheese Dogs & Mentai Mayo Dog(明太マヨドッグ）

Yakitori(Grilled Chicken Stick)

9回裏の石井義人の一塁からの激走で、埼玉西武ライオンズが決勝で台湾の統一ライオンズを１－０で下し、アジアシリーズ・チャンピオンになりました。この日は涌井が先発。6回3分の2を好投しました。この日の主審は韓国リーグの審判が勤めたのですが、終始日本よりの判定をしてました。9回裏の石井義人の打席でもあきらかにストライクのところをボールと判定。結果的に、これが勝敗の行方を左右しました。それでも、素晴らしいゲームだったことに違いはありません。試合終了後のセレモニーでは、両チームの健闘に対しドーム中のファンから温かい拍手が送られました。優勝した日本のライオンズに送られた声援はもちろん、敗れはしたものの善戦した台湾チームに送られた拍手にも感動しました。アジア・シリーズって、非常に素晴らしい国際大会だと思いました。アジア・シリーズが東京にはあるから、税金無駄使いのオリンピックなんか東京にいらねぇよ！と、思いました。

Lazy Day & Late Night Yose at Shinjuku Suehirotei

I had done nothing yesterday. I did nothing. I tried to have no stress for a day. And, I did it!! I ordered the Hot Hokkaido Potato Gratin Pizza from PIZZA-LA. I love pizzas. I also love cheese and gratin. It was really good combination of cheese and gratin. Some of Pizzas in Japan uses Mayonnaise for the Pizza sauce. This is one of them. It's really good for me. I think I can say that the pizzas with Mayo is Japanese Style Pizza.

Outside of Shinjuku Suehirotei

At the night, I went to "Rakugo” at the Shinjuku Seuehirotei. Every saturday night from 9:30-11:00 p.m., there's "Shinya-Yose" at there. You can watch Rakugo, traditional Japanese verbal entertainment show, for just only 500yen($5-). You can usually watch & hear 4 stories at the night. Rakugo-ka(lone story tellar), who gives a performance at the "Shinya-Yose" is considered as a younger, unexperienced, or not famous. Even though they are not that famous, it means nothing to me. Some of them are really great. They give me good laugh. Rakugo has two story types. They are "Koten Rakugo," or "Shinsaku Rakugo." "Koten Rakugo" is a traditional story, which is even from Edo Period (400 years ago). "Shinsaku Rakugo" is a new and original story, which written by the Rakugo-ka. Tonight's Hayashiya Kikumaro did a really great "Shinsaku Rakugo." It was about un-lawful bicycle parking in Setagaya ward. That's really funny. Katsura Saishi's "Koten Rakugo" about beautiful women make three men cry in their lives was good one too.

Inside of Shinjuku Suehirotei

After the Rakugo, I usually go to Japanese style standing bar. Suehirotei locates at the area(Shinjuku 3cho-me), which consists of many kinds of bar especially famous for standing bar. I had a glass of beer and a dish of pork oden(picture below).

Pork Oden

昨日は、久々に何もしませんでした。ホント,意識してストレスなしで過した一日でした。ピザーラからあつあつ北海道ポテトのグラタンピザを注文しました。ピザが大好物なうえに、チーズもグラタンも大好きな僕には最高の組み合わせでした。このピザのソースはマヨネーズソースですが、これは日本のピザにしかないソースだと思います。

夜は、新宿末広亭で深夜寄席を見ました。深夜寄席は毎週土曜日の夜9時半から11時まで行われていて、木戸銭わずか500円で4つの落語が聞けます（稀に内ひとつが講談の時も）。自分は落語について詳しくはありませんが、とても楽しいものだと思います。深夜寄席に登場するのは二つ目にあたる落語家のようで、いわゆる有名でなく機会に恵まれない若手ですかね。けれど、真打もいいですけど、噺家がおもしろいかどうかに家柄や階級は関係ないわけで、二つ目でも良いものは良いです。昨夜は、古今亭ちよりん（女性）、桂才紫、林家きく麿、柳家右太楼の4人でした。桂才紫の古典落語も良かったですが、何と言っても林家きく麿の新作落語が可笑しかったですね。タイトルは分かりませんが、世田谷区の違法駐輪自転車の管理に関わる人たちというおバカな内容で笑いっぱなしでした。古典落語も大切ですが、こういう新作落語ももっともっと評価されないとダメですね。

末広亭は新宿三丁目に位置していて、このエリアは居酒屋やバー、特に立ち飲み屋が多いエリアです。深夜寄席が終わった後は、立ち飲み屋で一杯飲んで帰るようにしているのですが、今回はビール一杯と豚肉のおでんを食べて帰りました。立ち飲み屋の良い所は安くておいしいところで、プレミアム・モルツがグラス一杯400円。それにおでんの盛り合わせも400円でした。安くておいしいんだから、もっと食べて飲んでも良かったなと思いつつ、食べすぎ飲みすぎも体に悪いのですぐに帰りました。

Kishi Got a Win in a Asia Series Game

Since his complete game shout out in Japan Series, Takayuki Kishi has been established himself as one of Japan' s top pitcher. To me, he ranks as same pitcher as Darvish Yu. Last night, he pitched another great ball game for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He allowed just five hits and one earned run in eight strong innings against Taiwan's Uni Lions at the Tokyo Dome. Saitama Seibu beat Uni 2-1.

Takayuki Kishi
I watched this game from the back of the Home Plate at the Upper Seat. It was part of the General Admission(2,000yen). It's really great view with good seats. You can even find out what kinds of pitches a pitcher throws. This area has a steep slope. That may make you little bit scary at first; but, you'll be ok after an inning. This area is actually Season Ticket Holder Seats for the Giants Game. Unless you're Season Ticket Holder, you cannot watch the game from there. It's cheap during the Asia Series; so, I recommend this area for watch the series.

Cheese Dog
I ate two kinds of Hot Dogs last night. I believe the Cheese Dog(420yen) is the best food in Tokyo Dome. Concession foods in Tokyo Dome are not that good; however, their Hot Dogs are different story. While Yokohama Stadium's Bay Dog uses Wisconsin's Johnsonville Sausage(The Best Sausage Brand in the World), Tokyo Dome's Cheese Dog is really good. Even though Tokyo Dome's Sausage is not Johnsonville, its melting cheese makes this stadium's dog really special. I also ate the Dog with chopped and grilled onions and Hunny Masterd on it(440yen).

Pari Pari Onion To Hunny Masturd Dog (Chopped & Grilled Onion with Hunny Masturd on the Dog)

日本シリーズでの完封以来、埼玉西武ライオンズの岸は日本のトップ・クラスのピッチャーになったと言ってもいいのではないでしょうか。ファイターズのダルビッシュと並び称されるべき投手になったと思います。アジアシリーズでの初先発となった統一ライオンズ戦でも1点は失ったものの、抜群の安定感で勝利投手になりました。

この日は自由席券を購入し、2階席のバックネット裏で見ました。なかなか見ごたえのある良い席です。投手の球種が良く分かるし。ただ、前の方だとちょっと傾斜がキツイのが最初は怖いですが、慣れれば平気になります。この席は巨人戦だと年間予約席なので、なかなかチケットを手に入れる機会がない所です。アジアシリーズでは2,000円と比較的安い値段設定なので、お勧めの席です。

今日のスタジアム・フードは東京ドームでは一番おいしいチーズ・ドッグ（420円）。それにパリパリオニオンとハニーマスタード・ドッグ（440円）です。

LIONS is THE JAPAN CHAMPION for '08

Finally, Saitama Seibu Lions is the Japan Champion for 2008 season! What a wonderful season for the Lions! I am really happy to see the Lions winning the Japan Series in Game 7 since I know what had happened a lot last season. Since I am Kaz Ishii fan, I have become Lions fan after he had decided to move to Saitama from Tokyo. His choice and mine were really good one. I had really good experience as Lions fan in this season! I had really great time and great foods at Seibu Dome! Now, we are going to challenge the Asia Series!

ついに、ライオンズが日本シリーズ優勝を飾りました。ホントにうれしいです。自分は石井一久ファンなので、彼がスワローズからライオンズに移籍したと同時にライオンズのファンになりましたが、最高の形で報われました。今年は、ホントに西武ドームでたくさん楽しみましたし、ライオンズファンになってホントに良かったと思いました！たくさん、おいしい物も食べましたし。

The score of the only game(Game 4) I had atended for 2008 Japan Series.

Guess who's coming to the talk show? あなたはだぁれ?

My sister told me that the Gakusyuuin University(Mejiro area of Tokyo) would have a talk show on their Pyramid Building, which appears on one episode of "Ultra Seven." "Ultra Seven" is a Japanese Sci-Fi show for Children, and I am big fan of it. The building itself(the picture of a miniature below with the Arien Prote)was torn down in this January.When I checked about it on the web, they said it's a free of charge and had two stages.
In the first half, university's guest researcher would talk about his memoir about that building and the college facilities. I thought "poor guy! He cannot even hold real position at there. He must have been struggling financially. I don't wanna hear his boring story. I just want to hear the talk show(2nd half) of Kazuho Mitusta (the director of "Ultra Seven" ) and see the episode on the big screen." The web said I must attend both part of the show; so, I decided to go to sleep in the 1st half of the show. When I got there, they gave me a paper that had some guy's name from the Japanese Emperor family on it. I didn't know who this was. I guessed some unimportant guy would give us boring history of his own. Faces of audience were little bit strange. I knew there must'd been some weird Sci-Fi freaks. I was right about it; then, there're some little children with parents. That's OK for a "Ultra Seven" show that including Ultra Seven himself as a special guest; but, there're many audiences who wore suits and all. That was strange to me, 'cause the show is talking about a just a historical building, which appeared on the Children Show. I didn't understand why they were wearing that kind of clothing. I mean the theme of the show was Children's TV show. Most of the audience should be children with parents and freaky Sci-Fi fans. It's ridiculous to wear a suit. I was dead wrong. The speaker for the first half of the show was Japanese Prince Norihito, the next Emperor of Japan. I was so panicked, 'cause I didn't understand what's going on out there. Instead of sleeping, I listened, with respect, everything the Prince said. What I really suprised was that the Prince stayed the entire show after his speech. He even watched an episode of "Ultra Seven."

Ultra Seven and the back of the Japanese Prince and Kazuho Mitsuta
ウルトラセブン第29話”ひとりぼっちの地球人”に学習院大学の有名なピラミッド校舎が出てきます。校舎（一番上の食玩の写真のプロテ星人の前にあるのがそれです）はもう取り壊されたのですが、それを懐かしんで学習院大学で無料のトーク・ショーがあると妹が教えてくれたので行ってきました。この作品を監督した満田かずほ監督のトークの後、ビッグ・スクリーンでウルトラセブンの鑑賞会という事だったのですが、よく調べるとその前に学習院大学の客員研究生のスピーチがあるとの事。今どき、正研究員にもなれないような経済的にも貧しそうでかわいそうな人の、ピラミッド校舎に関する思い出話を1時間近く聞かせられなければならんのかと思うとイヤでした。その研究生のスピーチの時は眠ればいいやと思いながら会場に入ると、やはり親子連れとキモい特撮オタクっぽい人たちが多く見受けられました。が、観客の中に妙にきちんとしたみなりの人たちが多くいるのに気付き、変だなぁと思っていました。だって、今日のメインはウルトラセブンですよ。会場にも、今日のスペシャル・ゲストはウルトラセブンて、子供たちが群がりそうな事が書いてあったし・・・。会場で渡された紙に、何でか皇族の名前が書いてありました。どうせ、自分の知らない皇族が学習院の思い出を語るのかと思って待っていると、現れたのは皇太子その人でした。事情が全く理解できず呆然としていると、学習院の客員研究生である皇太子がスピーチを始めました。結局眠るどころか、皇太子の登場にあまりにも感激したので、彼の思い出話に聞き入ってしまいました。皇太子は、自分のスピーチの後も最後までショーにいて、ウルトラセブンを見ていました。感激したけど、皇太子の登場には腰を抜かすくらいビックリしました。

Last Sunday

Last Sunday, I went to Jingu Stadium for the first time in August. It was between Hanshin Tigers(Japan's most Poplular Team) and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. I got there 16:17 for 18:00 game. I needed to go there that early because I only have general admission ticket (All of reserved seats are sold out) and I and my buddies wanted to have seats on Tigers side. When I got there the gate was opened earlier than usual(16:30). 85% of Left field breacher seats were already filld with Tigers fans when I got there. Right field breacher seats for Swallows fans had only 100 people. It was bad weather. Some rain, some cloud. Even though that weather condition, I believed they would have game. Ryan Vogelsong was announced to start for the Tigers that night. I was so happy to be given the opportunity to see one of his starts. He wears No.4 on his Uniform. It was really cool to me wearing that number. Pitchers usually not to wear 1 digit numbers, and the Tigers has the history of great pitchers wearing No. 4. Around the game time, I went to get Raamen Noodle and Fried Octopus. Right after I got them, the game was cancelled.

Ryan Vogelsong in the outfield(L) and bullpen(R)
この前の日曜日の神宮でのタイガース戦は指定席が全部売り切れなうえ、外野自由の阪神側に座りたかったので、１６：３０の開門を目指して行ってみたら、１６：００に開門が早まったようで、すでにたくさんのタイガースファンでレフトは埋まってました。どうにか、こうにか、人数分の席を確保し、ビールで盛り上がっていると、試合開始が近づいてきました。僕のラーメンと連れのためにタコのから揚げを買いに行き、受取った直後、雨天中止がコールされました。１８：０５でした。せっかく、ボーグルソンが先発したのに・・・。