Osaka erupted on Sunday night as Hanshin Tigers fans celebrated the end of a 38-year title drought after their club concluded a thrilling Japan Series with a 7-1 drubbing of the Orix Buffaloes.
The city’s Namba district was the nexus of the excitement, with the club’s famously boisterous fans taking to the streets of the nightlife area to sing, dance and perhaps take a dip in the Dotonbori canal.
But many didn’t get close to the waterway.
A heavy police presence made sure that, for the most part, incidents after past Tigers’ successes — including celebrations in 1985 that saw fans throw a statue of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders into the river — would not be repeated.
Hundreds of police officers carrying megaphones and blowing whistles lined the Ebisu bridge and Midosuji avenue, shepherding revelers away from pathways near the canal and other congested areas. Partitions were set up along bridges to ensure most couldn’t even get more than a glimpse of the water.
Still, NHK reported that, as of 12:00 a.m. Monday, 37 people had jumped in, with no injuries reported. Altogether the Osaka Prefectural Police dispatched 1,300 officers, the broadcaster said, including some on patrol boats.
A man who appears to be dressed as Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders jumps into the Dotonbori canal in Osaka on Sunday night.
| Kyodo
Several groups of fans took on the roles of ouendan (cheer squad) captains, leading renditions of the team’s fight song “Rokko Oroshi” and starting up individual cheers for each player.
The Tigers’ only previous Japan Series title came in 1985, and both long-suffering and relatively new fans were all-too-keen to celebrate the end of the drought.
Tigers fan James Nicol, sporting the No. 7 jersey of Game 7 hero Sheldon Neuse, proved to be particularly popular with his fellow Hanshin faithful and joined a group as they belted out the American outfielder’s cheer song.
“I’ve only had (the jersey) for a couple of days,” he said. “This is going up in value man I tell you. They’re going to fly off the shelves now.”
Osaka Prefectural Police dispatched hundreds of officers to the city’s Namba district for crowd control after the Hanshin Tigers won the Japan Series on Sunday.
| Kyodo
Nicol may not have waited as long as others to see Hanshin win a championship, but as a 15-year fan, it was long enough.
“It’s a relief. It’s like a big weight has lifted off the Tigers’ shoulders,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.”
Martin Rudd falls on the other end of the spectrum, having moved to Osaka just last year and catching the baseball bug after taking in a game at historic Koshien Stadium.
“I picked a good time,” he said. “I think I’m the lucky charm.”