The Tigers boast what is arguably the most passionate fanbase in the world. There’s a foreigner who has found himself completely entranced in all that makes the Tigers attractive. How did he get interested in the Tigers? Why does he keep on rooting for them? We took a look at the daily life of this foreigner who is sharing Tigers information with people all around the world.
Cheering at Koshien is the best. Over 50 pieces of merch in his “Tigers Room”
Canadian Trevor Raichura first entered Koshien Stadium 11 years ago. (Translator’s note: It was actually 8 years ago.) Since then, he has been captivated by the Tigers.
Trevor: I love the way Japanese baseball has such passionate fan support. I think Koshien is probably number one in that regard.
Trevor lives in Koshien’s backyard, Nishinomiya City. He has been in Japan for 24 years, and is married with two sons, 9 and 6 years old.
He showed us around the “Tigers Room” in his house, taking out one uniform after another, and a lot of Tigers merchandise numbering over 50. (Translator’s note: Again, there IS no Tigers Room, and I did not show them around… I told them that I have merchandise to send to fans living overseas, but do not myself have a collection of stuff.)
And looking at his bookshelf, it is clear he loves the Tigers. He has a whole bunch of books about the team’s history.
His favorite bit of merchandise is this particular uniform, which he proudly showed us.
Trevor: It says ‘Gaijins’ across the top. I put an S on the word gaijin (foreigner) to pluralize it. And I’ve got the numbers of every import position player that has been on the team since I became a fan.
And just who is this super passionate member of the Tigers Nation cheering for lately?
Trevor: Teruaki Sato for sure. Number 8. I mean, when such an outstanding athlete joins the team, I can’t help but root for him. Last year on the hero’s podium, he said, “This is the year we win the pennant.” I mean, in your first year, if you’re saying “This is the year” there has to be some meaning to it. I think he knows what we fans have been through and how long we’ve been waiting for a championship. That sealed the deal for me.
Even in the classroom, he talks Tigers!
His day job sees him standing in front of classes at Ritsumeikan University teaching English. But even there, he’s getting students’ attention by talking about the Hanshin Tigers.
(Trevor in the classroom)
I really like the Hanshin Tigers. I fell in love with this team and with this stadium and with its fans.
And between classes, he’s got the Tigers on his mind, too. (Translator’s note: The TV show planted these newspapers in the staff room.) He looked at the sports newspapers that mentioned the news of the hiring of a new team manager…
Trevor: Okada, eh? I’m surprised. But at the same time, I’m happy. I expect him to do well.
Invited to Koshien by co-workers and getting obsessed with the Tigers
But why did he fall in love with the team to this extent? We asked him what sparked it all.
Trevor: In the teachers’ room, I always heard my co-workers talking about the Tigers. We also had sports newspapers in there, so I was constantly seeing and hearing about the Tigers and thought, “I should go to Koshien and check them out for myself.”
Invited by co-workers (Translator’s note: NO! By my wife!), he went to Koshien Stadium for the first time. He was shocked (in a good way) by what he saw, and before he knew it, he became obsessed with the team.
A co-worker: Of course, I know Mr. Raichura loves the Tigers. I have been to a few games with him. (Translator’s note: No, he hasn’t. He said he has been to a few games… he did not say they were with me!)
Receiving thanks from Messenger’s family, among others, for reporting on games in English!?
Trevor’s love for the Tigers is quite strong. He started a website around 8 years ago as a hobby. Its name: Hanshin Tigers English News.
He gives reports on the game results of all 143 games, posts the players’ stats, and every game, he also lists his personal “Player of the Game” – literally keeping up with specialized sports magazines. In fact, one sports paper took notice of this and offered him a chance to write a column about his ‘foreign’ views on Japanese baseball and the Tigers.
And all his work has had unexpected repercussions.
Trevor: The first response I got was from Randy Messenger‘s mom.
That’s right – the mother of big-name former Hanshin pitcher Randy Messenger dropped him a comment.
He has also gotten messages from others, such as Aaron Wilkerson’s wife, Hannah, and Joe Gunkel’s wife, Megan. The information he dispenses is very important to the families of the import players, and the number of people who look forward to his articles has increased every year.
Asked if this work is an annoyance at times, Trevor said: It is, it definitely is. Like at the start of this season, when the team only won 4 of its first 25 games. I was like, “Who even wants to read what I am writing if the team is doing nothing but losing?” And yet I find myself continuing to do it because not only do I like the Tigers, but I want to be useful and helpful to other people in the community. That is the biggest thing that keeps me going.
Everyone cheering in unison paints an apt picture of life in Japan
The Tigers were still battling hard for a spot in the postseason towards the end of the year. On September 20th, Trevor was at Koshien Stadium to watch an important game between the Tigers and the 2nd-place Yokohama DeNA Baystars.
In the top of the first, the Tigers quickly allowed the first run of the game.
Trevor: That was a fat pitch. But we’ll be OK. No worries.
After that, the team looked for a way to get back into the game. By the way, the Tigers are known for their fans being crazy when cheering for the players…
Trevor: I just realized something. For the past three years, I have really struggled to remember the cheer songs.
Though restrictions are slowly loosening, fans still need to wear masks, and are not allowed to sing the songs aloud at the stadium.
Trevor: I feel like the fans cheering together as one is really quite symbolic of Japan as a whole. I really can’t wait for Japan to be able to cheer loudly at games again, like they are now able to in stadiums overseas.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Hanshin succeeded in turning the tables on the Baystars, taking a 3-2 lead. Then, Trevor’s favorite hitter Sato hit a broken-bat RBI single, extending the lead. But the joyful feeling did not last long as the Tigers’ pitching could not hold the lead, and in the end, the team lost 5-4.
Life isn’t all victories all the time… Hanshin is a lot like life
Things seem to be going well, but then they don’t. It could be said that the reason he keeps cheering for the Tigers boils down to this.
Trevor: Life is not pennant after pennant, championship after championship. There are good times, but there also bad times. I feel like Hanshin fandom is a lot like life itself. But I wish there were a few more victories – in life and for Hanshin.
Because there are hard times, the good times feel doubly sweet. The team’s quest for a Japan Series championship continues.