The Hanshin Tigers have a magic number of 1, and are well on their way to clinching their first pennant in 18 years. A win (or a Hiroshima Carp loss) tonight is all they need (though they have 15 games after this one, in case it does not work out). Given the fans’ history of rowdy behavior in pennant years, the police in Osaka and Hyogo have prepared for this night and say they are ready. After what happened in Itaewon, South Korea last year during Halloween parties (159 people died in the overcrowded streets), police have taken precautionary measures in the Minami area of Osaka, centering around the infamous Ebisu Bridge. There will be approximately 1300 officers on guard tonight as the Tigers host the Yomiuri Giants at Koshien Stadium (6:00 pm start).
The Ebisu Bridge is a famous gathering area for people, and has seen its share of celebrating. People have celebrated Halloween, New Year’s Eve, and World Cup Soccer there, not to mention the Hanshin Tigers’ victories. Most infamously, in 1985, fans sang cheer songs for all the players, jumping into the river after each one. They also threw a Colonel Sanders statue in after singing Randy Bass’ song… and a curse was born. In 2003, when the team won the Central League pennant for the first time in 18 years, 5,300 people jumped into the Dotombori Canal, resulting in one death. Two years later, when the team won again, that number went down to 55.
Nevertheless, there will be a large sheet blocking the view (and jumping access) to the river tonight. There are signs in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and English, warning people about the dangers. Depending on the circumstances, they may even temporarily restrict pedestrian traffic on the bridge. The police will also be observing fan behavior from the upper levels of tall buildings to help alert their co-workers at ground level of potentially dangerous activity. Thievery, groping, and other felonies/crimes often occur in crowds such as these, and people need to be careful, police warn.
The police have been planning for this day, they say, since the end of Golden Week (early May). One representative confidently said, “We’ve been making these preparations for months, because we felt like if the team continued to play as they were at that time, this could be the year. We have had plans in place so that no matter when they clinch, we will be ready.”
Even shops in the area are taking measures. Kushikatsu Daruma and Kani Doraku both normally have statues outside their shops, but will bring them inside to prevent fans from being tempted to pilfer them and toss them in the river. They may even shut down. The nearest Family Mart to the canal has also placed a sign on its doors saying that it will be closed for business the evening that Hanshin clinches.
Some fans have tempered their hopes, though. They have been snake-bitten too many times in the past to believe the pennant is a guarantee. The most recent was in 2021, but two men walking around Ebisu Bridge yesterday chimed in with their feelings. Said one in his 50s: “I still don’t believe it, despite the magic number being 3.” A man in his 60s said, “We’ve been betrayed too many times in the past.”
That said, no matter how fans are feeling now, it will all be turned to jubilant joy soon. Be ready, Hanshin fans. A.R.E. is just a win away.