“Take me out to the yakyuu game… buy me some kimchi and dumplings…” Sports is a major driver of tourism and with the Major League Baseball season having opened this week in Japan with the Dodgers and Cubs kicking off in Tokyo, early morning TV viewers got a rare glimpse of the game far from the fields – and culture – of North America.

So, what does a game in Japan look like?

For starters, baseball in Japan is called “yakyuu” (field ball) in Japanese and it carries more of a rock-concert vibe than its American cousin. You don’t see the following routinely in North America.

In the Tokyo Dome, young women carry beer kegs on their backs, drawing a cold draft while you’re seated watching the game. Fans are clearly more animated. Even elderly men come with a glove – just in case. And chopsticks are in use as fans watching the game snack on noodles or a rice dish.

The food selection at the concession stands is mostly Asian, but popcorn and beer are plentiful. You can even buy a version of Cracker Jack.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he played baseball in Puerto Rico and Mexico and suggested the Japanese game and the Latin American game were linked.

“I would say the similarity is the passion from the fans. I think in Tokyo it’s a little more controlled emotion, chaos.”

Where in Latin America, playing winter ball — in the best possible way – it’s chaotic and a lot of passion.”

“It’s definitely close,” Dodgers Venezuelan shortstop Miguel Rojas said. “They enjoy the game a little bit different than the United States. This is the closest thing you will find (to Latin America).”

Dodgers teammate Kike Hernandez, a Puerto Rican, drew a deft comparison.

“When it comes to just culture as it is, the Latin culture and Japanese culture can’t be more far apart from each other,” he said. “But when it comes to the passion and the way that fans enjoy the game – it’s the closest thing to it.”

The food selection in the Tokyo Dome is all-world. And the food prices fall in the reasonable range, though the portions are probably smaller.

The food prices are a sharp contrast to the fact that a ticket for the Dodgers-Cubs series was selling on the secondary market in the US$2,000-$8,000 range. At least one ticket was being advertised for $10,000.

A large draft beer in the food concourse was about 900 yen or US$6. A double-cheese hot dog will set you back 1,000 yen, about $6.50.

For eats, there’s kimchi noodles, garlic-pepper chicken, Japanese-style dumplings and dozens of other choices. A pita sandwich will set you back about 1,300 yen – $8.50. Add to this many ballpark staples – pizza, fries and soft-serve ice cream.

“So, it’s root, root, root for the home team/ I don’t care if I ever get back!”

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