Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball

Mar 21, 2021

Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball

Baseball in Japan

Nippon Professional Baseball (playing a role similar to the USA’s MLB) consists of two leagues, the Central League (Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Hanshin Tigers, Chunichi Dragons, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and the Yomiuri Giants) and the Pacific League (Chiba Lotte Marines, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Orix Buffaloes, Saitama Seibu Lions, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles). There are two minor leagues as well, the Eastern and Western Leagues, respectively.

Japan’s baseball season begins in late March or early April with spring training. It continues with games almost daily, barring most Mondays, until October, when the annual playoffs called the “Climax Series” determine the teams (one from each league) that will compete for a shot at the national championship in the Japan Series.

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Following World War II, the Nippon Professional Baseball League underwent an expansion to create two separate regional leagues. In December of 1949, Hiroshima Prefecture established its own team as part of the city’s efforts to overcome the devastation of the atomic bombing. The team’s name comes, in part, from Hiroshima Castle, long called the Carp Castle, as well as referring to the fact that the Otagawa River that flows through Hiroshima City is famous for its carp.  The new team took its place in the equally new Central League, and from the beginning was a source of intense pride for the city’s residents.

Among connoisseurs of Japanese baseball, the Carp are considered a purist’s team. Following a shaky start with insufficient funding, few standout players, and a nasty losing streak, Hiroshima’s residents fought tooth and nail for their team, keeping it afloat with private donations in 1951 and barely weathering another crisis the following year when the Central League decided to merge the lowest-scoring team with another, reducing the number of its teams from seven to six. Hovering near the bottom of the NPB rankings, the Hiroshima Carp managed to survive thanks to local fans’ loyal support and the determination of its players. In 1968, Toyo Kogyo (now the Mazda Motor Corporation) became the largest shareholder in the team, and Hiroshima Carp changed its official name to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

Following the new name and sponsorship, the Toyo Carp became a Central League powerhouse with Japan Series championships in 1979, 1980, and 1984. From the early 1990s, there followed an agonizing stretch of years in which the team seemed cursed. But in the past several years, their fortunes have taken an upward turn, with an appearance (and ultimate defeat) in the 2016 Japan Series.

The 2020 season ended in disappointment for the Toyo Carp as they missed out on the playoffs after coming 5th in the Central League, with only Tokyo Yakult Swallows finishing below them. However, there was cheer for second-baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi after being awarded his eighth golden glove in a row after not committing a single error. There are hopes that the addition of MLB players first baseman Kevin Cron and right-hander Dovydas Neverauskas, captured from the Diamondbacks and Pirates, respectively, will revive fortunes in 2021.

MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium

These days, win or lose, attending a Carp game at the new Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (officially titled the MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium) is a great way to spend an afternoon and see Hiroshima at its best. With a capacity of 32,000, the stadium isn’t enormous, but the relative compactness of the ballpark only amplifies the energy generated by the team’s fans.

Labeled a “retro-classic” ballpark, nearly all the stadium’s seats offer excellent views of the field. Wherever you sit, you’ll find yourself surrounded by some of the most notoriously spirited fans in the country. A close-quarters, high-energy environment like this makes it impossible not to enter the spirit of the game, as Carp fans seem to cheer without pausing for breath. Fans have a specific chant for each player and, regardless of the score, the chant carries on long after the player has finished batting.

Even if you’re not a superfan, though, everyone loves a chance to catch a home run ball, and the stadium’s low outfield fences provide ample opportunities. Despite the addition of a high-tech scoreboard, the stadium’s old-fashioned charm, flawlessly maintained diamond, and the roaring, red sea of fans will win over all but the most jaded.

MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium

2 Chome-3-1 Minamikaniya, Minami Ward, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture 732-0803 (map)

mazdastadium.jp

Telephone: 082-568-2777

Games at the Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima in April 2021

The season kicked off on March 26, with the Carp hosting the Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers. In April, the series against the Tigers continues. Then, interspersed by away games, we will see the visits of reigning Central League Champions, Yomiuri Giants, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and Yokohama DeNA Baystars. 

April 1, vs. Hanshin Tigers. gates open at 16:00, game from 18:00.  

April 9, vs. Yomiuri Giants, gates open at 16:00, game from 18:00. 

April 10, vs. Yomiuri Giants, gates open at 12:00, game from 14:00. 

April 11, vs. Yomiuri Giants, gates open at 11:30, game from 13:30. 

April 20-22, vs. Tokyo Yakult Swallows, gates open at 16:00, game from 18:00. 

April 27-28, vs. Yokohama DeNA Baystars, gates open at 16:00, game from 18:00. 

April 29, vs. Yokohama DeNA Baystars, gates open at 12:00, game from 14:00. 

Buying Tickets

Tickets often sell out quickly, but it’s always worth checking, even at the last moment. You can purchase your tickets from the stadium directly or on the Carp’s official website, either pre-sale or the day of the game.

Since this process can seem overwhelming with all of the different seating options available, be sure to check out this page for a comprehensive guide. As mentioned previously, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house, but sometimes the volume of people in attendance makes it hard to secure a place with a group. This is especially true for the cheapest, non-reserved seat option, so be sure to arrive early!

Under Hiroshima Prefecture’s policy to prevent the coronavirus spread, the Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima is restricted to a maximum capacity of 50 percent (16,500 people), with all seats requiring reservations.

If you attend a Toyo Carp game, please be aware of their strict coronavirus prevention policy. All fans must wear a mask, ensure that their temperature is below 37.5 C, use hand sanitizer, maintain social distance and refrain from shouting.

Additional info on Buying Tickets

You can find more information on buying tickets by clicking through to this article, also on Japan Info Swap:  Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Baseball Tickets in Japan.

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By redlegsfan21 (Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By VKaeru (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By HKT3012 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By Dao-hui Chen [CC BY-SA 2.0] vis flickr.com