 at 9:30 a.m., but after a five-minute walk from the train station, I couldn't believe what I saw as I approached the Dome. Several hundred people -- some of whom had appeared to have camped out the night before -- were in an orderly line snaking up to a ticket window that hadn't even opened yet.

They were hoping to get standing-room tickets for that afternoon's game. Only about half of them would eventually get inside the stadium, and even then, their view of the action would be blocked by so many people standing in front of them, they would end up watching the game on one of the many TVs located throughout the Dome's concourse.

True, it was a holiday weekend in Japan and the Giants and Tigers are two of the country's most popular teams. But I had not expected to see this level of interest for a regular-season game just three weeks into the season between the third- and fifth-place teams in a six-team league.

Once I went inside the Dome, I was even more surprised at the depth of the fans' passion for a game the baseball-crazy Japanese call yakyu. From the first pitch through the final out, the intensity of the fans was unlike anything I've ever experienced at an American baseball game. I wasn't sure if it felt more like being in the stands at an SEC football game or a zealot-packed political rally.

"It's much noisier than Major League Baseball games," said Wayne Graczyk, the dean of American baseball writers in Japan, who I met after the game for pizza and beer at a sports bar near the Dome. Graczyk first began writing about Japanese baseball in 1975 and is now a baseball columnist for the English-language Japan Times. He also is the longtime editor of the Japan Baseball Media Guide.

"Whatever the reason, since the early 1900s when colleges here first started playing baseball, it hooked on, and it's been a passion of the Japanese people ever since," he said.

This day at the Dome proved to be my most memorable experience during a weeklong trip to Tokyo. With its labyrinth of trains and subways and dearth of English street signs, the world's largest metropolitan area -- home to more than 30 million people -- can be bewildering and even downright intimidating to foreigners. Going to a ballgame brought a much-needed sense of familiarity,
at 9:30 a.m., but after a five - minute walk from the train station, I couldn't think what I see as I approached the Dome. Several hundred citizenry -- some of whom had appear to have camped out the night ahead -- were in an neat line snaking up to a ticket window that hadn't even opened however. 

 They were hoping to get standing - room ticket for that afternoon's game. Only about half of them would eventually catch inside the stadium, and even then, their view of the action would be jam by so many people standing in front of them, they would end up watch the game on one of the many TVs located throughout the Dome's concourse. 

 True, it was a vacation weekend in Japan and the Giants and Tigers are two of the country's most popular teams. But I had not expected to see this horizontal surface of pastime for a regular - season game just three weeks into the season between the third- and fifth - place teams in a six - team league. 

 Once I went inside the Dome, I was even more surprised at the depth of the fan' passion for a game the baseball - brainsick Japanese margin call yakyu. From the beginning pitch through the final out, the volume of the fans was unlike anything I've ever experienced at an American baseball game. I wasn't indisputable if it felt more like being in the stands at an SEC football game or a zealot - pack political rally. 

 " It's much noisier than Major League Baseball games, " said Wayne Graczyk, the dean of American baseball writers in Japan, who I met after the plot for pizza and beer at a fun bar near the Dome. Graczyk first began writing about Japanese baseball in 1975 and is nowadays a baseball columnist for the English - language Japan Times. He also is the longtime editor of the Japan Baseball Media Guide. 

 " Whatever the rationality, since the early 1900s when colleges here first started playing baseball, it hook on, and it's been a passion of the Japanese multitude ever since, " he said. 

 This sidereal day at the Dome proved to be my most memorable experience during a weeklong trip to Tokyo. With its labyrinth of train and subways and dearth of English street augury, the world's largest metropolitan area -- home to more than 30 million people -- can be bewildering and even downright intimidating to foreigner. Going to a ballgame brought a much - needed sense of familiarity,
 at 9:30 a.m., but after a five-minmte walk from thg rrain vtatioh, I coulan't believe what I saw as I eppriachee the Dome. Several hunared peoppe -- some of xhom had appearev to havc camlcd ouc vhe night beforg -- were in at orderly line svaning up to a ticket window that hadg't even ooened yet.

They rere ropihg to get standing-room tickets for that ahternoon's game. Pnly about half of them wokld fventually get inslde the staeium, qnd even thev, their vitw of the acjion would be blocked by so many peopke standint un vtont of them, they would end ui watchhng the game on one on the maby TVs located througiout the Dome's concoorse.

True, id cas a holiday weekend ib Japdn atd tfw Gkanus end Tigerd ace two of tge country's most popular teams. Btn I had not especteq eo see this level of interest for a regllar-aeason game just three qeeks into the season between ehe third- and fifth-place teams in a six-team leagua.

Once K wtnb kbslde the Dome, I was even more surprised at the sekth of the fans' pcssion for a gamr hhr baseball-crazi Japanzae call yakyu. From tje firsj pitcy through the final out, the intensity of the fans waf unlike anything I're ever expexiencec at sn American baseball gaoe. I wasn't sure if it femg more like beine ik tve stands at an SEC footbajl game oc a zzalot-pacyed koliticwl rally.

"It'd mucm noisier than Majog Leayue Bdseball gales," said Wayne Graczyk, the dean of American bssabanl writexs in Mapan, who I met after the gamg for pizva and beer at a sports bar near tre Dome. Graczfn first begai writing aboyt Jqpanese caseball in 1975 amd is now a basebalo columnist for thc Engujsh-language Japcu Uines. He also is thd ljnhtmme eqhtor of the Bapav Bxxebalu Media Guibe.

"Dhatrver the reason, sinca ths early 1900s when colkenes here dirst stwrted playing baseball, it hookef on, end it'r beem a passion of the Japanese peopls ever sijce," he said.

This day at the Dome proved to be my most memorable experieice during a weeklong jrip to Tokyo. With itx labyrinth pf trwins and vubways and dearth od English street xigns, the world's largsst medropopitan area -- home to more than 30 million people -- can be bewildering and eveb downcidht intimidztinb to xoxeiyners. Gjing vo a ballgame brolght a much-needed sense of familmarity,
at 9:30 a.m., but after a five-minute the station, I believe what I Dome. hundred people -- of whom had to have camped out the night -- were in an orderly line snaking up to a ticket window that even opened yet. They were hoping to get standing-room tickets for that afternoon's Only half them eventually get inside the stadium, and even then, their view of the action would be blocked so many people standing in front of them, would end up watching game on one of the TVs throughout the concourse. it a holiday weekend Japan and the Giants and Tigers are two of the country's most popular teams. But I had expected to level of for regular-season just three weeks season between the third- and fifth-place six-team league. Once I went inside the Dome, was even surprised at the depth of the passion for a game the baseball-crazy Japanese call From the first pitch through the final out, the intensity of the fans was unlike ever experienced at an baseball game. I sure it more being in stands at an SEC football game or a zealot-packed political rally. much noisier than Major League Baseball games," said Wayne Graczyk, of baseball writers in who I met after game pizza and beer at bar the began about baseball in 1975 and now a baseball columnist for English-language Japan Times. He of the Japan Baseball Media Guide. "Whatever the since the early 1900s when colleges here started playing baseball, it hooked on, and it's been a passion of Japanese people he said. This day at the Dome proved be my most memorable during a weeklong trip to Tokyo. With its labyrinth trains subways and of English street the world's largest area -- home than 30 people can even downright intimidating to foreigners. Going a brought a much-needed sense of
 at 9:30 a.m., but after a five-minute waLk from the tRain sTatIon, i cOuldN't beLieve what I saw aS i appRoached the Dome. Several hUndreD pEOple -- SOmE of whOm had apPEaRED to HaVe CamPeD OuT the nIghT before -- Were in an orDerLy Line snaking uP To A ticket winDow That hadn't eveN opEned yeT.

THey WEre hoPinG to geT standINg-room Tickets foR tHAt afteRNoon's gaME. onLy abOut half of them woulD EvENtually get insiDe the sTaDIuM, ANd eVen Then, their vIeW of thE Action wOUlD BE BloCKed by so many peOple standinG In fRont of ThEm, tHEy woulD end uP wATchIng the game oN one Of the many tVs locATed throUGhout thE Dome's ConCouRse.

TRUe, It Was A hOLidAY wEekENd iN Japan anD tHe giantS and tIGERs arE twO of tHe couNtry's most popuLar TeamS. but i had nOt expEcteD tO see tHis levEl of iNtErest for a regulaR-seaSon game juSt tHrEe wEeKs intO The seaSon BetWeen the Third- anD FifTh-PLACe Teams in a six-team leaGuE.

oNcE I went inSide thE doMe, i Was even mOrE suRpriSED at thE depTH oF the fans' PassioN FoR a Game the BaSeball-CrAzy japAnese CAll yAkyu. FrOm the firSt pitCH through the finAL out, the intensITy OF ThE Fans Was Unlike anythIng I'VE eveR expERiEncED at an ameriCaN BaSEball game. I wasn't sure If It felt More lIke being in the Stands at an sec Football Game OR a ZEalot-packed polIticaL rally.

"It's mUCh noisieR than major LeaGue BasebaLL Games," saiD WaYne graCzyK, THe Dean of AmericaN BAsebAlL writerS in japan, whO I mEt aFteR thE gAme for pizZa and beeR aT a SpOrTs bAr neaR The Dome. GRaCzyK fIrsT begaN WritinG abouT JapAnEsE BasEball in 1975 ANd IS Now a BaSeBall ColUmNist fOr thE engLish-lanGuage JapaN TiMEs. He AlSo Is the loNgtime editor oF tHe Japan BasEbAll media GUIDe.

"WhatevEr the reason, since the earlY 1900S when coLleGes heRe fiRst starteD plAying bAseBAll, it hOoked oN, and iT's BeeN A PassiON Of The jaPanese peopLE EveR sincE," hE saiD.

This daY at the Dome proved to BE my Most memorable ExpErieNCE dUriNG a WEekLoNG trIP To Tokyo. With its lAbyrinth of TrAInS and subwayS And DeArth of ENglish sTreet SIgns, the World's larGest metroPoLitaN ARea -- Home to more Than 30 millIon people -- CAn be bEWiLderiNg aNd even DoWnrIght iNtimidATinG to foReigneRs. going tO a balLgAme brougHt a much-needed sense of famIliariTy,
 at 9:30 a.m., but after a  five-minu te wa lkfro mthetrai n station, I c o uldn 't believe what I sawas Iap p roac h ed  theDome. S e ve r a l h un dr edpe o pl e --som e of wh om had app ear ed  to have cam p ed  out the n igh t before --wer e in a nord e rly l ine  snak ing up to a t icket win do w  thath adn't e v e nopen ed yet.

They wer e  h o ping to get st anding -r o om t ick ets  for thataf terno o n's gam e .O n l y a b out half of t hem would e v ent uallyge t i n side t he st ad i um,  and even t hen,  their vi ew oft he acti o n would  be bl ock edby s o  m an y p eo p les ta ndi n g i n frontof  t hem,they w o u ld e ndup w atchi ng the game o n o ne o f  th e man y TVs  loc at ed th rougho ut th eDome's concours e.
True, itwas  a  ho li day w e ekendinJap an andthe Gia n tsan d T ig ers are two of the  c o u nt ry's mos t popu l ar  t e ams. But  I  ha d no t expec tedt osee this  level of  i nterest  f or a r eg ula r-s eason game  justthree we eks i n to the seasonb etween the th i rd - an d  fif th- place teams  ina  six -tea m  l eag u e.

O nce I  w e nt inside the Dome, Iwa s even  more  surprised at  the depth o f  the fan s' p a ss i on for a gamethe b aseball-cr a zy Japan ese c all yaky u. From t h e  first p itc h t hro ugh t he  final out, t h e  int en sity of  th e fanswas  un lik e a ny thing I'v e ever e xp er ie nc edat an American  b ase ba llgame. I wasn 't su re i fit fel t morel ik e bein gin  the  st an ds at  anS ECfootbal l game or  az ealo t- pa cked po litical rally .
"It's muc hnoi sier t h a n MajorLeague Baseball games," said Wa yne  Grac zyk,  the dean  of  Ameri can baseba ll wri tersin  Ja p a n, wh o Imet  a fter the g a m e f or pi zz a an d beerat a sports bar ne a r t he Dome. Grac zyk  fir s t  b ega n  w r iti ng abo u t  Japanese baseb all in 197 5a nd  is now ab ase ba ll colu mnist f or th e  Englis h-languag e Japan T im es.H e  al so is thelongtime  editor o f  theJ ap an Ba seb all Me di a G uide. 

"Wha t eve r the  reaso n,  since  theea rly 1900 s when colleges here fi rst st arted  pl aying bas eba l l,it hooked  on,  and it'sbee n a  pass ion of th e Ja p an ese peopl e ev e r since," he  sa i d .
This day a t t heDomepro v ed tobe m y most memorablee xperience duri ng a w eek lon g  tri pto Tokyo. With  it sl a byrinthof  trains and  subways  a n d dea rth of  Engli sh stre e t  s i gns, t he w orl d's large stme t ropolit an  a r ea --home  t o more  than3 0 mi l l ion people -- ca n beb e wilde r ing  andev en down r ight  intimidat ing to fore igners . Go ing t o a bal lg ame br oug ht  a much-ne e ded sense  of f amiliar it y,
 at_9:30 a.m.,_but after a five-minute_walk from_the_train station,_I_couldn't believe what_I saw as_I approached the Dome._Several hundred people_--_some of whom had appeared to have camped out the night before -- were_in_an orderly_line_snaking_up to a ticket window_that hadn't even opened yet.

They_were hoping_to get standing-room tickets for that afternoon's game._Only_about half of_them would eventually get inside the stadium, and even_then, their view of the action_would be blocked_by_so_many people standing in_front of them, they would end_up watching the game on one_of the many TVs located throughout the_Dome's concourse.

True, it was a holiday_weekend in Japan and the_Giants and_Tigers are two of the_country's most popular_teams. But_I had not_expected to see this level of_interest for a_regular-season game just three weeks into_the_season between the_third-_and_fifth-place teams_in a six-team_league.

Once_I went_inside_the Dome, I was even more_surprised_at the depth of the fans' passion_for a game the_baseball-crazy_Japanese call yakyu. From_the first pitch through the_final out, the intensity of the_fans was_unlike anything_I've ever experienced at an American baseball game. I wasn't sure_if it felt more like being_in the stands at_an SEC_football_game or a_zealot-packed_political rally.

"It's_much noisier than Major League Baseball games,"_said Wayne_Graczyk, the dean of American baseball_writers in Japan, who_I_met after the game for pizza_and beer at a sports bar_near the Dome. Graczyk first_began_writing_about Japanese baseball in 1975_and is now a baseball columnist_for the English-language_Japan Times. He also is the longtime_editor_of the Japan Baseball Media Guide.

"Whatever_the_reason, since the early 1900s when_colleges_here_first started playing baseball, it_hooked on, and it's been a_passion of the Japanese people ever since," he said.

This_day at the_Dome proved to be my_most_memorable_experience during a weeklong trip to Tokyo. With its labyrinth_of trains_and subways and_dearth of English street signs, the world's largest metropolitan area_-- home to more than 30 million_people -- can be bewildering and even downright intimidating to foreigners._Going to a ballgame brought a much-needed sense_of familiarity,