Hiroshima Shimin Baseball Stadium
Hiroshima Shimin Kyujyo

Contemplating the awful ruins of the A-bomb dome, you may wonder how Hiroshima people were ever able to rebuild their spirits and the city. Your spirits may need some reviving too. Looking beyond the streetcar stop, you see Hiroshima Shimin Baseball stadium. This is home to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. If a game is on, you'll hear some very enthusiastic cheering.

Carp, named after the Hiroshima's "Carp" Castle, started in November 1949, less than five years after the city was destroyed and became an important focus for the city's revival. Without a sponsor for many years, the team relied on the financial support of ordinary Hiroshima folk. It really is the city's team.

A formidable team in the 1970s and '80s , Carp's fortunes have been mixed in recent years, but the team is very close to the hearts of its residents. Experiencing a match is great fun even for people not especially interested in baseball. The antics of the fans are always noisy and lively. Carp supporters were credited with inventing the very particular style of support now popular all over Japan.

The city center stadium (until the end of the 2008 season) is the smallest in the two Japanese leagues and sees more home runs than any other in Japan. The compact ground is also a favorite with baseball aficionados because spectators are literally much closer to the action. Whatever the state of play ont he field, the antics of the fans will impress and enliven. A carp home game sees Hiroshima people at their most relaxed and demonstrative. There are plenty of tasty food and drinks inside to see you through a game.

Outfield (gaiyu) seats, sold at gate 5, are cheapest (1500yen) and the most fun. Evening games start at aound six, so you could easily catch one after visiting Miyajima. A carp home game is good calue, great atmosphere and an unforgettable experience.

The game schedule is posted outside the ground or check the Event listings for upcoming games.

"Maeda"
Anonymity Personified.Thu Dec 2000
I like baseball very much. My favorite player is Maeda. He is good player.

"great place"
Naoki Matsubara - Fri Nov 2000
I like a baseball. And I like watching baseball on TV. I like Hiroshima carp the best in Japan. I am a carp fan. I want to see a baseball game with my friends again. I hope that the carp is at the top of the Japanese league when I see them in the Hiroshima Shimin Baseball Stadiam.

"I love Carp"
Tomoya Wakabayashi - Fri Nov 2000
Hiroshima Shimin Baseball Stadium is very friendly. I have been to the Stadium many times. The team name is "Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Carp are not always the winners!! But Hiroshima people like Carp anyway because Carp is a team that practices hard and does their best!!