Make Believe Bonus: Idol Series At Yokohama Stadium

The Intersection Of Baseball And Pop

When I agreed to head out to Yokohama on a hot Wednesday night, I had zero idea I was also heading straight into idol antics. I simply wanted to watch my favorite team, the Saitama Seibu Lions, square off against the DeNA Baystars. This would be pure relaxation, an escape from the music writer grind in favor of fly balls and beer.

Except it was not…turns out it fell right in the middle of Yokohama’s “Idol Series,” a trio of ballgames also featuring the heavy presence of idols AND post-match performances. My dreams of pure relaxation vanished, replaced by a well-timed promotional event playing out as Japan enjoys a very visible idol renaissance.

As I walked out of Kannai Station and approached Yokohama Stadium, I could hear it in the air — the sweet, sugary sounds of idol music coming out of the soundsystem. No better place to start “idol summer” than at a baseball game celebrating the style.

Volume up to hear the far-off sound of idol pop