Hanshin Tigers become first in team history to win back-to-back Central League titles

On the 3rd, professional baseball's Hanshin Tigers won consecutive Central League championships for the first time in team history. The day game for the championship Magic 1 was defeated by Hiroshima 4-6, but the 2nd place Giants lost to DeNA in the night game. Hanshin fans erupted in joy as they won the battle for the championship that was entangled until the final stages with their rival Giants.

Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima. When Hanshin's Koji Chikamoto retired and there was no longer a chance of winning the championship, there was a sigh of relief in the stands on the third base side of the Hanshin cheering seats.

Masaki Matsumoto (31), a company employee from Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture (Kita Ward, Tokyo), has been a Hanshin fan since childhood. I watched the victory on September 7th last year at Koshien Stadium. “Last year, I was on my own, but this year, in a sense, I can enjoy it until the end.”

Hyogo Prefecture is home to Hanshin Koshien Stadium. Amagasaki City, where the second military facility is located, is known for its large number of passionate Tiger fans.

Hanshin fans watched the moment of their first consecutive victory at the snack bar ``Aishita Tora'' near Hanshin Electric Railway Amagasaki Station.

At the moment of victory, the store was filled with loud cheers, and fans wearing uniforms and Snack original sweatshirts with the words ``First Consecutive Win'' written on them stood up and exchanged high-fives. Afterwards, they celebrated their victory by having beer and champagne in front of the store.

The owner and mother, Fukumi Iwasaki (79), has been a Hanshin fan for over half a century. The store is lined with autographs and merchandise from players. "I couldn't be happier than this. It's a dream come true," he said of winning the league for the first time in history.

In Dotonbori, Minami, Osaka, fans wearing Hanshin uniforms gathered near Ebisubashi Bridge and watched the match from noon. Some people left after the loss to Hiroshima, but once the Giants game started, people started gathering again. At the moment of victory, there was a huge cheer and a chorus of Rokko Oroshi was sung.

Hayato Takishita (41) and Atsuhito (6), who came from Minato Ward, Osaka, shared the moment of their victory as a family. ``I was nervous because we were losing ground in the final stages and the Giants were catching up to us,'' Hayato said. He said he started supporting Hanshin when he was about Atsushi's age. ``I was impressed that he won back-to-back championships for the first time,'' he said, looking at his son.

Taketora Shimashima Baseball Bar Umeda Branch is an izakaya restaurant in Kita Ward, Osaka City. Nobuaki Sakuma (45), an office worker from Osaka, came to the store after watching the match against Hiroshima. ``Although I wasn't able to see them raise their heads, I was really moved to be able to come here and experience Hanshin's victory in Osaka with everyone,'' he said.