The Rakuten Girls, who have often been introduced as the exclusive cheerleaders of the Rakuten Monkeys, a professional baseball team in Taiwan, on syncSPORTS, are visiting Japan.The first team's official match took place at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi, the home ground of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, over a period of three days from September 19th to 21st.These girls are now very popular in Japan.As an entity connecting baseball fans in Japan and Taiwan, it greatly livened up the stadium this time as well.

The members of Rakuten Girls who came to Japan this time include Lin Xiang, Lee Da-hye, FeiFei, and Nikki Lee, all of whom are popular on television shows and social media.Before the match, special events were held exclusively for those who purchased special tickets. These included showcasing Dance performances and hosting photo sessions, deepening interaction with fans.There were even fans who had made the effort to come all the way from Taiwan, reaffirming the extent of their popularity!

Among them, Lin Xiang is not only popular in Japan and Taiwan, but also has fans all over the world, making her the No. 1 popular member of Rakuten Girls.”It’s truly delightful that when I go abroad, fans from each place reach out to me.””I am always moved at the airport, where people wave their hands and hold up support boards for me,” he commented.I appeared for the ceremonial pitch on September 20th. Although it ended up bouncing once, I was able to throw it straight so I’d rate it 80 out of 100!”, seeming to enjoy himself as well.”Continuing, “Rakuten Eagles players, please do your best!””We will do our best to be able to support and cheer for you,” they commented.As the game began, the official cheerleaders of the Rakuten Eagles, the Tohoku Golden Angels, performed in the stands and on the field, greatly livening up the stadium.In particular, with the use of “MyHERO Towel” (a unique fan merchandise of the Rakuten Eagles) and the singing of the team song “Fly High, Rakuten Eagles” after the end of the top of the seventh inning to inspire the players, the presence of the Rakuten Girls also contributes to an even greater excitement than usual.During these three days when the stadium came together as one, the Rakuten Eagles fought fiercely, securing 2 wins and 1 loss. The effect of the support was tremendous.

In addition to cheering for the Tohoku Golden Angels, they also shoot videos for social media platforms like TikTok, share recommendations for Stadium Food, and deepen their camaraderie. FeiFei reflected, “I was able to interact with the Angels, cheer together with the fans of Rakuten Eagles in Japan, and there were also fans of the Monkeys who came from Taiwan. It was really fun.”

Members of the Tohoku Golden Angels recommend the Stadium Food, “Drinkable Milk Mochi Drink”, as a special treat.

Appears even during bazooka time.The fans who received presents must have made the best memories.

Many voices eagerly anticipate their return to Japan, adding further excitement to the Rakuten Girls.Their presence has greatly contributed to the expansion of the fan base of Taiwanese Baseball, and there is no doubt that their visit to Japan has also created new fans in Japan.

Lee Da-hye also commented, “Through this event, I hope that Japan, Taiwan, and even Korea (where Lee Da-hye is from) will get more excited, and I want to support them with all my might.”It is expected that their activities will serve as a bridge for exchanges between Japan and Taiwan, with fans from Taiwan visiting Japanese stadiums and Japanese fans visiting Taiwanese ballparks.At the Rakuten Monkeys’ home base, Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, you can experience a different culture with Taiwanese-style support, which is different from Japan.Why not try visiting a stadium where you can enjoy both watching games and cheering?

The scene from the special event exclusive for ticket purchasers held before the match.

Incredibly, Lin Xiang has as many as 1.8 million Instagram followers!Even in Miyagi, the popularity is tremendous.

Originally, Lee Da-hye was active as a cheerleader in Korean professional baseball.

“It’s a very beautiful stadium.”The Rakuten Girls’ deputy leader, FeiFei, was saying, ‘It’s really amazing that there’s even a Ferris wheel.'”

Nikki Lee is known for her proficiency in dance.

Lin Xiang made an appearance at the ceremonial pitch on September 20th.

A group photo was also taken during the joint rehearsal with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

TEXT: Chiharu Abe
PHOTO: Teppei Hori EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)