The fan appreciation festival is, of course, an event "for the fans," but it is also widely open to those who have just started to take interest.That feeling was evoked by the "Rakuten Eagles Fan Appreciation Festival 2023" held on November 23, 2023.The thrill of meeting star players up close, the warmth of team love that envelops the venue, and the fervor of the "festival".Before I knew it, I had grown to love this team even more.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic , there were fewer opportunities to interact directly with the players since 2020. Finally, things have returned to how they should be, and this “Fan Appreciation Festival” turned out to be a day filled with the smiles of fans. Interaction programs with the athletes were held throughout the stadium. Although the team ended up with a disappointing fourth place, the players expressed their gratitude for the 2023 season while also drawing power from their fans for a comeback in the next season.

The first place the fans headed to as soon as they arrived at the stadium was the “Field Run & Walk”.On the field, the players welcomed me with high fives.

The “Catch Ball with Players” was a big hit among the children. The photo is of player Komago Ryuji. They were enjoying a conversation while tossing things back and forth.

At the food and drink stalls around the stadium’s perimeter, there are also scenes where players hand out food and drinks, and respond to requests for autographs.The photo is of  Seiryu Uchi.

A winter necessity in Tohoku, “Kotatsu” used in “Athlete and Kotatsu for Eagle Action Talk!”.If we warm up together, the distance naturally shrinks, and the players also relax their expressions.　I wonder what kind of conversation they were having that was so lively.

The players also showed up at the “Eco Station” set up inside the stadium for waste separation and collection. A great initiative to enhance awareness about waste sorting while enjoying social interaction.

In the “Eagle Activity Sports Festival”, many key players participated in the home run competition. The stands erupt as player Yukiya Ito takes a full swing.

The new Manager, Toshiaki Imae, who will lead the team from the 2024 season, made an appearance at the autograph session. Even though it was a short time, the way they had a thorough conversation with each fan left a strong impression.

This is the scene of the “Jr Cheerleading Performance”. They utilized the entire field to perform, rousing the fans in the stands.

And the highlight of the day was the retirement ceremony of Ginji Akaminai, who had announced his retirement the day before, on November 22nd.The first voice says, “I love Tohoku, Sendai!” .While shedding tears, the fans who had continued to support him, and his family, including his parents, were moved to tears as he expressed his gratitude. The sight of him conveying his feelings of appreciation moved the entire stadium filled with fans to tears. It is said that from now on, they will actively work as an ambassador, connecting the Rakuten Eagles and their fans more than ever before.

Looking back on this day, team captain Hideto Asamura said, “Although this is something I think about every year, I approached our fans with a sense of gratitude for the past year”.It would be nice if it could be as lively as it is this year. The closeness with fans is unique to “fan feeling”.He told me, I thought ‘that’s nice’ once again”.

There were still so many programs prepared for this day that couldn’t be fully introduced. There’s laughter, there’s tears. I was able to confirm that the bond between the athletes and fans has become stronger. The year 2024 is the 20th anniversary of the team’s establishment. Everyone must come together and strive for the ultimate future – victory!

TEXT: Chiharu Abe
EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)
PHOTO: Toshiyuki Koizumi