Hello, dear readers! Today, I want to share a truly unforgettable and wonderful memory from my time working at Miyake Corporation, a construction company located in Fukuoka Prefecture: the day we all went to watch a professional baseball game together.
That Awkward “Huh?” Moment When Invited to a Baseball Game in Japan
It all started one day after work. I had just returned to the office from the construction site—I don’t remember the exact date—when Mr. Kondo walked up to me holding a piece of paper. He asked me something in Japanese, but my language skills back then weren’t great, so my brain only managed to filter out a few words: “Going? Hai, Tuan, and Tien are all going.”
Confused, I asked him where we were going. He replied, but this time my ears only caught “Fukuoka” and “the 24th, Sunday.” Being a naturally easygoing guy, I didn’t really know what we’d be doing or where we were headed, but I cheerfully replied, “Yes, I’m going!” I thought to myself, Hey, if the company is organizing it, I’ll just tag along. It’s not illegal anyway, and I’ll find out what it is when the day comes!
As the 24th approached, someone in the office (I honestly forget who) finally told me, “We are going to watch a baseball game this Sunday.” That was the exact moment the lightbulb went off, and I finally understood what Mr. Kondo had been talking about. I couldn’t help but chuckle at myself, thinking, How on earth did my ears completely miss the word “Yakyu” (野球)?! For those who don’t know, Yakyu means baseball in Japanese.
Then came Friday, May 22nd. After work, I bumped into Ms. Kawakami. She reminded me, “Make sure everyone gathers here at 11:00 AM this Sunday so we can go watch the game together! Please pass the message along to the other Vietnamese members as well.” I happily replied, “Got it! I’ll let them know.”
The Journey to the Stadium and a Jaw-Dropping VIP Suite Experience
Right at 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 24th, the other four Vietnamese guys and I gathered at the company. We piled into a car driven by Mr. Ikegami, with Mr. Maeda sitting up front with us. On the way, Mr. Maeda turned around and asked, “Do you guys know the rules of baseball?” We honestly shook our heads and said, “Not at all. We don’t really have baseball in Vietnam, so this is actually our very first time watching it live.” Hearing that, Mr. Maeda burst into a hearty, cheerful laugh.
It took a little over an hour to drive from the office to the stadium. Our group arrived first, so we waited outside the ticket gates. After about 20 minutes, the rest of the company arrived, including the Director. The Director personally handed out the tickets to everyone and led us through the gates.
That day’s game was an exciting matchup between the visiting team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, who traveled all the way from the snowy north, and the home team, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks—the pride of the Kyushu region.
What absolutely blew my mind was that because Miyake Corporation is a sponsor of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, all of us employees were treated to VIP status and led straight into a private VIP suite! The room was incredibly luxurious, fully catered with food, beer, wine, soft drinks, and tea. It was a true VIP experience, lavish beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Taking in the lively atmosphere, my mind drifted back to the memory of eating that cool, delicious soft-serve ice cream I once shared in my “Japan-Vietnam Culinary Culture” blog post.
Looking out from the VIP suite windows, I could see the majestic, panoramic view of the massive stadium. The baseball field had a unique, angular “diamond” shape that looked completely different from the soccer fields or volleyball courts I usually see on TV.
Since I had never played baseball before, I’ll be honest: I had a tough time understanding the rules. Baseball is a sport where you really have to study the rules to get what’s going on. It’s not like soccer—the king of sports—where anyone can easily tell when the ball hits the net, who wins, who loses, or if it’s a draw without knowing a single rule. In baseball, if you don’t know the rules, you can stare at the electronic scoreboard all day and still have no clue who is winning or losing.
Reflections on Team Unity within Japanese Corporate Culture
Even though I wasn’t a massive baseball fan to begin with, this trip turned out to be an incredible and invaluable experience for me. It made me realize something: becoming a sponsor for a major professional baseball team like the SoftBank Hawks in Japan is no small feat. Miyake Corporation must have put in immense effort and grown tremendously to earn such a prestigious sponsorship slot.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be working at Miyake. To tell you the truth, I’ve loved soccer since I was a kid, yet I had never once stepped foot into a real stadium to watch a live match. And yet, the very first time I enter a sports stadium in my life, I get escorted straight into a luxury VIP suite! I am deeply grateful to Miyake Corporation and our President for giving us such a wonderful opportunity.
Overflowing with joy after being gifted the home team’s jersey—Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, number 89—right at the stands.
This event also showed me how deeply rooted “unity” is in Japan. This spirit doesn’t just exist in grand concepts; it flows through the veins of individual companies. Company outings like this are the clearest proof of the Japanese philosophy that “the company is a family”—a place where every single employee is cared for like a true family member.
Everyone raising a glass together, enjoying the joyful and bonding atmosphere in the VIP stands.
When a “family” goes out for a fun day, and every member from top to bottom—from local Japanese staff to foreign workers like us—is there together, laughing and bonding as one… wouldn’t you agree that it’s the picture of a truly happy and fulfilling family, dear readers?