As the Mariners open 2019 season in Japan, Ichiro receives a fitting hero´s welcome
(WorldNews Japan)

TOKYO - At about 1 p.m., the Tokyo Dome´s outside concourse was abuzz with baseball fans avoiding their jobs and responsibility - an Opening-Day tradition that can be found even in Japan´s work-first culture. First pitch was still six hours away, but the celebration had already started. Lines of fans waited outside merchandise tents to spend 8,000 yen - about $72 - on a sweatshirt, or double that on an Ichiro jersey. Near the entrance to the first-come, first-served general admission outfield seats, fans had shown up in the morning to place signs marking their place in line for when the doors finally opened for batting practice. The placeholders - hundreds of them, similar to the tent cities...