Seibu Department Stores Ltd. and Sogo Co. on Tuesday began a three-day sale at their outlets to celebrate the Seibu Lions' victory in the Japan Series.
A ceremony to launch the sale was held at the Seibu department store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, but store officials decided to mute the celebratory fanfare in consideration of the quakes in Niigata Prefecture.
People lined up ahead of the 10 a.m. opening. Special packages of winter items and "shochu" spirits named after the Pacific League team's new manager, Tsutomu Ito, were on sale.
A 42-year-old woman from Tokyo, describing herself as a Lions fan for the last 10 years, said, "There are many dismal events, but I want to spend the rest of the year in good spirit by joining the celebrations of the victorious Lions."
The Lions beat the Chunichi Dragons 7-2 on Monday to clinch their first Japan Series title in 12 years.
