SAPPORO -- Cold wind started blowing on the northern island last week. But there is a reason for the people up here to be warm in their hearts and flash smiles on their faces.
That is, of course, because of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, who are currently celebrating their first appearance in the Japan Series in 25 years, battling with the Central League champion Chunichi Dragons.
"I never imagined that when I was a child, we would have a professional baseball club right here," a 55-year-old company employee named Toshio Mitsui said outside Sapporo Dome on Monday. "Basically, Giants fans were the majority (in Hokkaido). But now it's like, 'the Giants, who?' "