The members of the Australian national baseball team have settled into life in the Western Tokyo suburb of Fuchu over the past several days, in between taxing practice sessions under manager Dave “Dingo” Nilsson, who is preparing the team for the upcoming Premier12 tournament.
When the weather is nice, some players travel the distance between the team's hotel and Fuchu City Stadium on foot. At night, they go to a nearby Lawson's convenience store or other places around town — an all-you-can-eat steak restaurant is a popular stop.
They have been embraced by residents, who come to watch them play practice games against local teams. On Sunday, there were Japanese fans in the bleachers singing original cheer songs for the Australians. The team was also a hit during a recent visit to an elementary school. This week, the Australians hosted about 200 kids for a baseball clinic. Sometimes the players are stopped for autographs or photos, which does not happen often back home in Australia, where baseball is overshadowed by rugby and other sports.
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