Extraordinary Ordinary

Nothing too much to report from Shikaoi. The office has basally been running on a skeleton crew for the last couple of days. Most of the focus has been on the National High School Baseball Championship on TV. This tournament is a very big deal for everyone in Japan. One high school represents every prefecture in Japan (with two each from Tokyo and Hokkaido) and this year Hokkaido's entry is expected to do very well. I often wonder in awe at how much pressure these young athletes must be under with the professional production values in a big stadium with the whole country, but they seem fine with it. The crowds are another matter: very loud. Amazingly loud. With complicated intricate cheers too.