Toto, we're not in Fenway Park anymore . . .

In honor of all the Red Sox players from Japan we decided to go back to their roots. While in Tokyo, Dave and I went to the Tokyo Dome to watch Hideki Okajima's first professional team, the Yomiuri Giants.

The Dome sits about 20,000 more than Fenway, but indoor games seem to be lacking the vibe of a 'real' baseball game that we were craving. None-the-less, we were glad we went as the best action wasn't on the field, rather in the stands.

SOME THINGS YOU WON'T SEE AT FENWAY . . .

1. IN REGARDS TO BEER . . .

A hot chick in a space age neon outfit with a portable keg on her back. In fact all vendors in the stands are women. There's not one man screaming 'beah heah!'

As a bonus, fans get to start off with two beers from home as long as the entrance gate attendant pours it into a Tokyo Dome cup.

2. IN REGARDS TO FOOD . . .

Forget peanuts and Cracker Jacks, father and son enjoy their first baseball game together with a carton of edamame and sushi. You can also buy udon noodles, rice and hotdogs - no comparison to Fenway Franks.

3. MANNERS . . .

There is no swearing from the excited, yet polite fans. (Of course we don't speak Japanese, so they could have fooled us.)

Fans don't stick to the floor on mystery goop that's been there since 1918. Plus, there wasn't a single peanut shell on the ground and throughout the game a garbage man walked through the stadium to collect trash.

Sweet Caroline is old school. Japanese fans come to the park with their trumpets and drums to backup the specialty cheers for each player, which are chanted throughout the entire game. To make things fair, fans from both teams take turns cheering so they don't tune each other out.

4. BEHAVIOR . . .

Keep your wife beater on. In Tokyo, men in suits fan themselves to keep cool.

5. MANNY . . .

Ramirez is in right field. Did he cut the dreads and move to Japan while on suspension? It can't be. This Ramirez actually waves to the fans and throws them baseballs!

More details on Tokyo (which we love) and the rest of Japan later.

Go Sox! For those of you going to Phish at Fenway, I'm jealous. Please send a full report!

- Elizabeth