TOKYO — Japan’s professional baseball league opened the delayed season three weeks ago. Now fans are back, too.
After playing in empty stadiums to get started, Japan began allowing up to 5,000 fans into the games on Friday, or 50% of the stadium capacity — whichever is smaller. Officials hope to allow stadiums to be filled to 50% capacity beginning on Aug. 1.
Japan’s soccer J-League is also allowing fans to return, beginning on Friday, under the same guidelines.
“I think starting with 5,000 spectators is a good idea,” said Hidetoshi Yuasa, who attended Friday’s game between the the Lotte Marines and the Seibu Lions played on the outskirts of Tokyo in suburban Chiba prefecture.