THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
June 23, 2020 at 17:24 JST
Seibu Lions players bow toward the empty stands after winning their season opener at MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on June 19. (Shiro Nishihata)
Three weeks after Japan's professional baseball leagues started the season without spectators, fans will finally be allowed into ballparks starting from July 10.
NPB Commissioner Atsushi Saito made the announcement on June 22, cautioning that precautions will be taken to safeguard against novel coronavirus infections.
The number of spectators will be limited to up to 5,000 based on government guidelines. However, each team can negotiate the actual allowable number of fans with local governments, since the infection status differs from area to area.
On June 22, an anti-coronavirus task force liaison meeting jointly set up by NPB and the J.League, Japan’s professional soccer league, was held. An expert team led by Mitsuo Kaku, a specially appointed professor at Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, participated.
“The planned date is July 10, but we need to decide on finalizing the date after monitoring the upcoming situation,” one of the experts said.
NPB will determine the guidelines to let fans watch the games at stadiums as soon as possible, and each team will discuss how many seats will remain empty and how tickets will be sold.
If an outbreak of COVID-19 cases occurs, there is a possibility that allowing spectators to attend could be delayed.
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