Speed demons: The 'uriko' beer vendors of Japanese baseball

I try to watch them first and see which one is not dispensing too much foam. Foam - air - is the bane of poured beer in Japan.

At Tokyo Dome, home to Japan's most popular baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, vendors sell an average of about 20,000 glasses of beer at a night game.

Is this for real? "Glasses"? Hell if it were MLB there would be some serious problems.

Matsumoto says her main concern is sales, and she is "always thinking" about her figures.

Yeah, I bet, and she thinks about the guys who are checking it out too!

Eh, I was just at a baseball game last week and there were plenty of male beer/drink sellers, mostly college students just doing a fun part-time job. The ratio was definitely not 100:1 ... where was the fact-checking?

beer vendors who are as unique to Japanese baseball as the cheering sections that beat drums and blow horns to rally their teams

They are not unique to Japanese baseball they have them all most all sporting events in Japan and Korea. The writer needs to research a little better.

I try to watch them first and see which one is not dispensing too much foam. Foam - air - is the bane of poured beer in Japan.

can confirm.

50% beer, 50% foam at almost any game I've attended over the years

@Moonraker There's apparent science to the head of the beer in that it keeps the beer carbonated longer, hence the three-finger sized head here.

Some of em sell beer with semi frozen foam like a slushee.

The bentos are pretty good at some stadia. Big shinkansen station eki-ben level. Much better than a convenience store bento. Having a drink and a good feed is all part of the experience.

I've heard that the Japanese like foam. I don't get it myself. I prefer liquid to gas.

There's apparent science to the head of the beer in that it keeps the beer carbonated longer, hence the three-finger sized head here.

It's a convenient excuse, I'll give it that, but I'd still rather have beer than air. It's not like it's gourmet beer or anything. The difference to a plastic cup of Asahi is miniscule.

Moonraker - I try to watch them first and see which one is not dispensing too much foam. Foam - air - is the bane of poured beer in Japan.

Babe Ruth - can confirm.

50% beer, 50% foam at almost any game I've attended over the years

I guess I've been lucky at Koshien, Skymark (now called Hoto Motto), and Osaka Dome. Not too much foam/head.

And way cheaper than a beer at a US ballpark, especially at PacBell/SBC/ATT/Oracle Park. It may even be cheaper than it was at Candlestick, or back in NYC in the 90's at Shea.

But, it's been a few years since I've been at a game here. So, maybe things have changed.

Well, I must confess, I don't even really like baseball so I have plenty of time to survey the heads of air at Koshien and choose accordingly. There is quite a variation.

Made up almost exclusively of young women in miniskirts or shorts,

Of course they are. Any opportunity to sexualize, exploit, and degrade the women working for them, right? Disgusting.

@Gorramcowboy.. There's apparent science to the head of the beer in that it keeps the beer carbonated longer, hence the three-finger sized head here.

You dont need the 3 finger size head if you drink it fast enough ! Lol

Made up almost exclusively of young women in miniskirts or shorts,

Of course they are. Any opportunity to sexualize, exploit, and degrade the women working for them, right? Disgusting.

Absolutely.

Its a crime that these poor young girls are being forced to apply for and take these jobs.

And how dare men find them attractive!

I think these young ladies and men everywhere would be happier if they were in burqas, or better yet, burlap sacks.

Burqas for everybody

Mmm, I was unaware of this, never been to baseball, my favoured sport is football ( soccer to some). Could pop to see Hanshin Tigers with my son one day, I’m sure he’d enjoying that as he’s a young lad. Won’t be buying him any beers or alcoholic beverages though, they will be just for me.

I wonder if the people on here complaining about the head of beer are British? In Britain the beer is served much warmer, and barely has any head at all. Not acceptable in Japan or in the US. Of course nobody wants a half filled glass of foam, but two or three fingers worth is appropriate. Different beer, different style.

I wonder how many calories they burn every game? Definitely a good way to get a work out

Eh, I was just at a baseball game last week and there were plenty of male beer/drink sellers, mostly college students just doing a fun part-time job. The ratio was definitely not 100:1 ... where was the fact-checking?

Which stadium did you attend?

The article is specifically about Giants games at the Tokyo Dome, and it seems accurate with respect to there and other stadiums I've watched games at but it could be different at others.

In Britain the beer is served much warmer, and barely has any head at all. Not acceptable in Japan or in the US

That is not actually quite true. Cask ale should be served between 11-13c so no matter what country you are in, if you're drinking a cold real ale they ain't keeping or serving it properly. If you order a pint of lager or US style beer in Britain, it's served chilled just as in any other country

Beat me to it. I’m more of a whisky drinker but I’ve enjoyed some very good ales and stouts in the US - served correctly at the right temperature. I heard some beer lovers telling me some of the best ales around come from the US.

The fizzy lager stuff is best served cold.

Jimizo, before I came to Japan I only really knew of American beer being Bud n piss like that, so never drank it but for the last 15 years or so I've fallen in love with US style IPAs. Fortunately whenever I go back to the UK there seems to be a lot more of a choice of them now, both imported and domestically produced.

I had some US IPAs. Really good. Had some good US barley wines too.

Still can’t take most Bourbons though. Syrupy.

Eh, I was just at a baseball game last week and there were plenty of male beer/drink sellers

Which yard?

Love uriko! They are so cute - mostly. Happy to buy a beer or chuhi anytime at the game.

Look at them leg muscles! wink wink

Made up almost exclusively of young women in miniskirts or shorts, the tradition might appear outdated to some, 

Entirely up to date.

Keep it that way.

Foam whinings. Intelligent will tell you that if you are running up a down stadium stairs with. 10kg keg of beer on your back. Foam in your beer is going to be a certainly. These young girl do a great job always giving great service. The friendly smiles even when dealing with asks wholes. What kind person would up a young girl for foam in their beer under the circumstances say a lot about you personally.