I went to a baseball game in Osaka. Hanshin Tigers. I'm not even a baseball fan really, but someone told me Japanese baseball games were a different experience.
They were right. The cheering was insane. Coordinated chants, everyone knew the songs, people brought instruments. It was like a festival.
I was sitting in the outfield, cheap seats. Didn't know any of the cheers, just clapped along trying not to look too lost.
The guy next to me noticed and during the 7th inning stretch, he handed me a little pamphlet. It had all the cheers written out in English with the romaji so I could pronounce the Japanese.
He'd made it himself. Printed it out. For random foreigners sitting near him.
I asked how many of these he'd made and he pulled out like 10 more from his bag. Said he brings them to every game just in case tourists sit nearby.
Didn't want money, didn't want anything. I just wanted people to enjoy the game properly.
With his help I learned the chant for the cleanup hitter. Next time that guy came up to bat, I did the full chant, arms motions and everything. The people around me noticed and started clapping for me, laughing in a good way.
The Tigers lost that game, but the guy next to me said "you are a Tigers fan now. Once you cheer for the Tigers, always be a Tigers fan."
He was right. I still check their scores sometimes. I hope they're doing okay this season.