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The Hiroshima Toyo Carp, celebrating their seventh Central League championship in 25 years, held a victory parade on November 5th along Hiroshima's Peace Boulevard.
This marked the Carp's first championship parade in 41 years since their inaugural win in 1975. Approximately 313,000 Carp fans (organizer's estimate) packed the streets, turning them entirely red. The event was organized by an executive committee comprising Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chugoku Shimbun, local broadcasters, and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
The parade covered the entire length of Heiwa-dori Avenue, approximately 3 kilometers, taking about 40 minutes. The streets were packed with Carp fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the players.
Four open-top cars at the front carried Manager Koichi Ogata, Owner Motohiro Matsuda, and player Hiroki Kuroda, who retired at the end of this season. Following them were five open-top buses carrying players, coaches, trainers, and Hiroshima Prefecture Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki, who has been a key supporter of the team. This "All Hiroshima" contingent of about 100 people responded to the fans' cheers.
Following the parade, a championship celebration was held at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima in Minami Ward, Hiroshima. In a stadium dyed red by over 30,000 fans, Manager Ogata expressed gratitude for this year's support and vowed to defend the title next season. Players and fans then joined together to sing the team song "Sore Ike Carp," releasing red balloons into the blue sky.
Afterwards, the players carried the championship pennant around the field. Finally, Kuroda's retirement ceremony took place, where he was tossed into the air 15 times.
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