TOKYO (AFP) – His extravagant outfits and jaw-dropping stunts are headline news in Japan, but now larger-than-life baseball manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo has upped the theatrical ante by entering the stadium on a hover-bike.
Shinjo, a flamboyant 50-year-old who calls himself Big Boss, stunned the crowd on Tuesday when he appeared for his team the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters’ first home game of the season on a futuristic black vehicle.
He took off and soared high above the field at the Sapporo Dome before landing about a minute later, then whipped off his helmet and red jacket before striding off.
Shinjo, a former player who had stints in Major League Baseball, was appointed Fighters manager ahead of the new season despite having no coaching experience. His charismatic persona and spectacular stunts have brought the three-time Japanese champions huge attention, and his latest antics made another splash.
