Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui was there in person at Tokyo Dome to see the Carp capture the Central League pennant. The baseball-mad residents of his city might make it hard for him to do the same should the Carp be on the verge of a Japan Series title.

"I wish I could go, but I don't have a ticket," Matsui told The Japan Times from the 10th floor of the Hiroshima City Hall building on Friday afternoon. "Hopefully I'll cheer (on the Carp) on television."

Those tickets are hot commodities around Hiroshima, where Japan Series fever is taking hold. All around the city are signs posted on businesses and other buildings congratulating the Carp on their first pennant since 1991 or urging the team to continue on and capture the Japan Series crown, or both.