Hiroshima Carp Victory Parade

Today, Hiroshima Carp fans had the chance to fete their heroes at a victory parade for the first time in 41 years and an estimated 310,000 took to the streets to do just that..

Thousands, dressed in red, lined the route and packed Mazda Stadium under clear blue autumn skies this morning. Here’s how the celebration looked through the eyes (phones) of the fans.

A photo posted by Miku (@miku_3919) on Nov 4, 2016 at 5:42pm PDT

Fans lined Peace Boulevard

A post shared by Ryu-ji Asakawa, Ph.D, D.D.S. (@askw560) on Nov 5, 2016 at 9:26pm PDT

A photo posted by @haruchan0111 on Nov 4, 2016 at 5:50pm PDT

and packed Mazda Stadium

 

A photo posted by cercy (@ake0528) on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:00pm PDT

The Carp took over local TV schedules

 

A photo posted by @kimikimi0415 on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:10pm PDT

Championship tram
 

A photo posted by あない たつもり (@tatsu_smash) on Nov 4, 2016 at 5:45pm PDT

Local pride extended to warning signs in local Hiroshima-ben dialect
 

A photo posted by Keiko Nakanishi (@keikon94) on Nov 4, 2016 at 5:50pm PDT

Some had ringside seats
 

A photo posted by hase0712 (@hase0712) on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:55pm PDT

or a birdseye view
 

A photo posted by Jade Brischke (@jack_crispy) on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:34pm PDT

Others, try as they might
 

A photo posted by @yukarin.go.go on Nov 4, 2016 at 7:27pm PDT

had trouble seeing much.
 

The Big street of Hiroshima was covered with red with 320,000 people, to celebrate the victory of central league championship of our baseball team!! Carp is our dream, hope and proud!! うちらにはカープがあって幸せじゃわぁ。夢と希望と感動をたくさんありがとう！！これからも一生カープファンじゃけぇ！！ #carp #カープ　#広島東洋カープ #優勝パレード #カープ優勝パレード#hiroshima

A post shared by Rika Masaki (@risu_rika) on Nov 5, 2016 at 3:38am PDT

Though, if you were there before 7am you could grab shots like this!

A video posted by kaori (@kaoridegozaimasu) on Nov 4, 2016 at 9:15pm PDT

And maybe wished they’d stayed how and watched it in TV.
 

A photo posted by hiroaki (@sorachan.papa) on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:39pm PDT

A photo posted by ちさと (@cy_0520) on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:37pm PDT

The love was, however, clear (and audible)
 

A video posted by m.GANTA3 (@m.ganta3) on Nov 4, 2016 at 6:47pm PDT

Into the stadium
 

A photo posted by Yuka (@yukapi0129) on Nov 5, 2016 at 1:27am PDT

Sayonara and arigato Kuroda
 

A photo posted by ?ゆい? (@yui_musubokkle) on Nov 4, 2016 at 9:45pm PDT

A photo posted by @yuk1005 on Nov 5, 2016 at 1:16am PDT

A lucky few fans caught a nice souvenir signed by the man himself
 

A photo posted by かりん.⋆◌⑅⃝*॰ॱ (@s2_karin_s2) on Nov 4, 2016 at 9:13pm PDT

Some wondered whether the team’s collapse in the Japan Series after a strong start would dampen the atmosphere, but there can be no doubt that there was nothing but pride and appreciation on display in Hiroshima today.

Thank you for a great year!
 

A photo posted by sa❁ki…. (@sa3122ki) on Nov 4, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT