Last week I ran into a Japanese man in Osaka rocking an LSU Tigers jersey. I couldn’t believe my eyes, so obviously, I had to go talk to him. After a brief interaction I quickly realized this guy, Shota, might be the biggest LSU football fan in all of Japan (and definitely the biggest Tyrann Mathieu fan of all time). He legitimately knows more about LSU football than a lot of my fellow LSU alum. Myself included.

Shota is like many Japanese people I’ve met in Japan: they find an aspect of American culture that they truly love and then become the biggest, most passionate advocate for that thing. It could be anything from NY pizza to jazz music to even the state of Philadelphia.

But in this case—it’s LSU college football.

Shota’s dream since high school has been to go to LSU and see an LSU football game in Death Valley. So I figured what better way to use social media than to show our Japanese friend what true American Southern hospitality is like.

And what better example of LSU football is there than a night game against Alabama in Death Valley.

So what I propose is raising funds for a 5-day trip for Shota (+ a friend that can translate for us!) to fly from Japan to Nola/Baton Rouge, and go out to LSU for the LSU - Alabama game in the fall. I’m not sure if that’s too much to ask (I had ChatGPT come up with an estimate of “a comfortable roundtrip for 2 people from Japan - Baton Rouge, including good tickets for the game as well as transportation, food, merch, and etc. expenses). Whatever money that is left over outside of the expenses we can donate to a good Japanese charity or even some kind of Japanese American football program in the name of LSU alumni.

We’ll show him the true LSU football experience: the tailgating, the food, the kegstands & drinking games (but not too many so he can make it to the game), we’ll go to Chimes, we’ll eat some Canes, show him what fraternities are, go to the game, have him sing Neck (ideally), go to Fred’s, and much more.

I’m sure we’ll be able to figure out things like tickets and maybe some facility tours along the way for the boy, but any and all help is greatly appreciated!

I think this would be a really great way to show our appreciation for not only this Japanese Tiger fan’s intense passion for LSU Football but also the friendship we have with all our boys in Japan!

Let’s get this baw to Tiger Stadium!

And of course, Geaux Tigers!