On May 12, 1990, during the top of the sixth inning of a Central League game between the Hiroshima Carp and the Yomiuri Giants at Hiroshima Stadium, a bizarre scene unfolded. As pitcher Kazuhisa Kawaguchi took the mound, a man dressed as a spider—often referred to as the “Spider-Man” or “Kumo Otoko”—suddenly appeared and ran onto the field. The intruder quickly climbed the backstop netting behind home plate, thrilling and alarming fans in the stands.
The disruption caused a brief halt in play as security personnel rushed to apprehend the costumed fan. After a few tense moments, the man was safely removed from the netting and escorted out of the stadium. The game resumed shortly thereafter, but the incident remained the talk of the ballpark. This memorable moment became part of Japanese baseball lore, often recalled in “Play Back” retrospectives of the era.
