Pinup model Akina Minami tossed the ceremonial first pitch to open a Japanese interleague baseball game at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday while dressed as "Pikachu," the main character from the popular animation series "Pokemon."

"I'm not good at sports, so I practiced throwing the ball with my stylists. I'm glad the ball got to home base," said the 19-year-old Minami with a smile after her successful pitch at the game between the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Minami, who said she occasionally goes to watch baseball games, was embarrassed by not being able to remember the players' names. "Yoshinobu (Takahashi of the Yomiuri Giants) is probably the only baseball player I know," she said.

The first pitch ceremony was held as part a promotional campaign co-hosted by the animation film "Pocket Monsters Diamond Pearl: Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet Shaymin" (Japanese title) that will be released on July 19, in which Minami starred as a voice actress, and the Yakult Swallows. Akira Minami plays the role of Leila in the movie.

Popular "Pokemon" characters will welcome visitors to Yakult Swallow's games at Jingu Stadium until late August. Visitors can also enjoy playing "Pokemon" games at the "Pokemon DP Adventure Park" set up outside the stadium.

You can view more pictures from this event by viewing the Imageboard Thread.

Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080610p2a00m0et028000c.html