by Robert Whiting (2022)
The coming year will mark the 150th Anniversary of Baseball in Japan. The game was introduced to the Japanese in 1872 by an American professor named Horace Wilson, who had been invited to come to Tokyo and teach at Kaisei Gakko. He was one of many foreign teachers and technical advisors recruited by the Meiji era Government which was opening up the country to the world after a 250 years of feudal isolation in an effort o modernize and catch up to the more industrially advanced West.,.
Baseball became the national sport in 1896 after a team from the First Higher School of Tokyo defeated a squad of Americans from the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club 29-4 in the first formal game ever played between Japanese and Americans. It was the first of many such victories and carried an important symbolic message: If Japanese could defeat Americans at their own game than surely they could surpass them in other fields as well, including commerce and industry.
The coming anniversary drew the attention of the Japan Society of New York which held a recent Webninar, inviting Warren Cromartie , Leon Lee and Matt Murton, among others, including me. There was some interesting back and forth, as follows.
Question (From MC) to Matt – The Japanese have been known to be selfish about their own players’ records. Did you experience any tension or blowback around the breaking of Ichiro’s single season hit record in 2010?
Murton: “No, I didn’t–not like Bass and Tuff Rhodes did when trying to break Sadaharu Oh’s single season record.. And I think that was because Ichiro had broken the single season MLB hits record held by George Sisler without any problems. Sisler’s family even came to the game where he broke the record, So I benefited from that experience. The mood had changed in Japan.”
Question to Warren and Leon – Japan is a very homogenous country, with very few Black people, can you give us your impressions, what did you experience around race?
Leon: A little girl omce rubbed my arm to see if the color would rub off. But I tried to do everything the Japanese did and fit in. In camp I would run the 5 miles back to the hotel with the other players, even though the manager told me I didn’t have to. I learned the Japanese language. I even did the 1,000 fungo drill. I did my best to fit in so I was accepted.
Cromartie: I let my performance speak for me. I led the oendan in Banzai cheers. I got up out of a hospital bed after a beaning in Osaka and hit a pinch hit 9th inning home run. I think that my behavior really helped my teammates accept me. But I also had a great manager in Oh who helped me adjust to Japanese pitching. He told me to take batting practice with a book under my arm to keep my elbows in. He was the best batting coach I ever had.”
This year there have been recently an unusually high number of stories about the Japanese game, led of course by features on Ohtani in all the top newspapers and magazines. Also, there was a glowing story by MLB.Com writer Michael Claire on the Koshien High School baseball tourney.
A particularly active group of fans of Japanese baseball can be found on japanball.com.
The group is run by a California-based man named Shane Barclay and runs regular news about developments in Japanese baseball including latest news and features and organizes annual tours to Japan to watch professional Japanese baseball games. Instructions on how to watch NPB games internationally on TV or streaming are given. Fans from around the world are members.
The website contains articles on the Japanese game, including “The History of the Hiroshima Carp.” “My Experience at the Koshien High School Championship Tournament.” And “A Ranking of the 12 Nippon baseball Stadiums.” In case you are interested, the ranking is as follows:
#1 Koshien Stadium “Great tradition, with terrific sightlines everywhere in the stadium for all 50,000 people. The crown jewel of Japanese ballparks. A legendary stadium with legendary history. Sacred infield dirt. The view of the sun setting down the third base line is unbeatable.”
#2 Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima “Great fan experience, scenic views and fantastic baseball. See the Peace Park before the game.”
#3 Meiiji Jingu. Historic. More intimate than the Tokyo Dome. Umbrella dance by oendan is a famous fan tradition. Hurry before it’s torn down.
#4 Rakuten Seimei Park Modern features, including cashless payments and the best array of craft beers. The carnival beyond the outfield fence creates a fun atmosphere.”
#5. DNA “Similar to Dodger Stadium with a perfect symmetrical outfield. See Chinatown nearby.”
#6 Tokyo Dome. The Yankee Stadium of Japan. Subdued corporate crowd and uninspiring food options. But nice roller coaster MLB Café, and traditional Japanese garden. Don’t miss the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame,.””
#7 Sapporo Dome. “Technologically advanced design but a long hike from the station. Be sure to see the Sapporo Olympic Museum and the Sapporo Beer Museum and Brewery.”
#8 Kyocera Dome Osaka “Architecture is really cool. It’s like being inside a giant space station. Makes you feel like Emperor Palpatine.”
#9 Fukuoka PayPay Dome “Retractable roof looks great from inside. Any fan will appreciate the Sadaharu Oh museum nearby. Fukuoka is a wonderful city to explore.”
#10 ZoZo Marine Stadium “The House That Bobby V. Built. Cold and not very aesthetic. Bring a jacket. Marines fans are a spectacle to watch. Reminiscent of Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and Veterans Stadium in Philadephia.”
#11 MetLife Dome.. ”Looks appealing but can easily trap you in a labyrinth of stairs and private railways. Difficult to get to. Very hot at times. Queen once performed a concert there. Lions oendan is great.”
#12 Nagoya Dome. “Long walk from the station, but mall is nice. Less than perfect but the postgame light show is nice. Attendance is low which makes for a dry environment.”
Check it out at https://japanball.com/
Tokyo Junkie 