You might not have thunk it, but baseball is big in Japan! Baseball
originated in America and adopted by Japan in the Meiji period over a century
ago. The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants baseball club was one of the first clubs to be
founded as early as 1934. Although the American sport was a quick favourite, it
was given the Japanese touch when it came to the set of rules (Shuji). The two
styles of baseball, both American and Japanese incorporate their respective
country’s cultural ideals and profiles. Major League Baseball (MLB) is famous
around the western world and while it keeps to a traditional style of rulings
when it comes to referee’s decisions in which the calls are made by an
individual. However the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league in Japan
follows are more flexible and fairer democratic decision making ideals, where a
discussion is held before a disputable call is made, this is to settle both
parties until a satisfying explanation is given.
The
NPB consists of twelve teams split into two leagues consisting of six teams
each. The Central League pursues a more traditional set of rules whereas the
Pacific League entails an exciting fast paced game series. The best part of
course is the major play offs. The Climax Series is where the top three teams
from each of the two leagues face-off in a hard hitting – well you guessed it –
climax! Here comes the most interesting bit of Japanese baseball culture…
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The Japanese live in dormitories, have one month off a year, and an extra week
if their team wins the championship. The teams are all owned by major companies
and as such, typically the average player is guaranteed a place into the organization after retiring from baseball. As was mentioned earlier, the ideal
and profiles of the Japanese culture are of a group mentality where everyone
can prove their worth and is always a part of the group until death much like
the Bushido – The Samurai way.
Whilst
living in the dormitories, players are not allowed to drink, smoke or (get
this) - grow a moustache. The Japanese are strict on foreign players (gaijin)
and each team is only allowed three gaijin players.
For more detailed information about the game including teams, seasons and ticketing visit these great sites:
For more detailed information about the game including teams, seasons and ticketing visit these great sites:
- http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2081.html
- http://japanball.com/baseball/
- http://www.flashscore.com/baseball/
- http://www.umich.edu/~wewantas/brooke/differences.html
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