Baseball was first brought to Japan from the United States early in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) and quickly spread throughout the country until it became the most popular sport in Japan. Currently, baseball is played by people of all ages, ranging from elementary school kids to retirees. Japanese television also covered massively and broadcast it to millions of baseball fans. Japanese society came from near and far places not just to watch professional players compete, but also for Koshien, a beloved high school baseball tournament.
# History of Professional Baseball in Japan
In 1934, Japan's first professional baseball team was formed by Matsutarō Shōriki as the "Great Japan Tokyo Baseball Club". The team shocked the Americans by winning almost the entire match against the Pacific Coast League and the semi-professional team during the tour in 1935.
Between 1936 and 1949 the sport was organized into the Japanese Baseball League, and Tokyo Kyojin dominated by winning nine championships before finally renamed NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) in 1950. The locals recognized him as Puro Yakyū (professional baseball) and to date the NPB remains the premier league in Japan and hosts two leagues - the Central League and the Pacific League, each of which is followed by 6 teams.
The Central League features Chunichi Dragons, Hanshin Tigers, Yomiuri Giants, Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and Yokohama DeNA BaysStars. The Pacific League consists of Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, Chiba Lotte Marines, Hokkaido Nippong-Ham Fighters, Orix Buffaloes, Saitama Seibu Lions, and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
The season runs from late March / early April to October each year and teams compete in 6 games each week (no matches on Monday). This intensive program culminated in a Pie Series league playoff round, which was followed by 7 Japan Series championship competitions between the winners of both leagues.
# Japan in the International Baseball Show
In Japan, the sport is a bit different from Baseball's Major League Baseball, with smaller, harder, and denser balls. In addition, the bat and field area is also slightly smaller. Despite these differences, since 1986 there has been a bi-annual every-year Japan All-Star baseball game between players from American MLB and Japanese NPB who recently took the name Japanese Samurai. The show is very popular and allows Japanese baseball fans to see the action of some of the world's best baseball players and encourage the heroes of their city.
The Japanese baseball player also performed well on the world stage, with a number of players having a successful career in the Baseball Major League, including Yu Darvish from Texas Rangers and Mashiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees.
Japan's national baseball team is also impressive in the World Baseball Classic tournament which takes place every 4 years and features the world's best players in an international championship. Japan won the championships in 2006 and 2009 and won bronzes in 2013 and 2017. Japan currently tops the WBC medal table and is the only country to win two gold medals.
# How to Watch Professional Baseball Matches
If you want to feel the atmosphere of a professional Japanese baseball game, you can usually get tickets to watch the game in the stadium on game day. Unless the match is done on a big national holiday or if you want to watch the Yomiuri Giants or Hanshin Tigers match which is usually the tickets of these games sold before. You can buy tickets first online with a little extra fee and tickets will be delivered to your place, although you may have to have Japanese contacts to do so.
Source: https://tourist-note.com
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