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For both the United States and Japan, baseball is one of the nations' most popular sports. There are, however, stark differences between how the game is both played and consumed in each country. Stylistic differences, rules, and fan culture are just some examples of how the game differs from America to Japan.
Curious to know more about how the "bat and ball dance" appears around the world? Click on.
In Japan, baseball is called yakyu (field ball). While the look and feel of the game are not so different, you’d think you were going to sit front-row at your favorite band’s concert!
During the opening of the season at the Tokyo Dome, fans are ready for a show. The passion oozes from the crowd, unlike its American counterpart.
For the most part, baseball is casual viewing for American baseball fans. Usually consisting of drawn-out innings, you rarely see spectators on the edge of their seats.
Although baseball is, traditionally, considered an American pastime, it’s a popular sport in Latin America and East Asia, too.
In Japan, the game was introduced during the post-World War II period, eventually becoming the country’s national sport.
The game was first introduced to Japan by an American English teacher, Horace Wilson, in 1872, who was living in Tokyo at the time.
The trend of the game spreading through English teachers living in Japan continued for decades after.
This influence led to the creation of the country’s first official baseball team, the Shimbashi Athletic Club, which was formed in 1878. Pictured are spectators at one of their games.
The first Japanese player to join America’s Major League Baseball was a pitcher by the name of Masanori Murakami (pictured right), who joined the league in 1964 with the San Francisco Giants.
Since Murakami joined the American league, more than 80 players from Japan have played for American teams. Pictured is Shohei Ohtani.
The game became increasingly popular in the country, leading to a fandom culture that is uniquely Japanese.
One of the most obvious differences between American and Japanese baseball is the nations’ cultural approaches.
While there are certainly stars in Japanese baseball, the game’s fans particularly value cohesion and harmony among the teams.
In contrast, the American variety of the game places greater emphasis on individual performance and excellence.
These cultural differences are reflected not only in the game, but also in everyday team activities, such as collaborative work environments.
This is also reflected in how players prepare for games. Practice for teams is organized quite differently between Japanese and American leagues.
Japanese teams train for much longer periods, sometimes amounting to more than 10 hours. This is a cultural shock for American players who spend time training with Japanese teams.
Regardless of an individual player’s performance, in Japan, no player gets any sort of special treatment when it comes to practice time.
For the Japanese, this approach ensures cohesion between team members, which is evident in the way they relate to each other on the field.
This is also reflected in how infrequent players change teams in Japan. Loyalty is a central element in belonging to a team.
There is also a strict hierarchy in how players relate to their team managers, who hold the highest authority, and therefore, receive the greatest respect.
Even athletes who go on to play for the American league reflect their team loyalty, as part of their salaries goes to their home team as a fee intrinsic to the player’s salary. Pictured is Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
In the US, American players prioritize individual stars to carry a team’s performance. Superior performing players also hold a series of privileges. Pictured is baseball legend Alex Rodriguez.
Players are often traded, playing for different teams depending on salary offerings and opportunities.
But for both the US and Japan, baseball is losing its place as the primary pastime, as other sports take center stage.
In Japan, soccer is experiencing a huge surge. Although baseball is still the most popular sport, trends show that soccer may soon replace its rank.
This trend is especially evident among younger generations, who are increasingly turning to soccer to pursue their athleticism.
In the US, football is already a much more popular sport than baseball. Televised football games outperform every other sport by far.
Despite its projected downtick in terms of spectators, baseball remains an enduring sport in both nations.
Sources: (AP News) (University of Michigan) (Association for Asian Studies)
Batter up: the surprising differences between American and Japanese baseball
A beloved game for both nations, with striking differences between the two
LIFESTYLE Sports
For both the United States and Japan, baseball is one of the nations' most popular sports. There are, however, stark differences between how the game is both played and consumed in each country. Stylistic differences, rules, and fan culture are just some examples of how the game differs from America to Japan.
Curious to know more about how the "bat and ball dance" appears around the world? Click on.