A Brief History of the Rise of Baseball in Japan

Sometime between 1867 and 1873, an Americanleague in Japan is formed by corporate
professor, Horace Williams, at what is now Tokyosponsorship of employee teams that play in local
University, is credited with introducing baseball toleagues and for a national championship.
the country of Japan. Williams came to Japan toThere was a professional women's baseball league
teach English and American History, but his sportsas well. Beginning in 1952, the women’s teams
interest is what has impacted Japan the most.took part in semiprofessional leagues until early in
Fellow American Albert Bates, teaching at Kaitakuthe 1970s. The Japan Women's National Team
University, organized the first baseball game intook silver medals at the Women's Baseball World
Japan.Cup in both appearances.
The first Japanese baseball club, the ShinbashiJapanese youngsters in the Little League World
Athletic Club Athletics, was organized in 1878 by aSeries have won five of the championships and
former U.S. student who was a fan of the Bostonhave placed second three times. As of 2007, the
Red Sox. By 1896, the skill of the still amateurJapanese championship team will not be required
players was demonstrated during the firstto win an Asian regional competition, but will
international baseball game played between Ichikoproceed directly to the Little League World Series.
team from Tokyo's First High School and anThe Big Six University League was the
American team organized at the Yokohamaorganizational structure for baseball in Japan from
Country and Athletic Club. The Japanese hadthe 1900's through the 1930s. Now, at the
challenged the Americans to the game and wereuniversity level, the All-Japan University
not taken seriously. The American spectatorsChampionship is an annual competition for school
jeered and booed the Japanese at the thoughtteams.
that they could beat Americans at their 'nationalIn the search for stronger competition, a
pastime.' The Japanese team soundly defeatedJapanese team from Waseda University traveled
the Americans.to the United States in 1905. Three years later,
During the years between 1903 and 1934,the baseball team from the University of
amateur baseball in Japan was wildly popular.Washington returned the visit and played in
University teams were vying with each other inseveral games that became the pattern of
the Sokeisen, between Waseda University andinternational interest in the sport of baseball. 21
Keio University; and at the Summer Koshien orAmerican college teams made the trip to Japan
National High School Baseball Championship as well.and several Japanese teams made the return
The National High School Baseball Invitationaljourney to the United States. Professional players
Tournament or Spring Koshien began in 1924.from the United States, including Babe Ruth and
Many senior high schools in Japan participate in theTy Cobb, also toured and played exhibition games
National High School Baseball Championship and orin Japan.
the National High School Baseball InvitationalIn 1934, during Ruth's visit, 75,000 spectators
Tournament. The tournament is named afterjammed into the Koshien Stadium to see the MLB
Koshien Stadium which was built in 1922 and is thestars. Internationally, the Japan national team has
oldest of the Japanese stadiums. The stadiumwon three Olympic medals, two Intercontinental
seats 55,000 people and still has grass, unlikeCups, and captured medals in six Baseball World
most other stadiums in the country which haveCups. The outstanding star quality of the
astro-turf.Japanese baseball players has now made many
Professional baseball in Japan can be traced backAmericans newly aware of the history of
to 1920, although the first professional league wasJapanese participation in the American national
not organized until 1936, consisting of six teams.pastime. In particular, activities of Ichiro Suzuki,
The first professional team was created byHideki Matsui, and other players from Japan who
Shouriki Matsutarou and is now known as thehave been playing in the major leagues have
Yomiuri Giants. The current highest Japaneseheightened interest in the history of the sport in
professional competition is Nippon ProfessionalJapan.
Baseball, created in 1949 consists of four leagues.Intense nationalism in Japan in the years previous
The year 2005 marked the foundation of theto World War II saw some major changes in
Shikoku Island League. Japan fielded a franchisebaseball in Japan, but following the War, the
known as the Tokyo Dragons as part of the nowinterest in baseball play resumed and has been an
defunct Global League in 1969. An effective minorintegral part of Japanese life ever since.