| One of the most popular sports in Japan, baseball, | | | | Yokohama Bay Stars Ballpark: Yokohama Stadium |
| is about to start its new season soon and is well | | | | Yakult Swallows Ballpark: Gingu Stadium |
| worth catching a view of even if you are not an | | | | Tokyo Hiroshima Toyo Carp Ballpark: Hiroshima |
| avid fan. Japan's professional baseball season is | | | | Shimin Stadium |
| from April to October. There are two leagues in | | | | Hanshin Tigers Ballpark: Hanshin Koshien Stadium |
| Japanese professional baseball: the Central League | | | | Pacific League |
| and the Pacific League. There are six teams in | | | | Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks Ballpark: Fukuoka |
| each league. The winners from both leagues meet | | | | Yahoo Dome |
| in the Japan Series in October. In July, two or | | | | Seibu Lions Ballpark: Seibu Dome |
| three All-Star games are held by best players | | | | Golden Eagles Ballpark: Full Cast Stadium Miyagi |
| from two leagues. Also, exchange games | | | | (Sendai) |
| between two leagues called koryu-jiai are planned | | | | Chiba Lotte Marines Ballpark: Chiba Marine Stadium |
| every year. | | | | Orix Buffaloes Ballpark: Osaka Dome |
| This has been the main event where some or | | | | Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1872 by |
| most of the Japanese community become one, | | | | Horace Wilson, and the first formal team was |
| They unite or sometimes bet on either teams, | | | | established in 1878, and it has been a popular |
| however this is the instance where all Japanese | | | | sport since. It is called ?? (????; yakyu) in |
| people gather in one place and together cheer for | | | | Japanese, combining the characters for field and |
| their favors. This game has always been | | | | ball. |
| compared to other games that exists in the | | | | It is played at all age levels but most widely in |
| country but still, statistics showed an unfavorable | | | | junior high schools and senior high schools. In |
| result. Also to other countries this is being mostly | | | | March and August, two tournaments are held in |
| compared. | | | | Koshien Stadium for senior high school teams that |
| It's going to be so much fun to see popular | | | | win a prefectural tournament. |
| baseball teams and players. If you are living in | | | | The highest level of competition is Nippon |
| Japan or visiting Japan, plan to go watch a baseball | | | | Professional Baseball, started in 1920. It is called |
| game near you. You can contact each team's | | | | Puro Yakyu (????), meaning Professional Baseball. |
| ballpark. Here are the details of the main teams | | | | In 2005 the Japan Samurai Bears began play in |
| stadiums: | | | | the Golden Baseball League, becoming the first |
| Central League | | | | Japanese team in an American professional |
| Yomiuri Giants Ballpark: Tokyo Dome | | | | baseball league. |
| Chunichi Dragons Ballpark: Nagoya Dome | | | | |