I introduce an interesting Japan in English.
Another video explains the same content in Japanese, so please check it too.
Today’s topic is ” #yakyu “, and ” #koshien “.
■English
Baseball is called ” #Yakyu ” in Japanese.
This name was translated by a baseball player “Kanoe Chuma” in the Meiji era and is a very popular sport that few people don’t know in the world and Japan.
As the major leagues in the United States, there are professional baseball leagues in Japan.
There are a total of 12 teams, 6 in the Central League and 6 in the Pacific League.
The season will start in spring, and in autumn a match game is held to decide the best team in Japan.
Professional baseball games in Japan are lively with everyone singing songs and clapping their hands. In the 7th inning, each team will sing a cheering song and fly balloons (Some stadiums do not allow balloons).
At the end of the game, fireworks sometimes will be set up to celebrate the victory, so even people who are not very familiar with baseball can enjoy it.
And what is unusual about Japanese baseball is that in addition to professional baseball, high school baseball also attracts attention.
Have you ever heard the word ” #Koshien ” during summer in Japan?
This is the common name for the national high school baseball championship held in August.
A national high school baseball championship is held every year at a baseball stadium named “Hanshin Koshien Stadium” in Osaka, so this championship is commonly called “Koshien” after the name of the stadium.
In this “Koshien”, the team that won the match in each prefecture will play a tournament and decide the best in Japan.
All games will be broadcast on TV, and the final game is held during the summer vacation, so adults and children watch TV.
In some years, a powerhouse school wins, and in other cases, an unnamed high school wins in a big upset, and the director and players of the winning school become a hot topic.
Some active players in Koshien will join as professional baseball players next year.
Ichiro, a Major League Baseball player, has also played in Koshien when he was a high school student.
Unfortunately, it was canceled because of COVID-19 last year, but this year’s Koshien will be held for the first time in two years, so I think many people are looking forward to it.
It is still forbidden to sing cheers and fly balloons, but I can’t wait for the day when the pandemic ends and we can enjoy baseball games freely.
How was it?
Which baseball players or teams do you like?
Please let me know in the comments.
