How Popular Is Baseball In Japan?

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan. Every year, millions of fans flock to stadiums to watch their favorite teams battle it out.

Introduction

Japan has a long history with baseball, dating back to the late 1800s when the sport was introduced by visiting Americans. Baseball quickly gained popularity, and by the early 1900s, Japanese teams were playing against American sides in exhibition games. In 1936, Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh made his debut with the Yomiuri Giants, a team that remains one of the most popular in the country today.

Over the years, Japanese players have made their mark in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, including stars like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. In recent years, there has been a growing contingent of Japanese players in MLB, including Kenta Maeda, Shohei Ohtani, and Yu Darvish.

With its rich history and strong presence in MLB, it’s no surprise that baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan. Here are some more facts and figures about baseball’s popularity in Japan:

History of Baseball in Japan

Baseball in Japan is not as popular as it is in America, but it has a long and rich history. The first recorded instance of baseball in Japan was in 1872, when an American named Horace Wilson taught the game to students at the Tokyo Kaisei School. Baseball became more popular in Japan after WWII, when American GIs taught the game to Japanese soldiers.

Early Beginnings

The first recorded game of baseball in Japan took place in 1873, between a team of American sailors and a team of Japanese players. The game was not widely popular, however, and it would be another 50 years before baseball began to gain a following in Japan.

The sport began to grow in popularity during the 1920s, thanks in part to American expatriates who were living in Japan at the time. These Americans helped to promote the game, and by the 1930s, there were several professional baseball leagues in operation in the country.

During World War II, baseball was largely abandoned in Japan as the country turned its focus to the war effort. After the war ended, however, the sport quickly regained its popularity.

Today, baseball is one of Japan’s most popular sports. There are two professional leagues in operation, and games are regularly televised across the country.

The Meiji Period

After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, baseball quickly became popular among the young men of Japan who were sent to study in the United States. Horace Wilson, an American educator who was living in Tokyo at the time, is credited with introducing the game to Japan. In 1872, he taught a group of his students how to play and by 1873 there was an official baseball club at Keio University. The game continued to grow in popularity and by 1890 there were over 400 teams in Tokyo alone.

The Taishō Period

The Taishō period is when baseball first became popular in Japan. The game was introduced by an American professor at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, Horace Wilson. It quickly became a popular pastime among students at the university. From there, it spread to other colleges and high schools around the country.

The first professional baseball team in Japan was founded in 1934. The team was called the Tokyo Giants and they were part of the Japanese Baseball League. The league only lasted for three years before it disbanded due to World War II.

Baseball became popular again after the war. In 1950, the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) was founded and it has been the main baseball league in Japan ever since. The NPB is made up of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League. Each league has six teams.

The most popular teams in Japan are the Yomiuri Giants (formerly Tokyo Giants) and the Hanshin Tigers. These two teams have a big rivalry, similar to the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry in America.

The Shōwa Period

During the Shōwa period, baseball became widely popular in Japan. Professional baseball began in 1936 with the formation of several company-sponsored leagues. These leagues later merge into the six-team Japan Professional Baseball League (NPB). The NPB was reorganized into two divisions in 1950. In 1954, a team made up of players from Nippon Professional Baseball competed against a team of Major League All-Stars in Japan, helping to increase interest in the sport.

As baseball’s popularity increased, so did the level of competition. In 1965, Sadaharu Oh, considered by some to be the greatest hitter in baseball history, led his team, the Yomiuri Giants, to nine consecutive championships. Oh’s career home run record stood until it was broken by Ichiro Suzuki in 2013.

The first Japanese players to make an impact on Major League Baseball were pitchers Masanori Murakami and Hideo Nomo. Murakami made his debut with the San Francisco Giants in 1964 and Nomo pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1995-1998. Other successful Japanese players include pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka, Koji Uehara and Yu Darvish; infielders Tadahito Iguchi and Akinori Iwamura; and outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.

Popularity of Baseball in Japan

Baseball is a very popular sport in Japan. Every year, more than 3 million people go to watch baseball games. Baseball is also the most popular sport for betting in Japan.

Participation

Japanese baseball is extremely popular, with participation rates among both children and adults. According to a 2017 survey by the Japan Sports Agency, baseball was the most popular sport in the country, with nearly 13 million people playing it regularly. This was followed by football (soccer), with just over 11 million participants.

The popularity of baseball in Japan can be traced back to the Meiji period (1868-1912), when the sport was introduced to the country by American settlers. It quickly gained popularity, particularly among those who were looking for a way to stay physically fit and healthy. In 1896, the first professional baseball league was founded, and by the early 20th century, baseball had become one of Japan’s most popular sports.

Attendance

Baseball was first introduced to Japan in 1872 by an American teacher, Horace Wilson. It quickly became popular, particularly among university students. Today, it is one of the most popular sports in the country.

While professional baseball began in Japan in 1920, it was not until 1934 that a league consisting of corporate-sponsored teams was formed. The current professional league, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), consists of 12 teams divided into two six-team circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League.

The NPB season runs from late March/early April to October, with each team playing 144 games. The top three teams from each circuit advance to the playoffs, consisting of a best-of-three first round and a best-of-seven championship series.

Baseball is also popular at the collegiate level. There are nearly 500 college baseball teams in Japan, with the season running from February to May. The annual College World Series is held every August and features eight teams from around the country.

At the high school level, there are approximately 5,000 teams nationwide and the season runs from March to May. The national high school tournament is held every August and features 48 teams from across Japan.

Television Ratings

In Japan, baseball games are broadcast on a variety of television channels including public and commercial broadcasters. The majority of Japanese people live in areas where they can receive broadcasts of baseball games. According to a survey conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2017, 73.9 percent of respondents said they had watched or listened to a baseball game on the radio or television in the past year. This was slightly higher than the 73.3 percent who said they had done so in 2016 and was the highest percentage since the survey began in 2008. The percentage of people who said they had watched or listened to a game on the internet or mobile phone in the past year was also higher than in previous years, at 19.6 percent in 2017.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that baseball is popular in Japan. It is one of the most popular sports in the country, and there are many professional teams. However, it is worth noting that baseball is not as popular as some other sports in Japan, such as sumo wrestling and soccer.