The sport of baseball has been played in Japan since 1873. The first time was played at Kaisei Gakko, now Tokyo University. This happened under the instruction of an American Horace Wilson. In the year 1880, the first Japanese baseball team was formed at the Shimbashi Athletic Club. Around the same time, there were several college teams formed in Tokyo. During the period of 1890 to 1902, the team from the First Higher School in Tokyo, Played and beat a team made up of Americans living in Yokohama. From this point on, the Japanese have been very serious about the game. They have also been good enough to beat Americans. The games played by the Americans and school students helped make baseball one of the most popular sports in Japan.
Adults and college kids weren't the only ones playing baseball back then. In 1900, there were baseball clubs formed in middle schools in Japan. This shows how serious the Japanese people took the sport of baseball. In 1903, an intercollegiate rivalry began. This was between waseda University and Keio University. Then, in the year 1914 a league was formed by Waseda, Keio, and Mejii Universities. there were three other universities. They were Hosei, Rikkyo, and Tokyo. These six teams became the Tokyo Big Six University Baseball League. By the year 1945, the Big Six was the most popular league in Japan. Having such a great high school and college system shows how dedicated the Japanese are to this sport. By the late 1970's there were over 250 college teams in Japan. The Leading team from each region compete in the annual Japan Collegiate Baseball Championship.
Adults and college kids weren't the only ones playing baseball back then. In 1900, there were baseball clubs formed in middle schools in Japan. This shows how serious the Japanese people took the sport of baseball. In 1903, an intercollegiate rivalry began. This was between waseda University and Keio University. Then, in the year 1914 a league was formed by Waseda, Keio, and Mejii Universities. there were three other universities. They were Hosei, Rikkyo, and Tokyo. These six teams became the Tokyo Big Six University Baseball League. By the year 1945, the Big Six was the most popular league in Japan. Having such a great high school and college system shows how dedicated the Japanese are to this sport. By the late 1970's there were over 250 college teams in Japan. The Leading team from each region compete in the annual Japan Collegiate Baseball Championship.
The image above is of some high school baseball players in Japan.
1 comment:
Does Japan play any of the American teams? Or do they just have leagues thoughout Japan?
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