Last spring Japan captured its second World Baseball Classic title in as many tries. The final game was a nail biting back-and-forth showdown with rival South Korea in front of a packed house of thunder-stick wielding Los Angelenos. It was a game and a climax that has since silenced critics and answered all questions about the WBC’s legitimacy. The Land of the Rising Sun’s ‘Samurai Japan’ team has brought the Japanese art of baseball to the forefront of the international spotlight, but you don’t have to wait for the next WBC to see it for yourself.
The thing about baseball in Japan is you need to realize it’s “Japanese baseball.” While that might seem straightforward, it isn’t. It’s still a game of one nine-man team versus another nine-man team, three strikes and you’re out, they play for nine innings, the ball is round with red stitches, it looks like the same thing no matter who’s playing or where it’s being played, right? Wrong.
My first Japanese baseball game was back in 2007. The SoftBank Hawks were playing a struggling Orix Buffaloes team. I had some good seats just a bit up the first base line and close enough to the field that you could still read the left handed batters’ names as they dug in at the plate. As I sat there and watched the Hawks pick apart the Buffaloes, something gnawed at me in the back of my mind. It was baseball, all the elements were there to assure me I was watching a baseball game, but something was just a little bit off. The feeling I had watching the game was just different.
I’ve gone to hundreds of games in the United States; from Little League, to the College World Series, to the New York Yankees, but Japanese baseball was unlike all of that. At the Hawks game there were cheerleaders in miniskirts waving pom-poms and directing chants. Beer girls toting (awesome) beer-keg backpacks circled the stadium like clockwork. There were some war drums pounding throughout the entire game in the right field bleachers. I don’t think there was a peanut anywhere in the stadium, but vendors were selling everything from takoyaki and dried squid to KFC chicken and pizza.
Even the thirty-five thousand fans were a little different. American fans spend as much time trying to get on the jumbo-screen as they do watching the game sometimes. But the Hawks fans, if they’re not in the middle of some chant or smacking their thunder-sticks together, are generally quiet – they stay seated, eyes focused on the field and the players. Surrounded by so many people so intent on the happenings on the field, it made the game seem more important and I couldn’t help but feel the same way. But it wasn’t any of those cosmetic things that made the game seem so different. It was the nature of the game and soul of the sport that were foreign to me.
A QUICK HISTORY LESSON
Baseball, also called Yakyu (literally ‘field ball’), came to Japan in the Meiji Era. An American professor named Horace Wilson introduced the game to his students at Kaisei Gakko, (present day Tokyo University). In its infant stages it worked its way through the universities mirroring American Football’s early start in the United States around the same time. No admission was charged for any of the games for the first thirty years because the players thought it would be morally inept to accept money for something they loved to do.
The first professional Japanese teams formed in 1920, but, strapped with financial difficulties, they lasted only a few years. The second time around they got it right though. In 1934 the Dai-Nippon Baseball Club was formed in Tokyo followed by the Osaka Baseball Club the following year. Both teams are still around today, Dai-Nippon became the famous Yomiuri Giants and the team out in Osaka is now know as the Hanshin Tigers.
Though play was briefly stopped during WWII, the game picked up where it left off with renewed frenzy following the war. The league was revamped and renamed in 1950 to the current setup that exists today, the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). It is also referenced as “Nippon Besuboru”, “Nippon Yakyu” and “Pro Yakyu”, as well as “Japanese Baseball” by those outside of Japan.
BUSHIDO & BASEBALL
Perhaps in the kendo strikes, or on the judo mats, or thrown in the salt by the sumo wrestlers, a strong sense of the ancient ideals and philosophies we know as Bushido is most authentically preserved. But it’s on the baseball diamond that the evolved spirit of the warrior is readily available to everyone. While there’s no katanas (usually), top-knots, or seppuku, the Japanese baseball player is regarded by many as the modern day equivalent of the samurai.
In the twilight years of Japanese baseball, the Japanese players quickly realized that the American style of play didn’t really suit them. They needed a more Japanese method, something that would reflect their spirit and ideology. The training method that was designed with that in mind resembled martial arts more than a western sport.
The team Ichiko, from the First Higher School of Tokyo, pioneered this true Japanese style of baseball in 1896. They believed that training was about pushing yourself mentally and physically to the edge of exhaustion and breakdown. They incorporated teachings from the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings, practicing day in and day out with this goal: “Surpass today what you were yesterday.” They also followed the principles of judo, in that through rigorous training, a strong spirit, and mental discipline it is possible for a smaller combatant to surpass larger opponents.
Managers that copied the Ichiko system of training had a ‘train until you die’ motto. Pain was ignored and weakness was forbidden. The training camp of the 1936 Giants was designed not to develop baseball skills, but to sharpen fighting spirit. The camp was nicknamed “Vomit Camp.” It was written that “from the mud and sweat… the soul of the Giants was born.” The Hanshin Tigers’ camps in Osaka were equally extraordinary with players walking barefoot over the naked blade of a samurai long sword to strengthen mental control. To wit, in a publication by the Alumni Association of Ichiko published in 1903 they explained that baseball, “came from the West. In Ichiko baseball, we were playing sports, but we were also putting the spirit of Japan into it. Yakyu is a way to express the samurai spirit.”
THE FIELD
Nippon Professional Baseball is made up of twelve teams divided into two separate leagues.
Central League
Chunichi Dragons
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hanshin Tigers
Yakult Swallows
Yokohama Bay Stars
Yomiuri Giants
Pacific League
Orix Buffaloes
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Seibu Lions
Chiba Lotte Marines
Like America’s National League and American League the only remarkable difference between the two leagues is the designated hitter rule in the Pacific League while the pitcher must still bat for himself in the Central.
Teams aren’t privately owned as they are in America. So team names typically use the company name in lieu of the cities they are based in. Instead of the ‘Fukuoka Hawks’ they’re referred to as the ‘SoftBank Hawks’ and the logo on the hat is an intertwined ‘S’ and ‘H’.
Perhaps the biggest difference in rules between America and Japan is games that go into extra innings. Games tied after nine innings of play will be played an extra three innings. If a winner can’t be decided by the bottom of the twelfth then the game is recorded as a tie. Ties are a rare occurrence in MLB, but last year alone the Hawks had five of them.
The regular season is between 130-145 games long. It starts in March and lasts until early October. The top three teams of each league go on to the playoffs called “Climax Season.”
It’s much more advantageous to finish first as opposed to second or third. The second and third place teams play each other in a three game series for the chance to take on their league’s first place team. The winner of that three game series will advance to the second stage and a best of seven series with the first place team. The first place team starts off with a single game lead over the challenger, so the first place team advances after three wins, while their opponent must win four to continue. The Japan Series is a best of seven games set.
SPRING
An American baseball player named Roger Hornsby was once asked what he did in the off-season when there was no baseball. He replied, “I stare out my window and wait for spring.”
That’s not the Japanese way.
On February 13th I went down to the SoftBank Hawks’ Miyazaki based training camp. They’d already arrived two weeks ago and while I didn’t see any sword walking, I did watch team captain Kokubo Hiroki stay long after team practice was over. He pulled ball after ball over the left field fence, I stopped counting after his 100th swing and had to run to catch my bus home after what I guess was swing number two hundred. In comparison, the teams in America didn’t have players arriving at spring training until February 17th this year and practices didn’t start until the following week.
The influence of the Ichiko system is still prevalent. Ten hour practice days are not unheard of. Some teams still hold intense autumn camps designed to increase mental toughness and build character. It’s this dedication to their style of baseball that makes Japanese baseball unique. They run out every play, they bunt and sacrifice at nearly every opportunity, they train and they train, and each player aims to improve himself individually to maximize his contribution to the team. Players play through injury and hide pain for the sake of the team and the fans. Each at bat is a mental battle, each game is a war, and every season is a campaign to be better than they were before.
At a press conference going into the WBC last year the manager, Hara Tatsunori, explained the choice of ‘Samurai Japan’ for the team name. “In Japanese baseball,” he said, “the Bushido code is a big part of the game. We really want to play a brand of baseball that reflects Japan.”
HOMETOWN HAWKS
The Hawks are originally from Osaka. They were formed in 1938 by the Nankai Electric Railway Co., but moved to Fukuoka when Daiei, Inc., a department store chain, bought them in 1988. In 2005 the team was purchased by SoftBank.
The Hawks have collected fifteen Pacific League Championships and they’ve won the Japan Series four times – most recently in 2003. Ailing health brought Oh Sadaharu’s run as manager to an end after the 2008 season. Plagued by injury the ’08 Hawks finished in last place. Oh’s retirement brought an end to his popular career in baseball as both the international leader in career home runs, and a wildly successful run as the manager of powerhouse Hawks teams whose dominance lasted about a decade. Akiyama Koji was selected to take over after Oh’s departure and the Hawks rebounded for a 3rd place finish last year. Despite a quick exit from the first round of the Climax Series, expectations remain high for 2010.
“TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME…”
The Hawks play in the Yahoo! Japan Dome, commonly referred to as the Yahoo Dome or simply the Dome. It is the first and only stadium built in Japan to feature a retractable roof. Stadium capacity is around 37,000 and somehow there’s really not a bad seat in the stadium. The way the stadium is designed, you watch the game with a great line of view and you never feel far from the action.
The right field is the main Hawks cheering section. I like to avoid it just because of the heavy percussion section that tirelessly pounds out cheers, but give it a go if you enjoy a good drum-line and want to see the most ardent fans up close.
Each Hawks player has their own cheer that involves chanting their name accompanied by a series of hand motions that look more complicated than parking instructions for a jumbo jet. Personally, I prefer waving my Hawks towel in a circular motion, but make sure you’ve got plenty of room.
When I was playing ball in the Florida swamps I often wondered why American football and basketball had cheerleaders and the only women that cheered at my baseball games consisted of a troop of mini-van driving mothers. The Honeys, the Hawks’ cheerleader team, cheer for the team throughout the game and even have performances in the 5th and 7th innings so make sure you don’t run to the concessions then.
MASCOT MAYHEM
The Hawks truly have one of the more complicated mascot groups in sports today. In fact, they are one shy of being able to field their own team.
*Harry Hawk—Yellow. He replaced Homer Hawk, his older brother, as the main mascot years ago. It appears from pictures of Homer Hawk that he just wasn’t modern enough to keep his job. I could find no data on Homer Hawk’s current whereabouts though (conspiracy??)
*Honey Hawk—Pink. Harry’s main squeeze, head of the cheerleaders.
*Harculy Hawk—Orange. He’s Harry’s teammate and his long time rival from their university days.
*Honky Hawk—Yellow. Harry’s middle-aged uncle, wears a round hat. Incumbent mayor of Hawks Town.
*Helen Hawk—Yellow. Honky’s wife since high school, resembles a California gold prospector.
*Huck Hawk, Rick Hawk, and Hock Hawk—Three brothers and Harry’s nephews.
GLOBOPHOBIA AND THE 7TH INNING STRETCH…
I suffer from globophobia. It’s a fear of balloons and a medically recognized phobia (honestly). I’m not sure where I rank as far as severity, but I’m well known for bolting out the door when confronted with one of these rubber menaces. Because of this, the 7th inning stretch – in Japan it’s called “Lucky 7” – is pure hell for me.
Starting at the top of the 7th inning, nearly every fan in the Dome starts inflating their balloons. These aren’t your garden variety balloons either. Fully inflated they can grow to nearly a meter in length – like shiny yellow snakes. By the end of the top half of the inning nearly everyone has their balloons fully inflated, some of them holding one in each hand. By that time I’ve typically run off to order a last helping of seasoned fries, or to browse through the rare MLB merchandise exclusive to the stadium in the gift shop, or to try to get an autographed ball out of the UFO crane games that are stationed around the stadium.
Armed with my iPod blaring Weezer and my trusty camera, I did stay for the spectacle once. It really did look amazing. The stadium was transformed into a sea of yellow. The crowd sang the Hawks anthem. The cheerleaders danced and jumped around. And then at the end everyone let go of their balloons and this cloud of yellow rose like a sudden flame. I was lost in a yellow wriggling world. The balloons shot this way and that before they fell back down. It was over in an instant, but it was amazing and at least for me…terrifying.
2010 HAWKS
(The calculations for this section are based off the information I could find and personal calculations. I’ll be the first one cheering an ESPN Japan, but until that day I have to rely on Excel and what I can remember of programing macros from high school.)
The Hawks’ improvment in 2009 was built on the backs of their pitchers. There were, however, times of uncertainty and super ace Kazumi Saito was still unable to return (and the possibility of that happening is getting slimmer and slimmer). There were a few hampering injuries and the power hitters that carried the team during their near decade long run of dominance are aging. They had a quick exit in the Climax Series getting swept in two games by the Rakuten Eagles. It looked like they had run out of steam after a long tough season.
PITCHING
The Hawks easily had the second best pitching in the Pacific League (PL) last year. They trailed the Fighters by two one-hundredths in ERA and held their opponents to a sub .250 batting average — lowest in the league and the only team to accomplish it. They did this despite losing one of their top starting pitchers, Wada Tsuyoshi, mid-season to injury.
In 2009 they had arguably the best 1-2 punch in the PL behind aces Sugiuchi Toshiya and D.J. Houlton. The pair combined for 26 wins and a 2.61 ERA. With Wada back this season the trio could win over 35 games in 2010.
The Hawks also boast a strong bullpen. Brian Falkenborg has excellent control allowing few free passes last year (9BB to 62K in 46 games). Rookie Settsu Tadashi appeared in 70 games, held opponents to a 1.47 ERA, and earned the Rookie of the Year award for his efforts. And closer Mahara Takahiro saved 29 games, second only to the Fighters’ Takeda Hisashi (34). This can shorten close games down to five or six innings and take pressure off the starting rotation.
This season they’re looking to promote one of their relievers or prospects to the starting rotation. The Hawks already have the talent to have the strongest pitching in the PL. If another starter can step up and eat up some quality innings then they can reduce the workloads of the staff aces and preserve the stamina of the bullpen for a strong push come fall.
By Matt Schuellein
Originally published in Fukuoka Now magazine (fn136,April,2010)
