Pop Japan

Baseball and soccer are two of Japan’s favorite sport. Ask a kid in high school what sport he plays, his answer would probably be baseball or soccer. Even if both sports are not native to the country, it became a wide hit once it came to Japan. Supporters even come to domes and arenas across Japan just to watch a live match.

Baseball is known to be a top sport even in elementary and high school level. In the professional level, Japanese baseball teams are known worldwide. Some athletes also end up being in international teams. There are two leagues which consists of six teams each in Japan. For the Central League we have Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Chunichi Dragons, Yokohama DeNA Baystars, Hanshin Tigers, and Hiroshima Toyo Carp. For the Pacific League, we have Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, Orix Buffaloes, Chiba Lotte Marines, Yomiuri Giants, Saitama Seibu Lions, and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. League championships are decided through games from March to October. The winner from the Central League and Pacific League will compete to know who is Japan’s top baseball team.

As for soccer, it is somehow similar to Europe’s football leagues. Local players also get promoted in the international football scene. The men’s national team is called Samurai Blue while the women’s team is called Nadeshiko Japan. For the professional level of football, we have the J. League which is divided into three divisions - J1, J2, J3. The semi-professional level is called the Japan Football League. Regional and prefectural leagues are also present in Japan. The Emperor’s Cup is one of the top tournaments in Japan wherein every league can participate to decide who is the best Japanese football team there is.

Games and tournaments are usually held in home courts and arenas. For fans, it is more exciting to watch a game live, especially when there are people with you cheering for you favorite team. Want to catch a live game? Check out their schedules and you might just have the best sports experience there is in Japan!