Pop Japan

Every August, Japan is united by a single sport: baseball. And no, it is not a professional baseball match but merely a national high school baseball championship. But to the Japanese people of all ages, it is more than just an amateur game. Games are broadcasted on TV but some fanatics would prefer to watch the game live.

49 baseball teams representing 49 high schools all over Japan compete in the annual Summer Koshien or simply Koshien. The tournament is held for two weeks during the summer break at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Hyogo Prefecture. From June to July, regional tournaments are held to determine who will end up at the nationwide level.

But for the high school teams, these three months are not the only time when they are worn out. All throughout the year, they go through series of trainings and practices which are held almost everyday after their classes. Even on weekends, the baseball teams play all day to improve their skills on throwing, catching, and hitting.

For the teachers and coaches of these kids, it’s their way of educating their students about determination and discipline. The students also learn sportsmanship at the field and most of all, they learn not to give up even in times of defeat.

For the students, more than the lessons that they gain on the field, the pride and glory of stepping inside the Koshien Stadium means more than anything else to them. Some of the best players who end up in the Koshien Stadium, even if they don’t win, are recruited by professional baseball teams. Some universities also provide scholarships to players who have promising skills.

The players, besides training, also needs to maintain a certain grade to be part of the team. This is strictly implemented in most teams around Japan to ensure that their students are not only good in the field but also in their studies.

Being part of the Koshien means more than anything else to high school baseball teams. They train and exhaust themselves everyday but the only reward that they want is being able to step inside the stadium and prove to the rest of Japan that they are indeed the best baseball team in the whole country.