In Japan, there are two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League, each with six teams. The season starts in the spring, and 144 games are played each year, including "interleague games" between teams from the Central League and Pacific League, and "All-Star Games" between teams featuring star players chosen by fans and player votes. (As of 2023) We will play the regular season. After the season, the top three teams from each league will hold a league representative deciding match (climax series), where each league's representatives will compete to be the best in Japan. Each team has a stadium in its hometown, and there are companies that support it, so there are differences. The difference from American Major League Baseball is that the fans use trumpets and other loudspeakers to cheer, and sing cheering songs to encourage the fans. This time we will introduce a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.
Yomiuri Giants
Their home stadium is Tokyo Dome, Tokyo. It is the oldest team in Japan and has a long tradition. There is an image of spending a lot of money to acquire star players from other teams. The team once boasted star players such as world home run king Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima, and has an impressive track record of winning the league championship for nine consecutive years. The game was broadcast on terrestrial television and could be seen all over Japan, gaining national popularity. Terrestrial broadcasting is now very rare. This may have been due to the spread of BS/CS broadcasts, internet distribution, and the spread of sports other than baseball, such as soccer.
Hanshin Tigers
Nishinomiya, Osaka. Their home stadium is Koshien Stadium. It is the second oldest team in Japan and has a long tradition. A team that constantly competes with the Yomiuri Giants and is popular as a rival. However, 20 to 30 years ago, Japan's performance after becoming number one in Japan in 1985 was poor and was called the "Dark Ages." Their results have improved since Senichi Hoshino took over as coach in 2002 and won the league title in 2003. The team's home stadium, Koshien Stadium, is the venue for a tournament to determine the best high school player in Japan, and is probably the most famous baseball stadium in Japan. It is also deeply rooted in the lives of the cheerful people of Osaka, who talk about it when communicating at work or in their private lives. Also, there are many enthusiastic fans.
Chunichi Dragons
Their home stadium is Nagoya Dome (currently known as Vantelin Dome Nagoya as of 2023). This is a team with a history. Senichi Hoshino, who was introduced earlier in the Hanshin Tigers section, was active when he was a player and manager. When Hiromitsu Ochiai, who was active in both leagues, took over as manager in 2004, he became a hot topic for his unusual style of management. They were a strong team, winning many league championships and winning the number one title in Japan, but it seems that their fan base did not increase that much because they prioritized winning. I think it is famous for replacing pitchers who were about to play a perfect game and choosing a player who was not an ace as the opening pitcher.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Their home stadium is Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (as of 2023, MAZDA ZOOMZOOM Stadium). This is a team with a history. It has the image of being a citizen's baseball team. I think this comes from the fact that we started out as a citizen baseball team. They uniformly wore red helmets and other parts, and were called the "Red Hell Corps." The stadium is new and has barbecue seating. Around the 2000s, they were far from winning the championship, but since 2016 they have won consecutive league titles and become number one in Japan. I get the impression that he trains his players hard and trains them. There is an academy in the Dominican Republic that accepts players for training, and one player, Soriano, went on to play in the majors after leaving the team.
Yokohama DeNA Baystars
Their home stadium is Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama. This is a team with a history. The company's name and headquarters have changed several times due to mergers and parent company changes. In 1998, he and relief pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki, known as the "Great Demon God," became the best in Japan with a "machine gun batting line" that wouldn't stop. However, they have been away from winning the league since then.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Their home stadium is Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Meiji Jingu Stadium is famous as a university baseball venue. There are plans to rebuild the building due to its age. Lucky 7 will be cheered on by holding a blue umbrella with the Tokyo Ondo in the background when their own army attacks. The mascot character, Tsubakuro, is famous for his sarcastic, office worker-like responses, in addition to his cute appearance. The team created a golden era of data-driven ID baseball when Katsuya Nomura became manager in the 1990s.
Each team has its own characteristics. Why not try watching a game at the home stadium?
