Effect of earthquake and tsunami on Japanese baseball

Thanks woodrow....it's like you were reading my mind.

We (MCYSA) believe that Team Japan will be coming out for the MCYSA/USSSA 15U International Championships at the end of July but we obviously would understand if they did not come. At the moment, the thought is that the trip will help the boys who come to Crystal Lake in getting thru an extremely tragic situation. All I know for certain is that our thoughts and prayers are with all of Japan.

Woody;

In 1995 our American High School National team
played the Japan National team in Sendai. In all of the 15 visits to Japan, Sendai is my favorite city.

"Wide" streets reminds me of Paris. I am very sadden to see the destruction of this city.

Professional baseball will provide an "outlet" to the people of Japan. Major corporations [banks, railroads, steel, newspaper] own the professional teams. During my visits, I learn the reason for the "tie" games. Many of the spectators worked during the day in the assembly line production and the companies desired that no game continue after 11 PM so that the worker could go home and sleep and be rested for the next day "on the line".

Bob

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The news videos from the Sendai region and beyond necessarily focus on the flat terrain that was inundated by the tsunami, but on long camera shots the conifer tree lined ridges can be seen in the distance. Beautiful.

The area reminds me of the Oregon Coast where I was born and raised. Through the news accounts of this disaster I've learned a lot about the Japanese landscape in that region of their country. I can see why you found that area appealing. I would feel likewise if I were to visit.

Sendai, Japan

Obviously the center of Sendai was not hit by the tsunami, but the area towards the coast was.

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Woody:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/new...-baseball-pro-season

The Spring High School tournament of 32 teams will now be played in Osaka. In previous years, I have visited this tournament and the August tournament to watch the games with 30,000 attending.

Many of the Japanese pro teams and college teams select players from this Spring and August tournaments [49 teams]. Over 40 million watch on TV.

If a high school baseball player plays in the tournament, he will have a employment opportunity on graduation with a Japanese Corporation.

Bob
PS: "I was paid for my interview" in Yen inside a white envelope

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Wow! That tournament has been around since 1924. I wouldn't have guessed that!



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Thanks to Bob Williams, we had the opportunity in 2002 to witness the Japanese people's intense love for the sport. Given what I saw there, it's hard to imagine anything boosting the national morale more than the resumption of baseball.

Thank you; this another update from the Australia
Baseball community.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/le...-20110321-1c3vt.html

Bob

Life, and baseball goes on in Japan. The healing power of sports endures, but not without some controversy. Interesting that the Japanese professional leagues have not yet contributed positively the way the high school tournament has. Koshien looks to me like truly a awesome baseball event.

Koshien Tournament

spizzlepop,
Thank you for posting this article. My wife has been very attentive to the developments and alerted me to this one earlier this week.
I am not surprised that the HS baseball tournament would begin to make a major impact.
A number of years ago I read about HS baseball in Japan and what this tournament truly means. It is amazing to read of games attended by up to 60,000, with the game being broadcast across the nation and business and social life coming nearly to a halt to listen.
With that said, of all I have heard and read, this article my wife found leaves me with profound feelings and respect for the people in Japan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03...nted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

Infield Dad and Sizzle;

The Japan National HS tournaments are played in the Spring [32 teams] and in August [2 weeks 50 teams].

The Spring tournament averages 30,000 in attending and 20 million watching on TV. The August tournament will average 42,000 attending and 40 million watching on TV.

There are 49 prefectures [States] in Japan and over 4,000 high schools play baseball.

When Sizzle's son traveled, we played the State teams on a tour. We did play in the dome stadium.

Bob

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Update.

A little more info.

And even a little more.

"The Eagles' home of Sendai has been one of the hardest hit by last month's earthquake and tsunami, and they're unable to use their own stadium until April 29."

Hard to imagine they'll be playing a game here on April, 29th.




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Woody;
http://www.gattonstar.com.au/s...-of-baseball-season/

This was reported today from Australia.
My friend, D. White is a scout for the "Eagles" team from Sendai and my son, Robert is employed by SSK bats company from Japan.

Bob

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Thanks for the link Bob. "Gambaro Nippon!" indeed!



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