http://sports.yahoo.com/news/a...-back-133224003.html
Please read this article. For 17 years, I have watched this amazing National event and our American teams have played the best players from this National tournament.
There is a "common" tread. What is it?
Bob Williams
Goodwill Series - 30 years International Baseball
<www.goodwillseries.org>
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The common thread is Japanese cultural values. In Japan, it is expected that the individual should sacrifice himself for the good of the group. The star pitcher should throw 200 pitches to help the team win even if it is harmful to his health. The office worker should work overtime to help the company reach the sales goal even if it harms his personal life. A common saying in Japan about individuality is 出る釘は打たれる (the nail that sticks out gets hammered down). But Yu Darvish's father is from Iran, so he might not share the same opinion.
Kaizen;
you are absolutely correct. It is the "way of the samurai".
The philosophy for Japan government, baseball, business is the book "Musashi".
The famous Samurai in the 16th Century wrote the book "Five Rings" which has influenced baseball teams, coaches, players.
One important factor which allows the Japanese pitcher to pitch additional innings is a flat mound and throwing on the sidelines between innings.
It was difficult for our American HS hitters to have success, however the better than average hitters made adjustments.
Bob
It's not really "samurai", but it is something that all classes of people in Japan believe in. As a youngster, I watched Shun Fujimoto compete in Olympic gymnastics events with a broken leg. By continuing to compete while injured, he damaged his leg further and caused his career to end but was able to help win the gold medal for the Japanese team. I will always remember my elderly grandmother struggling to her feet to stand and sing the national anthem during the award ceremony to honor his sacrifice.
