Japanese High School Baseball

Sounds like a great experience. I go to Japan at least once a year on business and last year I was able to take in a professional japanese baseball game in Tokyo. Simply a great experience. The energy in the stadium for a routine mid season game was amazing - almost like a playoff game.

Next time over, I will make sure to take in some high school baseball. Has anyone ever gone to one of their big highschool tournement games?
What was that like?

Only 3 hours?? Apparently you were observing at a school that didn't take it's baseball seriously. 6-8 hour practices every day are not at all uncommon in both Japan and Korea.

When my son worked out with a Korean school team for a few months, they started at 1pm every day (they 're off the hook academically and are rreleased from class early to go eat and get ready for practice) and ended at 8pm.
They did take 30 minutes to feed the team from 5:30-6:00.

Osaka is a beautiful city -- were you able to get to the 'castles'??

quote:

Osaka is a beautiful city -- were you able to get to the 'castles'??

I have been to Nagoya and have made it to the castles there and indeed, they are something to experience.

With respect to baseball, never thought to go see a high school practice - cool idea. I was very impressed with their pro team in the World Games this spring.

I was in Osaka for business where I was able to take in a Yomuiri Giants vs the Yakult Swallows game at the Osaka dome .....the Hanshin Tigers were on the road so the Giants/Swallows were in town....seems everyone is a Giants fan......

I took the train down to Kyoto for a day and toured the old imperial palace and the golden shrine....

all in all a good trip......

Please open our web site <www.goodwillseries.org>.

Our American National Team has played the Japan National Team and the Japan State[Prefecture] Teams since 1983.

Each prefecture is 100 or more high schools. There are 49 prefectures and in Spring there is a tournament of 32 teams and in August 49 teams. Over 40 million people will watch the teams play in Koshien.

The Japan High School begin practice at 6:30 AM and again at 3 PM, seven days each week. Each high school team is 50 players, however on 18 can dress for the Tournament.

This year, Goodwill Series will host the Japan National Team for a 5 game World Cup in Coooperstown August 31 and Los Angeles September 2-4. We are selecting players now
with the help of the pro scouts.

Our trip to Japan June 7-20 is a preliminary as we will visit Kochi, Ehime, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka. Matsuyama. There will be
6 games, nine innings each played in high school stadiums seating 20,000.

We need a special American player to compete on this level of high school baseball.

In the recent World Games 42 players played in our Goodwill Series in Korea, Japan, China, Australia and America.

Bob Williams