High school baseball in Japan

In Japan, "high school baseball" (????: kōkō yakyū) generally refers to baseball tournaments played by high schools nationwide culminating at a final tournament at Hanshin K?shien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan. The tournaments themselves are commonly referred to as simply "K?shien". They are organized by the Japan High School Baseball Federation in association with Mainichi Shimbun for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in the spring (also known as "Spring K?shien") and Asahi Shimbun for the National High School Baseball Championship in the summer (also known as "Summer K?shien").

Related Topics:
Hanshin K?shien Stadium - Nishinomiya - Japan - Japan High School Baseball Federation - Mainichi Shimbun - National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament - Asahi Shimbun - National High School Baseball Championship

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These nationwide tournaments enjoy widespread popularity, arguably equal to or greater than professional baseball. Qualifying tournaments are often televised locally and each game of the final stage at K?shien is televised nationally on NHK. The tournaments have become a national tradition, and large numbers of frenzied students and parents travel from hometowns to cheer for their local team. It a common sight to see players walking off the field in tears after being eliminated from the tournament by a loss.

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The star players of the championship team achieve a degree of celebrity status. For the players, playing at K?shien is the door to playing at the professional level. Due to the recruiting practices of Japanese high schools, top prospects often play on strong teams that are able to reach the final tournament at K?shien. Several professional baseball stars first made their mark at K?shien, including Ichiro, Hideki Matsui, and Hideo Nomo.

Related Topics:
Ichiro - Hideki Matsui - Hideo Nomo

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