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").

Particulars

In the week preceeding the tournament in spring and summer, teams who have won a

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spot in the tournament each hold a 30 minute practice on the grounds of Hanshin

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K?shien Stadium. This is mainly to help the players adjust to the environment

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of the stadium. In the summer, due to scheduling conflicts with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, practices are held in the mornings only.

Related Topics:
Hanshin Tigers - Nippon Professional Baseball

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In addition, teams are able to practice during the tournament at public and

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private facilities made available in Nishinomiya, and neighboring Osaka,

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Amagasaki, and Kobe.

Related Topics:
Amagasaki - Kobe

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Usually, 1st year students cannot take part in Spring K?shien (only 2nd and 3rd

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year students), so in three years of high school there are five chances for a player to go to?the K?shien.

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In November 2004, in response to a growing trend the Baseball Federation announced that players could not participate with dyed-hair or shaved eyebrows.

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