Fall sports are well under way at William Penn, the Eagles are 2-2, and the Phillies are in the playoffs! What a great time to think about sports in Japan!In Japan, they have many of the same sports we have here. They enjoy golf, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, volleyball, tennis, and they even have Formula 1 racing! Sumo, a Japanese style of wrestling, is the national sport. The origins of Sumo are ancient and have their roots in the Shinto religion. Sumo was invented as a way to entertain the Shinto gods. Many religious rituals and ceremonies are still included in the professional Sumo events today.
In addition to Sumo, the Japanese enjoy football...only when they talk about football in Japan, they do not mean the old "pigskin", they are talking about soccer. The professional soccer team in Japan is called the J-League and it has two divisions, J1 and J2. 1998 was the first year that a Japanese team made it to the World Cup, but they keep trying. In fact, there might even be a World Cup qualifying game taking place in Tokyo while I'm there!
The most popular professional sport in Japan is baseball. Baseball?!?!? I thought that was as American as apple pie!? Actually, baseball was brought to Japan by an American, Horace Wilson, in 1873. The sport caught on very quickly and Japanese amateur leagues were formed. From 1890 to 1902, a Japanese college team would often play a team made up o
f Americans living in Japan. The games were immensely popular, especially because the Japanese almost always defeated the Americans! In 1934, an American Pro team came to Japan and the first Japanese professional team was organized. Today, Japan, like the United States, has two professional baseball leagues: the Central League and the Pacific League. Their baseball season runs until the end of October, which means I might even get a chance to go to a Japanese professional baseball game! That MIGHT make up for missing the Phils in the playoffs ;)
4 comments:
I think watching a Japanese baseball game would be interesting. Did you know that the softball team in Japan won the gold medal in Bejjing?
Too bad that you will miss the Phillies because they will go all the way to the World Series and finally win again!!!!!!!!
Hey Ms. Brazina.
I think its really cool that they play baseball in Japan. Are the rules the same as they are in the states, or are they altered a little? It would be really cool to see a professional baseball game in Japan!
See you for the hour in D period!
I didn't realize that the Japanese softball team won the gold medal in the Olympics. What a great fact, Kimmie!
Elena, you asked a great question about the rules of baseball in Japan. I didn't even think that they might be different! Hopefully I will get a chance to go to a game and I can let you know about the rules. Meanwhile, I got caught up in the "Phillies Phever" and bought a Phillies baseball hat as part of the gift for my host family!
Hi Ms Brazina,
I think that your going to have a great time in japan. Your probably going to learn so many things to learn and share.
ZACH CLEALE
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