Japan, Quintessentially

The annual summer HS baseball tournament, Koshien, is coming to a close. Winners of tournaments in each of the country's 47 prefectures (technically, four are not 'prefectures', but no matter), plus an additional team each from Japan's largest, Hokkaido, and most populous, Tokyo, traveled a couple of weeks ago to the Kansai region of western Japan for the annual 3-week tournament held at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture ( but it might as well be Osaka) and home field of the professional team, Hanshin Tigers (who don't feel like a Hyogo team at all). The semis were today, with the finals scheduled for Friday, when Kyoto International School face Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) to decide the champion. So, why is HS baseball, Koshien specifically, quintessentially Japanese? To be continued... To continue, while the games showcase individual effort- after all, it's sport- the emphasis is definitely not the individual but the school and its traditions, the community, and ultimately, the prefecture the players represent. There is heart, and there is hustle. Lots of both. There is no boasting of individual exploits or self- promotion in interviews, none of the me me me. Both on and off the field, players are self-effacing and quick to ground their efforts in something larger than themselves. And, most importantly and quintessentially, to thank those (parents, teammates, coaches, supporters) who have made the journey to Koshien possible. I find it throroughly refreshing to watch a game played at the highest level. By kids. Who behave like true sportsmen. No whingeing, no arguing of calls. So-called professionals, take note. Unspoilt by ego, by money...Koshien is a rare and joyous experience. Video from the first of the semis, Kanto vs. Kamimura Here is a video from Aomori Yamada, which lost to its opponent Kyoto.