One of the most popular sports in Japan, baseball, is about to start its new season soon and is well worth catching a view of even if you are not an avid fan. Japan's professional baseball season is from April to October. There are two leagues in Japanese professional baseball: the Central League and the Pacific League. There are six teams in each league. The winners from both leagues meet in the Japan Series in October. In July, two or three All-Star games are held by best players from two leagues. Also, exchange games between two leagues called koryu-jiai are planned every year.



This has been the main event where some or most of the Japanese community become one, They unite or sometimes bet on either teams, however this is the instance where all Japanese people gather in one place and together cheer for their favors. This game has always been compared to other games that exists in the country but still, statistics showed an unfavorable result. Also to other countries this is being mostly compared.

It's going to be so much fun to see popular baseball teams and players. If you are living in Japan or visiting Japan, plan to go watch a baseball game near you. You can contact each team's ballpark. Here are the details of the main teams/stadiums:

Central League

Yomiuri Giants Ballpark: Tokyo Dome

Chunichi Dragons Ballpark: Nagoya Dome

Yokohama Bay Stars Ballpark: Yokohama Stadium

Yakult Swallows Ballpark: Gingu Stadium

Tokyo Hiroshima Toyo Carp Ballpark: Hiroshima Shimin Stadium

Hanshin Tigers Ballpark: Hanshin Koshien Stadium

Pacific League

Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks Ballpark: Fukuoka Yahoo Dome

Seibu Lions Ballpark: Seibu Dome

Golden Eagles Ballpark: Full Cast Stadium Miyagi (Sendai)

Chiba Lotte Marines Ballpark: Chiba Marine Stadium

Orix Buffaloes Ballpark: Osaka Dome

Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1872 by Horace Wilson, and the first formal team was established in 1878, and it has been a popular sport since. It is called ?? (????; yakyu) in Japanese, combining the characters for field and ball.

It is played at all age levels but most widely in junior high schools and senior high schools. In March and August, two tournaments are held in Koshien Stadium for senior high school teams that win a prefectural tournament.

The highest level of competition is Nippon Professional Baseball, started in 1920. It is called Puro Yakyu (????), meaning Professional Baseball.

In 2005 the Japan Samurai Bears began play in the Golden Baseball League, becoming the first Japanese team in an American professional baseball league.