Japanese Baseball

Scott Menscher
Edward R. Murrow High School
Brooklyn, New York City

Overview: In this lesson, students receive an introduction to Japanese baseball and its fans. By reading an article on Japanese baseball (which I wrote), giving a brief slide presentation of an actual baseball game, and showing some examples of Japanese souvenirs (or pictures thereof), students will be able to compare and contrast the Japanese and the American game.

Suggested Time Allotment: 45 minutes - 1 hour

Objectives: Students will:
1. Read the article "A Whole Different Ballgame" by Scott Menscher (Time Out New York May 25 - June 1, 2000. Issue No. 244. Available online at: http://www.timeoutny.com/travel/244/244.travel.baseball.html). In groups, compare and contrast the American and the Japanese games.
2. Make the connection that today's baseball is an international game, which includes stars from all over the world - including one of the biggest from Japan (Ichiro Suzuki)
3. Get a classroom demonstration of how a team clapper works, learn what some examples of Japanese baseball souvenirs are, and will receive a slide presentation.
4. Get a better understanding of the Japanese philosophy (or Eastern philosophy) of working in a group rather than being an individual (Western philosophy). Students will also learn about the Oendan, the fanatic fans who sit in the bleachers.
5. Later read Robert Whiting's novel You Gotta Have Wa (Vintage Books 1990)
6. Later research a Japanese baseball team on the Internet, and give a presentation to the class.

Resources/Materials:
- student journals;
- pens/pencils;
- paper;
- classroom board;
- copies of the article "A Whole Different Ballgame";
- handout of Japanese vocabulary words (see below);
- resources for researching Japanese baseball (computers with Internet access, books on Japanese baseball).

Activities/Procedure:
1. WARM-UP/DO NOW: In their journals, students will respond to the following prompt (written on the board prior to class):

a. If you have attended a baseball game, describe your experience at the game. What was it like? What did you eat? Where did you sit? Who did you see? Was it fun?
b. If you have not attended a baseball game, what do you know about baseball? What would you like to know? Does baseball interest you? Why or why not?

Students will then read their responses as a lead into the lesson.

2. As a class, read the article "A Whole Different Ball Game." Distribute a handout on Japanese vocabulary words and ask students to define them on the basis of the article. While reading, focus on the following questions:

a. How should an American feel if s/he sees a Japanese baseball game for the first time? Why?
b. Name some Japanese teams. Which team is the most popular? Where are most of the teams located?
c. How much do tickets cost?
d. Where is the best place to see a game? Why?
e. Which famous U.S. player visited Japan to play a game?
f. If going to a game, what activity should you do?
g. Go over the vocabulary and the various foods offered at the game.

3. The teacher will then give a brief slide presentation of a Japanese baseball game. Ideally, show a ticket stub from a Japanese game and ask the students what they recognize to be the same and what is different. Then show some examples of Japanese baseball souvenirs (or pictures thereof). Give a demonstration on how a clapper works and explain when it is used. Show any other pertinent Japanese souvenirs.

4. Divide the class into groups of three or four. Three groups will look for similarities between Japanese and American baseball (must have at least four similarities). The other three groups will look for differences between Japanese and American baseball (must have at least four differences). Each group will present their findings in class. The teacher will create a chart on the board and list the similarities and the differences found by the students.

5. WRAP-UP/HOMEWORK: At home or at school, students will use the Internet to research a Japanese player who plays ball in an American or a Japanese professional baseball team. Student will be provided with a list of web sites that have pertinent information (see below). The next day, students will give a brief presentation on what they learned.

Further Questions for Discussion:
- Do you think it is possible for our society to have organized cheering groups similar to the ones on Japan?
- Are there any countries where baseball is just as popular? Students who are from various Latin American countries should be encouraged to answer.
- Are there any other U.S. sports that have such international appeal?
- How many of you have ever eaten sushi? Do you think you could have sushi or yakitori at a baseball game?

Evaluation/Assessment:
Students will be evaluated on the basis of their initial journal entries, participation in class discussions, participation in group research, and final presentations.

Vocabulary:
Oendan yakisoba ebi yaki-ika
takoyaki sushi karaoke national pastime
Asahi plastic clappers scalpers sake

Extension Activities:
1. Read Robert Whiting's novel You Gotta Have Wa. Whiting, an American journalist based in Japan, provides a close-up of Japanese baseball (a.k.a. besuboru). Some of the items discussed include an overview of Japanese teams and fans, an explanation of the obsessive rituals associated with the game, and the history of Japanese baseball. Whiting also explains how and why Japanese baseball has both awed and angered American teams visiting Japan.

2. Along with reading the novel, watch excerpts from the movie Mr. Baseball starring Tom Selleck. (Directed by Fred Schepisi. WGA, USA/Japan: 1992.)

3. Write a series of journal entries from the perspective of an American baseball player playing for a Japanese team. Discuss how you could adjust to the language, fans, food and culture.

Interdisciplinary Connections:

Global History - Learn about Japan and its culture by teaching about the Japanese passion for baseball. Understand the ideas of fanaticism, and make connections between the fanaticism and nationalism of the 1930s and 1940s and today's baseball game in Japan. By taking a closer look at the culture of Oendan, students can understand that functioning as a group member rather than individually is an Eastern concept.

Journalism - Take a look online at how the American coverage of baseball compares to the Japanese coverage. Students will read stories and analyze statistics from both American and Japanese sports pages.

Mathematics - Create a worksheet with the salary information and statistics of a famous American baseball player. Then compare to a Japanese player's salary (www.japanesebaseball.com). Japanese players get paid in yen. Students must first find out the exchange rate and then compare the two salaries.

Media Studies - Watch the movie Mr. Baseball. Focus on the role of the American baseball player and on how he adapts to life in Japan. Then write a movie review giving a summary and your opinion about the film. In the review, the idea of an American living in Japan should be addressed.

Resources on the Web:
http://www.npb-bis.com - the official English-language site of Nippon Professional Baseball; features news, standings and more.

http://www2.gol.com/users/jallen/jimball.html - site of Yomiuri Daily columnist Jim Allen; provides a brief introduction to the history of professional and amateur baseball in Japan.

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/index.jsp - gives information on individual teams and players, as well as recent statistics on players.