The Old Ball Game An American dream can be defined
through an examination of the American lifestyle, and by picking out the
most common themes. The most common themes Americans associate
with are the basics: graduating at the top of the class, finding a
high-paying job, settling down with the perfect spouse, a house in the
suburbs with a white picket fence, two children running through the yard
chasing the dog and of course apple pie and baseball. Yes,
baseball is considered by many to be part of the American dream. It is
through baseball that many can relive their childhood. It has been the
one daily and constant event that the American society depends on to be
there during every summer night. The annual fall classic, the World
Series, catches the attention of the entire country. Like the New York
Yankees, baseball has become a part of America. After World War II,
many countries were completely demolished physically and mentally.
Among these countries was Japan. Countless numbers of Japanese
people were dead, and land, buildings, and entire cities were destroyed.
For the first time in Japan's history, their "God" had spoken to the public
destroying his immortal reputation. During the postwar years, Japan
looked to the major powers of the world to develop a foundation for a new
country. Included in this foundation was a need for new ideas and
dreams. Of course Japan did not completely erase thousands of years of
tradition and culture, but Japan did take many international ideas and
transformed them into her own. In the Movie Mr. Baseball, a Japanese
woman describes Japan's borrowing techniques. "Japan takes the best
from all over the world and makes it Hers" (Welles). Included in the world
powers of the time was America; therefore, Japan borrowed several ideas
from the United States. One such idea just happened to be America's
National pastime, baseball. The history of Japanese baseball dates
back to the middle 1800's. They "adopted baseball from the U.S. as early
as 1873" (Constable 23), but the spark for baseball ignited during the
post war occupational years. A foreign student from Japan explains, "The

thousands of American troops stationed in Japan after the war kindled the
passion for baseball that was lacking before the war" (Akutsu). The
American soldiers showed the Japanese the American ways of baseball,
and the popularity of Japanese baseball has skyrocketed from that time
on. Baseball in Japan has reached the top level with its professional
standings. Many other countries throughout the world have tried to
establish the American sport of baseball but "Japan is the only country in
the world to have developed a real enthusiasm for baseball outside
the context of American culture and political domination" (Tasker 30).
Why would the Japanese be searching for a new "pastime" or
dream to take over their country? George Constable, a critic of baseball
in Japan, explains, "The Japanese are finding increasing time to
participate in a variety of leisure activities, including several sports from
the United States. Among the most popular is baseball" (24). The
people of Japan are swallowing up this new obsession. If they are not
playing the game professionally, they are finding ways to become a part
of baseball. Constable says, "Today the game has so many players that
public playing fields must be booked a month or two in advance.
Baseball is also Japan's leading spectator sport with 15 million people a
year attending professional games" (23). Japan has taken the
American dream and shaped it to fit their basic mold. The Japanese are
known throughout the world for being extremely dedicated to their work.
This dedication has spread to their baseball. Where Americans look at
baseball as fun and entertainment the Japanese think of baseball as
work. It is expected that with the birth of a new "pastime", excitement and
interest will follow. No one in the U.S. expects a new trend, especially in
the form of recreation, to be effected by the work ethic, but Japanese
standards expect the most out of every activity including recreation.
Even when baseball was center stage in the United States, it was in no
way related to the work place; almost the direct opposite. The Japanese

have "transformed America's pastime into a game that mirrors their
obsession with hard work and harmony. The consequences are often
alarming" (Whiting 76). Whiting is implying that Japan's work ethic
combined with America's dream of baseball could overrun the American
version. Baseball is taken so seriously in Japan that even the
corporations owning the teams enforce the relationship between baseball
and work. "Japanese teams assume the names of the corporation that
own them, rather them the cities where they play" (Fimrite 65). Dialogue
taken from Welles's movie, Mr. Baseball, relates American baseball to
Japanese baseball by showing the two different sides. An American
baseball player is forced to play within the Japanese system. The
different styles and beliefs between the two countries causes tension
between him and the Japanese coach. "Baseball is work, not fun," says
the Japanese coach. "Baseball is grown men getting paid to play a
game. When you were a little kid I bet you didn't pick up a bat and ball
cause you were dying to work?" answers the American player (Welles).
Americans tend to think of baseball as fun and pleasurable while the
Japanese consider it to be actual work, sometimes causing them to miss
the fun that the American dream provides. Since Japan shaped their
baseball from the U.S., there are many similarities between the two. On
the other hand, Japan is vastly different from the U.S. which explains the
many differences. "Japanese professional baseball is molded closely on
the U.S. system where two separate leagues are maintained" (Tasker
31). American baseball is divided into two leagues: the American
League and the National League. Japan also breaks down into two
leagues: the Central League and the Pacific League. Japan even copies
team mascots by "having names like the Buffaloes, Braves, and Tigers"
(30). In each case the rules remain the same, but that is where the major
similarities end. Playing style differs the greatest. American baseball is
known for big ball parks, grass infields, aggressive play, home plate

collisions, small strike zones, battling pitchers, and homerun hitting
all-stars. According to Ron Fimrite, the Japanese systems runs a little
different: Their ball parks are considerably smaller, in some parks the
infields are entirely dirt, the aggressive doubleplay breakup had to be
introduced by an American, the strike zone is the size of a big screen
television, constant hooking of troubled pitchers, and homerun hitters
sacrificing runners along to abide to basic strategy. (64)
Although Japanese baseball is well established, it can still use some
help from the United States. Some Americans travel to Japan to play
baseball either because they are not good enough to play in the states, or
because a Japanese team needs the American experience. Once the
Americans arrive in Japan, they are greeted with a mixture of feelings and
expectations. "Americans must perform well enough to keep their teams
afloat, but must be careful not to eclipse the local heroes" (Tasker 31). It
is important for the Americans to play well and win games for their teams,
but if they come close to breaking Japanese records, they are
immediately taking out of the spotlight. "Ray Bass, who hit 220 homers in
the U.S. minor leagues, looks absolutely Ruthian at the plate in Japan,
also with three triple crowns, the most prestigious award in all of baseball"
(Nefk 72). Ray Bass was on pace to tie and possibly beat the Japanese
record for most homeruns in a season until pitchers started intentionally
walking him to keep the record in Japanese hands. Some Japanese
people feel "it is time for them to play America's game without the
Americans" (Fimrite 66). One Japanese manager said, "I think it is better
to have only Japanese players on the teams" (qtd. 66). Even though the
Japanese have taken an American tradition, some are not fully willing to
share it with the rest of the world, namely its founders. Japan is
also beginning to challenge America's love for the game. American
baseball fans can find their identification to the sport through the
"American" team, the New York Yankees. Japan also has a New York

Yankees of their own. "A visitor would find many Japanese as passionate
about the Yomiuri Giants as any baseball fan in the U.S." (Constable 24).
Peter Tasker explains the significance of the Giants, "The Giants is not
just a baseball club, it's an institution through which Japanese people can
reassure themselves of their essential fellowships" (31). These Giants
are much like the American Yankees in that they are both ambassadors
for the sport. Like the New York Yankees of the U.S., the Yomiuri Giants
of Japan have become a national symbol representing a new dream and
also the American dream. There is no question that Japan has taken a
great part of the American dream and plugged it into their way of life.
The many similarities and differences between the two countries capture
a wonderful part of the American spirit which is rapidly becoming the new
Japanese spirit. Japan has looked to America to develop several of their
dreams. Works CitedAkutsu, Daisuke. Personal
Interview. 17 Nov. 1995.Constable, George. Japan. Alexandria,
Virginia: Time Life Books, 1985.Fimrite, Ron. "Land of the Rising
Fastball." Sports Illustrated 9 Sept. 1985: 62.Mr. Baseball. Dir.
Orson Welles. Perf. Tom Selleck. Universal City Studios, Inc.,
1992.Nefk, Craig. "The Hottest American Import in Japan." Sports
Illustrated 23 March 1987: 74.Tasker, Peter. The Japanese. New York:
Truman Talley Books, 1987.Whiting, Robert. "The Pain of
Perfection." Sports Illustrated 5 may 1989, 76.