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A man jumps up and
down, delight on his face. A woman, intense, shouts through a megaphone. They
and the people around them, all Asian, chant in unison. Some sport brightly
colored coats. Each wears at least one item of clothing in that color. Who
are they? What’s going on? A wider view shows
a couple hundred such chanters stationed just above a wall. A baseball player
races to the wall, looks up and watches the ball disappear into the crowd we
just saw. ****** Baseball means something to these
people – but what? Is it the same answer you’d get from American fans? We
will ask. Puray Boru: That’s
“Play Ball” in Japanese looks at cultural clashes and
challenges in baseball in the United States and Japan. As with other imports
from America, each country that plays the game adapts the sport to its own
ways. What can you tell about a people – in this case, the Japanese – by how
they have made “our” game their own? We will explore the differences between
the cultures by looking at the game that unites them – and separates them. One
observer described Japan and the U.S. as two countries separated by a common
sport. Reggie Smith, former L.A. Dodgers and Japanese outfielder, said of the
Japanese game, “This isn’t baseball. It only looks like it.” The Big Picture Sports
have frequently colored dealings between nations, for better or worse. Every Olympics creates camaraderie among countries
and controversy between them. No
wonder sports serves as an accessible, user-friendly prism through which to
view the interactions of nations. Never underestimate its impact on society.
When the first Japanese player to make a big splash in the big leagues, Hideo
Nomo, began to wow American fans, his importance to the Japanese was such
that he became just the second athlete to receive the Kikuchi Award, given to
individuals who are instrumental in introducing the Japanese culture to other
countries. A Long History
Together We
will trace the history of Japanese baseball, from its introduction to the
country in the nineteenth century and the wildly popular barnstorming tour by
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the 1930’s to the game’s role in nation’s postwar
healing and the development of professional leagues. Americans
brought the sport to Japan and still come over to play in its major leagues.
They have to concern themselves about more than just the game. Robert
Whiting, author of You Gotta Have Wa, is
considered by most reviewers to be the starting point for understanding the
Japanese approach to the game. In his 1989 book, he wrote that before a “work
ball” game, infielders vomited blood during the “death drill” of a thousand
grounders, and that managers were god (it was OK to slap a player in full
view of a packed ballpark and to advise players on their sex lives if you
thought it would help them play better.) ©
Steve Holmes Productions 2007 |
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Click
here for Steve’s photos and stories of his taping adventures in Japan and the
U.S. We’ll add new photos and accounts as we get them. |
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This website is new and evolving. Look
for new features in the coming months as the project progresses. |
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Overview |