Perspectives

The open sky over the baseball park, a rare commodity in space-tight Tokyo, is one unique joy of watching baseball games.

Visitors to Japan, even the uninitiated, would naturally be interested in sampling some traditional culture -- Mount Fuji, old temples, geisha, exquisitely made kimono and so on. Those history-seeking tourists are often disappointed and complain that there is too much westernization in contemporary Japan.

While such an objection is certainly justified, visitors should also keep in mind that Japan is a country where an import from abroad often gets rapidly internalized and assimilated into its ongoing traditions. Whenever a cultural element, say a pasta dish, the art of cocktail making or a piece of Walt Disney animation, is taken into the country, it gets rapidly transformed into something that would resonate with the Japanese taste.

Thus, although Japanese anime certainly owes its origins to inspirations and technical imports from abroad, it is now a genre on its own, having become something genuinely Japanese. Murakami Haruki's novels show how intrinsic sensitivity and aesthetics go on thriving in a society where many things had been originally imported and borrowed from other cultures.

Tension in the stands runs high as the home team comes to bad.

If you are interested in the internalization of an imported culture the Japanese way, I heartily recommend going to a professional baseball game. A baseball stadium is a very relaxing place, with lots of people with good intentions. You can enjoy various kinds of Japanese beer, yet another example of excellent internalization of Western culture.

Although sumo wrestling would come first and foremost in many people's minds as a typically Japanese sport, baseball also has been called the national pastime, commanding a broad fan base and earning big money. Until the surge of the popularity of soccer in recent years, professional baseball had held the position of "the king of spectator sports," especially during the years of spectacular economic growth in the postwar era. The image of a salaryman sitting in front of a television, drinking beer and cheering for his favorite team conjures up feelings of nostalgia in the hearts of many Japanese.

Once in a stadium, you would notice that many things are different from the American counterpart. For example, the fan band typically plays a specific theme song for each player. When the pitcher gets a strikeout, there is a special theme to play down the opponent. It is not only the cheering, but also the play itself that is highly coordinated. The overall impression might be similar to the automated and efficient manufacturing processes of Japanese automobiles and electronics.

In some ball parks, during the summer, there is the additional bonus of fireworks to enjoy.

Japanese professional baseball is a case where internalization eventually led to global excellence. The Japanese habit of internalization is the source for both strengths and weaknesses of the culture. For many years, it was argued that as Japanese baseball was played in a different manner than in America, it was "no match to the real thing." The situation and perception changed when Japanese players, notably Nomo Hideo, Suzuki Ichiro and Matsui Hideki started to play in the major leagues, and did surprisingly well. The tentative pride grew into firm confidence when Japan became the World Baseball Classic champion twice in a row, beating America.

Professional baseball is internalized, very Japanese, and yet can cope with the fierce competition of today's globalized world. There is thus a precious ethos behind the nation's favorite sport. In the recent economic and political slump of the nation, a glimmer of hope can be found in baseball stadiums, something a visitor might well appreciate and enjoy.

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Kenichiro Mogi, born in Tokyo in 1962, is a neurologist now working as a senior researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratories and as a cooperating professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology graduate school. He also appears regularly on television and radio to discuss the workings of the human brain.