[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article:pro-baseball":3},{"meta":4,"markdown":78},{"type":5,"articleId":6,"slug":7,"title":8,"titleEn":9,"category":10,"summary":11,"publishedAt":12,"image":13,"vocabulary":14},"article","culture-pro-baseball","pro-baseball","プロ野球と高校野球 — 国民的スポーツの二つの顔","Pro Baseball and High School Baseball — Two Faces of a National Sport","culture","An overview of Japan's two great baseball traditions — the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) leagues with their Climax Series and Japan Series, and the spring\u002Fsummer Koshien high school tournaments that hold a unique cultural place — plus the modern bridge to MLB through Shohei Ohtani's generation.\n","2026-04-27T00:00:00Z","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.yamiyomi.com\u002Fculture-pro-baseball.png",[15,20,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,54,58,62,66,70,74],{"word":16,"reading":17,"meaning":18,"level":19},"球団","きゅうだん","baseball team","N1",{"word":21,"reading":22,"meaning":23,"level":24},"順位","じゅんい","standing","N2",{"word":26,"reading":27,"meaning":28,"level":24},"観客","かんきゃく","spectator",{"word":30,"reading":31,"meaning":32,"level":24},"入れ替え","いれかえ","replacement",{"word":34,"reading":35,"meaning":36,"level":19},"開幕","かいまく","season opener",{"word":38,"reading":39,"meaning":40,"level":24},"優勝","ゆうしょう","championship",{"word":42,"reading":43,"meaning":44,"level":24},"出場","しゅつじょう","appearance",{"word":46,"reading":47,"meaning":48,"level":24},"抽選","ちゅうせん","drawing",{"word":50,"reading":51,"meaning":52,"level":53},"地区","ちく","district","N3",{"word":55,"reading":56,"meaning":57,"level":53},"代表","だいひょう","representative",{"word":59,"reading":60,"meaning":61,"level":19},"後援","こうえん","sponsorship",{"word":63,"reading":64,"meaning":65,"level":53},"応援","おうえん","cheering",{"word":67,"reading":68,"meaning":69,"level":24},"球場","きゅうじょう","ballpark",{"word":71,"reading":72,"meaning":73,"level":19},"移籍","いせき","transfer (between teams)",{"word":75,"reading":76,"meaning":77,"level":53},"海外","かいがい","overseas","\n::para\n[日本]{にほん:Japan:N5}における[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}は、[単なる]{たんなる:mere:N3}スポーツの[一]{ひと:one:N5}ジャンルではなく、[戦前]{せんぜん:prewar:N3}から[続く]{つづく:continuing:N3}[国民的]{こくみんてき:national:N3}な[文化]{ぶんか:culture:N3}[現象]{げんしょう:phenomenon:N2}です。[商業]{しょうぎょう:commercial:N3}スポーツとしての[プロ野球]{プロやきゅう:pro baseball:N3}（NPB）と、[教育]{きょういく:education:N3}の[一環]{いっかん:part of:N1}としての[高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}という[二]{ふた:two:N5}つの[体系]{たいけい:system:N1}が[並立]{へいりつ:coexist:N2}し、[共に]{ともに:together:N3}[巨大]{きょだい:huge:N2}な[人気]{にんき:popularity:N5}を[誇って]{ほこって:boast:N1}います。\n\n#en\nBaseball in Japan is not merely one sports genre but a national cultural phenomenon continuing from before the war. Two systems coexist — Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as commercial sport and high school baseball as part of education — and both boast enormous popularity.\n::\n\n::heading\nNPBの[二]{に:two:N5}リーグ[制]{せい:system:N3}\n\n#en\nThe NPB Two-League System\n::\n\n::para\n[日本]{にっぽん:Japan:N5}[プロ野球]{プロやきゅう:pro baseball:N3}は[セントラル]{セントラル:Central}・リーグ（[セ・リーグ]{セリーグ:Central League}）と[パシフィック]{パシフィック:Pacific}・リーグ（[パ・リーグ]{パリーグ:Pacific League}）の[二]{に:two:N5}リーグ[制]{せい:system:N3}で[構成]{こうせい:composed:N3}され、[各]{かく:each:N2}リーグ6[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}、[計]{けい:total:N4}12[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}が[加盟]{かめい:affiliated:N1}しています。[公式戦]{こうしきせん:official games:N3}は[毎年]{まいとし:every year:N5}3[月]{がつ:month:N5}[下旬]{げじゅん:late:N1}に[開幕]{かいまく:open:N1}し、10[月]{がつ:month:N5}までの[約]{やく:approximately:N3}143[試合]{しあい:games:N3}を[戦い]{たたかい:fight through:N3}、[各]{かく:each:N2}リーグの[順位]{じゅんい:standing:N2}を[決めます]{きめます:decide:N3}。リーグ[優勝]{ゆうしょう:championship:N3}[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}は[一旦]{いったん:once:N1}「[リーグ優勝]{リーグゆうしょう:league champion:N3}」となりますが、[最終]{さいしゅう:final:N3}[日本一]{にほんいち:Japan's number one:N5}は[次]{つぎ:next:N3}に[述べる]{のべる:described:N2}クライマックスシリーズと[日本シリーズ]{にほんシリーズ:Japan Series:N5}で[決定]{けってい:decided:N3}されます。\n\n#en\nNPB consists of two leagues — the Central League and the Pacific League — each with 6 teams, for a total of 12 teams. The regular season opens in late March each year and the teams play about 143 games through October to determine each league's standings. The league champion is once called the \"league winner,\" but the ultimate Japan champion is decided in the Climax Series and Japan Series described below.\n::\n\n::heading\nクライマックスシリーズと[日本シリーズ]{にほんシリーズ:Japan Series:N5}\n\n#en\nThe Climax Series and Japan Series\n::\n\n::para\n2007[年]{ねん:year:N5}に[両]{りょう:both:N3}リーグで[導入]{どうにゅう:introduced:N2}されたクライマックスシリーズ（CS）は、[各]{かく:each:N2}リーグの[上位]{じょうい:top:N3}3[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}が[出場]{しゅつじょう:participate in:N4}するプレーオフです。ファーストステージは2[位]{い:place:N3}vs3[位]{い:place:N3}の[短期]{たんき:short-term:N2}[決戦]{けっせん:decisive battle:N3}、ファイナルステージはその[勝者]{しょうしゃ:winner:N3}vs1[位]{い:place:N3}（リーグ[優勝]{ゆうしょう:winner:N3}には1[勝]{しょう:win:N3}のアドバンテージ）で[行われ]{おこなわれ:held:N5}、[勝ち抜いた]{かちぬいた:advanced:N3}2[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}が[日本シリーズ]{にほんシリーズ:Japan Series:N5}で[激突]{げきとつ:clash:N1}します。[日本シリーズ]{にほんシリーズ:Japan Series:N5}は7[戦]{せん:games:N3}4[勝]{しょう:wins:N3}[制]{せい:system:N3}で、[勝った]{かった:winning:N3}[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}が「[日本一]{にほんいち:Japan's best:N5}」の[称号]{しょうごう:title:N1}を[手に]{てに:in hand:N4}します。\n\n#en\nIntroduced in both leagues in 2007, the Climax Series (CS) is a playoff featuring the top three teams from each league. The first stage is a short series between 2nd and 3rd place; the final stage pits the winner against 1st place (with the league winner given a one-win advantage). The two clubs that emerge clash in the Japan Series — a best-of-seven series whose winner takes the title of \"Japan's best.\"\n::\n\n::callout\n[二]{に:two:N5}リーグで[気質]{きしつ:character:N4}が[異なり]{ことなり:differs:N1}、[セ・リーグ]{セリーグ:Central League}は[伝統的]{でんとうてき:traditional:N1}に[読売新聞]{よみうりしんぶん:Yomiuri Shimbun:N4}・[阪神電鉄]{はんしんでんてつ:Hanshin Railway:N2}など[新聞]{しんぶん:newspaper:N4}・[鉄道]{てつどう:railway:N2}[資本]{しほん:capital:N3}が[強く]{つよく:strong:N4}、[パ・リーグ]{パリーグ:Pacific League}はソフトバンク・[楽天]{らくてん:Rakuten:N4}など[新興]{しんこう:new:N1}IT[企業]{きぎょう:company:N1}の[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}が[多い]{おおい:many:N4}のが[特徴]{とくちょう:characteristic:N1}です。\n\n#en\nThe two leagues have different characters: the Central League is traditionally backed by newspaper and railway capital like Yomiuri Shimbun and Hanshin Railway, while the Pacific League features many teams owned by newer IT companies like SoftBank and Rakuten.\n::\n\n::heading\n[人気]{にんき:popularity:N5}[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}の[群像]{ぐんぞう:group portrait:N2}\n\n#en\nA Portrait of the Popular Teams\n::\n\n::para\n[最]{もっとも:most:N3}[歴史]{れきし:history:N2}が[古く]{ふるく:old:N4}、[最大]{さいだい:largest:N3}のファン[層]{そう:base:N2}を[誇る]{ほこる:boast:N1}のが[読売]{よみうり:Yomiuri:N4}[ジャイアンツ]{ジャイアンツ:Giants}（[巨人]{きょじん:Giants:N2}）です。[本拠地]{ほんきょち:home stadium:N1}は[東京]{とうきょう:Tokyo:N4}ドームで、リーグ[優勝]{ゆうしょう:championship:N3}38[回]{かい:times:N3}・[日本一]{にほんいち:Japan champion:N5}22[回]{かい:times:N3}を[誇り]{ほこり:boast:N1}、[長嶋]{ながしま:Nagashima:N1}[茂雄]{しげお:Shigeo:N1}や[王]{おう:Oh:N3}[貞治]{さだはる:Sadaharu:N1}などの[伝説的]{でんせつてき:legendary:N3}[選手]{せんしゅ:player:N3}を[輩出]{はいしゅつ:produced:N1}してきました。[一方]{いっぽう:on the other hand:N4}、[阪神]{はんしん:Hanshin:N2}[タイガース]{タイガース:Tigers}は[関西]{かんさい:Kansai:N3}を[代表]{だいひょう:represent:N3}し、[甲子園球場]{こうしえんきゅうじょう:Koshien Stadium:N1}を[本拠地]{ほんきょち:home stadium:N1}として[熱狂的]{ねっきょうてき:fanatical:N1}な[応援]{おうえん:cheering:N1}で[知られて]{しられて:known:N4}います。[パ・リーグ]{パリーグ:Pacific League}では[福岡]{ふくおか:Fukuoka:N3}ソフトバンクホークスが[近年]{きんねん:recent years:N4}[圧倒的]{あっとうてき:overwhelming:N2}な[強さ]{つよさ:strength:N4}を[見せ]{みせ:show:N5}、[北海道]{ほっかいどう:Hokkaido:N4}[日本ハム]{にっぽんハム:Nippon-Ham:N5}ファイターズや[東北楽天]{とうほくらくてん:Tohoku Rakuten:N4}ゴールデンイーグルスも[地元]{じもと:local:N4}に[根付いて]{ねづいて:rooted:N2}います。\n\n#en\nThe most historic team with the largest fanbase is the Yomiuri Giants. Based at Tokyo Dome, they boast 38 league championships and 22 Japan Series titles, having produced legendary players like Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh. The Hanshin Tigers represent Kansai, are based at Koshien Stadium, and are known for their fanatical cheering. In the Pacific League, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have shown overwhelming strength in recent years, and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles are also rooted in their localities.\n::\n\n::heading\n[甲子園]{こうしえん:Koshien:N1} — [高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}の[聖地]{せいち:holy ground:N1}\n\n#en\nKoshien — The Holy Ground of High School Baseball\n::\n\n::para\n[阪神]{はんしん:Hanshin:N2}[甲子園球場]{こうしえんきゅうじょう:Koshien Stadium:N1}は[兵庫県]{ひょうごけん:Hyogo Prefecture:N2}[西宮市]{にしのみやし:Nishinomiya City:N1}にあり、[阪神]{はんしん:Hanshin:N2}[タイガース]{タイガース:Tigers}の[本拠地]{ほんきょち:home stadium:N1}であると[同時に]{どうじに:at the same time:N4}、[年]{ねん:year:N5}に2[回]{かい:times:N3}[開催]{かいさい:held:N1}される[全国]{ぜんこく:national:N3}[高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}[大会]{たいかい:tournament:N4}の[舞台]{ぶたい:stage:N3}でもあります。3[月]{がつ:month:N5}[下旬]{げじゅん:late:N1}から4[月]{がつ:month:N5}にかけての「[選抜高等学校野球大会]{せんばつこうとうがっこうやきゅうたいかい:Selection High School Baseball Tournament:N3}」（[春のセンバツ]{はるのセンバツ:spring Senbatsu:N4}、[毎日新聞社]{まいにちしんぶんしゃ:Mainichi Shimbun:N4}[主催]{しゅさい:host:N1}）と、8[月]{がつ:month:N5}の「[全国高等学校野球選手権大会]{ぜんこくこうとうがっこうやきゅうせんしゅけんたいかい:National High School Baseball Championship:N3}」（[夏の甲子園]{なつのこうしえん:summer Koshien:N1}、[朝日新聞社]{あさひしんぶんしゃ:Asahi Shimbun:N4}[主催]{しゅさい:host:N1}）が[毎年]{まいとし:every year:N5}[開催]{かいさい:held:N1}されます。\n\n#en\nHanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, is the home of the Hanshin Tigers and at the same time the stage for two annual national high school baseball tournaments. The \"Selection High School Baseball Tournament\" (Spring Senbatsu, hosted by Mainichi Shimbun) is held from late March through April, and the \"National High School Baseball Championship\" (summer Koshien, hosted by Asahi Shimbun) is held in August every year.\n::\n\n::heading\n[地方予選]{ちほうよせん:regional qualifier:N3}と[地区]{ちく:district:N2}[代表]{だいひょう:representative:N3}\n\n#en\nRegional Qualifiers and District Representatives\n::\n\n::para\n[夏の甲子園]{なつのこうしえん:summer Koshien:N1}に[出場]{しゅつじょう:participate in:N4}するためには、[各]{かく:each:N2}[都道府県]{とどうふけん:prefecture:N2}で[行われる]{おこなわれる:held:N5}[地方]{ちほう:regional:N4}[予選]{よせん:qualifier:N3}を[勝ち抜かなければ]{かちぬかなければ:must win through:N3}なりません。[全国]{ぜんこく:nationwide:N3}[約]{やく:approximately:N3}3,800[校]{こう:schools:N5}が[参加]{さんか:participate:N3}し、[北海道]{ほっかいどう:Hokkaido:N4}と[東京]{とうきょう:Tokyo:N4}は2[校]{こう:schools:N5}、その[他]{た:other:N3}[各]{かく:each:N2}[県]{けん:prefecture:N2}1[校]{こう:school:N5}の[計]{けい:total:N4}49[校]{こう:schools:N5}が[本大会]{ほんたいかい:main tournament:N4}に[進みます]{すすみます:advance to:N3}。[組み合わせ]{くみあわせ:bracket:N3}は[抽選]{ちゅうせん:drawing:N1}で[決まり]{きまり:decided:N3}、[一発]{いっぱつ:single:N4}トーナメント[制]{せい:system:N3}で[頂点]{ちょうてん:peak:N3}を[争います]{あらそいます:compete for:N3}。\n\n#en\nTo participate in summer Koshien, schools must win through regional qualifiers held in each prefecture. About 3,800 schools nationwide participate, and a total of 49 schools advance to the main tournament — two schools each from Hokkaido and Tokyo and one from every other prefecture. The bracket is determined by drawing, and they compete for the top spot in a single-elimination tournament.\n::\n\n::heading\nなぜ[高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}は[特別]{とくべつ:special:N4}なのか\n\n#en\nWhy Is High School Baseball Special?\n::\n\n::para\n[甲子園]{こうしえん:Koshien:N1}が[他]{ほか:other:N3}の[学生]{がくせい:student:N5}スポーツと[一線]{いっせん:line:N2}を[画す]{かくす:draw:N4}のは、[地元]{じもと:local:N4}[代表]{だいひょう:representative:N3}としての[誇り]{ほこり:pride:N1}と、[新聞社]{しんぶんしゃ:newspaper company:N4}による[圧倒的]{あっとうてき:overwhelming:N2}な[後援]{こうえん:sponsorship:N1}・[報道]{ほうどう:coverage:N3}[体制]{たいせい:system:N3}にあります。NHKと[朝日放送]{あさひほうそう:Asahi Broadcasting:N3}が[全]{ぜん:all:N3}[試合]{しあい:games:N3}を[生中継]{なまちゅうけい:live broadcast:N1}し、[各]{かく:each:N2}[県]{けん:prefecture:N2}の[新聞]{しんぶん:newspaper:N4}は[地元]{じもと:local:N4}[代表]{だいひょう:representative:N3}の[一挙手一投足]{いっきょしゅいっとうそく:every move:N1}を[追います]{おいます:follow:N3}。[開会式]{かいかいしき:opening ceremony:N3}での[選手]{せんしゅ:player:N3}[宣誓]{せんせい:oath:N1}、[負けた]{まけた:losing:N3}[球児]{きゅうじ:player:N2}が[甲子園]{こうしえん:Koshien:N1}の[土]{つち:soil:N5}を[袋]{ふくろ:bag:N2}に[詰める]{つめる:put in:N2}[姿]{すがた:figure:N1}、[最後]{さいご:last:N3}の[夏]{なつ:summer:N4}を[終えた]{おえた:finished:N4}3[年生]{ねんせい:third year:N5}の[涙]{なみだ:tears:N2}—これらは[毎年]{まいとし:every year:N5}[繰り返される]{くりかえされる:repeated:N1}[国民的]{こくみんてき:national:N3}[風物詩]{ふうぶつし:seasonal tradition:N1}となっています。\n\n#en\nWhat sets Koshien apart from other student sports is the pride of being a local representative and the overwhelming sponsorship and media coverage from newspaper companies. NHK and Asahi Broadcasting broadcast all games live, and each prefecture's newspaper follows every move of its local representative. The player's oath at the opening ceremony, the figure of defeated players putting Koshien soil into a bag, the tears of third-years who have finished their last summer — these have become annually repeated national seasonal traditions.\n::\n\n::callout\n[高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}は[原則]{げんそく:principle:N2}として[商業]{しょうぎょう:commercial:N3}[広告]{こうこく:advertisement:N3}を[排除]{はいじょ:exclude:N1}しており、[球児]{きゅうじ:player:N2}の[坊主頭]{ぼうずあたま:shaved head:N2}や[「両校]{りょうこう:both schools:N3}[礼!」]{れい:bow:N3}の[儀式]{ぎしき:ceremony:N1}など、[教育]{きょういく:education:N3}の[一環]{いっかん:part of:N1}としての[厳格]{げんかく:strict:N1}な[精神性]{せいしんせい:spirituality:N3}が[今]{いま:still:N5}も[守られて]{まもられて:upheld:N3}います。\n\n#en\nHigh school baseball excludes commercial advertising in principle, and a strict spirituality befitting its role as part of education is still upheld — from the players' shaved heads to the \"both teams, bow!\" ceremony.\n::\n\n::heading\n[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}と[高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}を[繋ぐ]{つなぐ:connect:N1}ドラフト\n\n#en\nThe Draft Connecting Pro Teams and High School Baseball\n::\n\n::para\n[毎年]{まいとし:every year:N5}10[月]{がつ:month:N5}に[開催]{かいさい:held:N1}される[新人]{しんじん:rookie:N4}[選手]{せんしゅ:player:N3}[選択]{せんたく:selection:N1}[会議]{かいぎ:meeting:N3}（ドラフト[会議]{かいぎ:meeting:N3}）は、[甲子園]{こうしえん:Koshien:N1}で[活躍]{かつやく:succeeding:N1}した[球児]{きゅうじ:player:N2}たちが[プロ]{プロ:pro}への[扉]{とびら:door:N1}を[開ける]{あける:open:N4}[瞬間]{しゅんかん:moment:N1}でもあります。1[位]{い:place:N3}[指名]{しめい:nomination:N3}が[複数]{ふくすう:multiple:N2}[球団]{きゅうだん:team:N2}と[重複]{ちょうふく:overlap:N2}した[場合]{ばあい:case:N3}は[抽選]{ちゅうせん:lottery:N1}で[決まる]{きまる:decided by:N3}という[独特]{どくとく:unique:N1}の[制度]{せいど:system:N3}で、[テレビ]{テレビ:TV}[中継]{ちゅうけい:broadcast:N1}も[行われる]{おこなわれる:held:N5}[国民的]{こくみんてき:national:N3}イベントとなっています。[高校]{こうこう:high school:N5}・[大学]{だいがく:university:N5}・[社会人]{しゃかいじん:adult amateur:N4}[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}を[経た]{へた:going through:N3}[選手]{せんしゅ:player:N3}たちが[プロ]{プロ:pro}の[世界]{せかい:world:N4}に[飛び込む]{とびこむ:dive into:N3}[仕組み]{しくみ:system:N3}です。\n\n#en\nThe Rookie Selection Meeting (draft meeting) held every October is the moment when players who excelled at Koshien open the door to the pros. Under a unique system in which a lottery decides cases where the first-round nomination overlaps among multiple teams, the draft is broadcast on TV and has become a national event. It is the system by which players who have gone through high school, university, and adult amateur baseball dive into the pro world.\n::\n\n::heading\nMLBへの[挑戦]{ちょうせん:challenge:N1}と[逆輸入]{ぎゃくゆにゅう:reverse import:N2}[現象]{げんしょう:phenomenon:N2}\n\n#en\nThe MLB Challenge and the Reverse-Import Phenomenon\n::\n\n::para\n1995[年]{ねん:year:N5}の[野茂英雄]{のもひでお:Nomo Hideo:N1}のドジャース[移籍]{いせき:transfer:N2}を[皮切り]{かわきり:starting point:N2}に、イチロー、[松井秀喜]{まついひでき:Matsui Hideki:N1}、[ダルビッシュ有]{ダルビッシュゆう:Darvish Yu:N4}など[多く]{おおく:many:N4}の[日本人]{にほんじん:Japanese:N5}[選手]{せんしゅ:player:N3}がメジャーリーグに[挑戦]{ちょうせん:challenge:N1}してきました。[現在]{げんざい:currently:N3}は[大谷翔平]{おおたにしょうへい:Otani Shohei:N1}（ドジャース）が[投打]{とうだ:pitch and bat:N3}[二刀流]{にとうりゅう:two-way play:N1}で[歴史的]{れきしてき:historic:N2}な[活躍]{かつやく:performance:N1}を[見せ]{みせ:show:N5}、[鈴木誠也]{すずきせいや:Suzuki Seiya:N1}（カブス）、[山本由伸]{やまもとよしのぶ:Yamamoto Yoshinobu:N2}（ドジャース）、[今永昇太]{いまながしょうた:Imanaga Shota:N2}（カブス）も[第一線]{だいいっせん:front line:N1}で[戦って]{たたかって:competing:N3}います。これによって[日本]{にっぽん:Japan:N5}[国内]{こくない:domestic:N3}の[野球]{やきゅう:baseball:N3}[人気]{にんき:popularity:N5}が[再]{さい:re-:N2}[活性化]{かっせいか:revitalize:N3}し、MLB[中継]{ちゅうけい:broadcast:N1}が[早朝]{そうちょう:early morning:N4}にもかかわらず[高い]{たかい:high:N5}[視聴率]{しちょうりつ:viewership:N1}を[記録]{きろく:record:N2}するなど、[海外]{かいがい:overseas:N4}での[活躍]{かつやく:success:N1}が[国内]{こくない:domestic:N3}に[還元]{かんげん:return:N1}される[好循環]{こうじゅんかん:virtuous cycle:N1}が[生まれて]{うまれて:born:N5}います。\n\n#en\nStarting with Nomo Hideo's transfer to the Dodgers in 1995, many Japanese players — Ichiro, Matsui Hideki, Darvish Yu, and others — have challenged the major leagues. Currently, Otani Shohei (Dodgers) is putting up historic performances as a two-way pitcher\u002Fhitter, while Suzuki Seiya (Cubs), Yamamoto Yoshinobu (Dodgers), and Imanaga Shota (Cubs) compete on the front line. As a result, domestic baseball popularity in Japan has been revitalized, and a virtuous cycle has emerged in which overseas success returns to the home country — MLB broadcasts now record high viewership despite their early morning hours.\n::\n"]