As Seen in T-Ray’s Japanese Column in Daily Sports
As of December 1, NPB players are officially on winter vacation. Naturally, they keep practicing and working out on their own – it’s what players do away from coaches and media that determines their greatness. Year in and year out, they strive to put on the best show they possibly can, and the offseason is a chance for them to set a good foundation.
The same is true for H-TEN. Since starting this project back in 2014, I have worked my butt off to get into better baseball shape. OK, so I have done no physical training whatsoever. But what I have done is pick up book after book, magazine after magazine in an effort to learn this team, this league, this game inside out. Nothing can replace actually playing the game – throwing and catching the ball, swinging the bat, circling the bases, and more. But a little literature never hurt anyone, either, did it?
Here, ladies and gentlemen, are a few of my favorites from the past four years:
You Gotta Have Wa (Robert Whiting): Many consider this an essential read for anyone wanting to understand Japanese baseball, and even Japanese culture. Filled with history, anecdotes, and a description of how imports have tried (and often failed) to properly fit into Japan, this book is not only a window into the NPB, it opens the readers’ eyes to the mindset of a nation as well. The lone downside is that it was written in the early 1980s, so some of its descriptions are rather outdated. Still, in 30 years since its release, no other English book about baseball in Japan has been able to hold a candle to it. If you haven’t read it, do yourself a favor and ask Santa to put one under your tree this Christmas.
Hakkyu Taiheiyo wo Wataru (Masaru Ikei): Mr. Whiting used this book as the basis for much of what he wrote on the history of baseball in Japan in Wa. Ever wonder how this sport got introduced here? How it became popular? How professional baseball started (after college and high school ball, I might add)? What effect World War II had on the game? How Japanese-American relations developed and broke down over the years? This book will go a long way towards making you an expert on baseball’s roots in Japan.
Hanshin Tigers (Yoshio Yoshida): Though this book focuses mostly on one man’s time being involved with the team, keep in mind he grew up while the team was in its infancy, joined them in 1953, played until 1969, and managed the team three times (for a total of 8 seasons), and was a columnist and commentator before he put pen to paper. You’ll learn a lot about this team by reading this tome.
Banzai Babe Ruth (Robert K. Fitts): You will not find a more thorough yet entertaining look at the trip that major leaguers took to Japan back in 1934 – a trip that included an aging but extremely popular Babe Ruth, whose great-grandchild won AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 (kidding). Another must-read.
Soon to be added to this list: a book that has recently been released, and should be on every English-speaking Hanshin Tigers fan’s bookshelf in the near future…
The Sportsworld of the Hanshin Tigers (William W. Kelly): Just the fact that there is a book in English about this team should make you want to pick it up. As someone who’s partway through reading it, I can also tell you that it’s a good one. Very well researched, very intellectual, and you can hear an interview with the book’s author on Episode 90 of our podcast.
What are you waiting for? Buy the book, listen to the interview, and get yourself into great baseball fan shape this offseason!