野球

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 日本では野球がとても人気です。▶ —
   Baseball is very popular in Japan.
2. 高校野球をテレビで観ました。▶ —
   I watched high-school baseball on TV.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Yakyuu (野球) is the Sino-Japanese "baseball" — 野 (field) + 球 (ball) = "field-ball." Coined in 1894 by the poet and baseball lover Masaoka Shiki when American baseball arrived — a kanji semantic translation rather than a loanword. Japan's kokumin-teki supootsu (national sport): American in origin but deeply integrated into Japanese society and culture. Puro yakyuu (NPB, 12 pro teams), Se-Riigu (Central League), Pa-Riigu (Pacific League), Nihon Shiriizu (Japan Series). Koukou yakyuu (high-school baseball) peaks at Koushien, the all-Japan high-school championship held at Koushien Stadium (Nishinomiya, Hyogo) — summer (August) and spring (March / April) tournaments. Core metaphor of Japanese youth. Distinctive NPB structure: city-affiliated teams + corporate sponsorship (Yomiuri Giants, Hanshin Tigers, SoftBank Hawks).

Quick check

1. Meiji-era poet who coined "yakyuu"?

   • Masaoka Shiki — poet, haiku reformer, baseball lover
   • Natsume Souseki — novelist
   • Akutagawa Ryuunosuke
   • Mori Ougai