FOCUS: Japan’s Imperial Family Shows Enduring Love of Baseball

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Imperial Family has long shown affection for baseball and softball, with family members occasionally appearing in the stands to watch matches. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, along with their daughter, Princess Aiko, attended the World Baseball Classic game between Japan and Australia at Tokyo Dome on March 8. The Imperial Family members watched the closely contested game until the end and applauded both teams. It was the first time in 60 years that an Imperial couple had attended an international baseball game. In November 1966, Emperor Hirohito, the current Emperor’s grandfather, who is posthumously known as Emperor Showa, and Empress Nagako, whose posthumous name is Empress Kojun, watched a friendly match between an All-Japan squad and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako previously attended WBC games in 2006 and 2009, when they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The March game marked the Emperor’s first attendance at a baseball match since his accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019. Later, on May 31, Emperor Naruhito and Princess Aiko watched a game between Waseda University and Keio University in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. The league invited them to mark its centennial last year. It was the first such Imperial attendance in 32 years. The league comprises six major universities in the Japanese capital and is one of the country’s most storied collegiate baseball competitions. Princess Curious about Breaking Pitches At the WBC match in March, the Imperial couple and the princess were greeted before the first pitch by Hirokazu Ibata, manager of Japan’s national baseball team, known as Samurai Japan; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto; and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks outfielder Kensuke Kondo. The Imperial Family watched the game while receiving explanations from officials, including former national team manager Hideki Kuriyama, who led Japan to victory in the 2023 WBC. According to an aide, Emperor Naruhito recalled watching a baseball match on a black-and-white television with his parents, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, many years ago. He said he was struck by the speed of pitches thrown by Masaichi Kaneda, one of Japan’s top pitchers at the time. “I was surprised because his pitches were very fast,” the Emperor was quoted as saying. During the event, the Imperial Family members handled baseballs used in Japan’s professional baseball and Major League Baseball, comparing how they felt. A close aide said the family often watches high school baseball games as well. Princess Aiko, attending a WBC game for the first time, asked Kuriyama how pitchers grip the ball to throw breaking pitches, including changeups. She also said she had followed Hanshin Tigers outfielder Shota Morishita, a member of the national squad, since his high school baseball days and asked, “How can I learn to hit well?” Japan went on to edge Australia 4-3. “It was a wonderful game,” Emperor Naruhito said, according to an aide. “The Imperial Family truly loves baseball,” Kuriyama said with a smile. “It felt as though I was speaking with people involved in baseball, and I also strongly sensed their respect for the players.” Conversation with Oh Baseball legend Sadaharu Oh was among the guests at the spring garden party hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on April 17 at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens. Now 86, Oh managed Japan’s national team in the inaugural WBC in 2006, leading the squad to the world title. Empress Masako, a softball player at junior high school, told Oh, who was also at the stadium for Japan’s WBC game against Australia in March, “I greatly enjoyed watching the game.” Oh replied, “Unfortunately, Japan couldn’t win (the world title again, going out in the quarterfinal against Venezuela), but we will do our best again next time.” The Emperor expressed appreciation for Oh’s contributions to Japanese baseball, saying, “You have made tremendous efforts for the development of the baseball world.” When the Empress noted that “some players are putting in great performances in the U.S. major leagues,” Oh responded: “I want more young people to take on that challenge. In my days (as an active player), I was unable to go.” After the conversation, Oh, the all-time home run leader in Japanese professional baseball with 868 career homers, expressed renewed determination to help promote the sport’s further development in Japan. “The Imperial couple are both truly knowledgeable about baseball, and I am very grateful that they take such an interest in the game,” he said. “The baseball world must work hard so that they will continue to watch.” Imperial Family attendance at baseball games dates back to June 1959, when Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako watched a professional baseball game between the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. The game ended dramatically when Giants star Shigeo Nagashima hit a walk-off home run. During the Heisei era (1989-2019), Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko also attended several notable baseball games. In May 1994, they watched a Tokyo Big6 Baseball League game between Waseda University and Keio University. The following month, during a visit to the United States, the couple attended a major league game in St. Louis. In July 2014, they were present for the final of the national intercity amateur baseball championship. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]