Koshien: The Dream Stage for High School Baseball Players
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Do you like baseball? In this article, we focus on the baseball tournaments that excite people across Japan every summer and spring.
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Table of Contents
- What is Koshien?
- Highlights
- How to Get to Koshien from Haneda Airport
- Conclusion
In Japan, baseball is one of the most popular sports, often considered the national sport.
Japan is also a leading baseball powerhouse, having won the most prestigious international baseball championships.
In recent years, Japanese players have gone global, making their mark in baseball leagues around the world.
The starting point for many of these talented players is Koshien, the dream stage for Japanese high school baseball players.
Let's explore Koshien, a tournament that might be unfamiliar to those outside of Japan.
What is Koshien?
Photo source: photo AC
Koshien is short for Hanshin Koshien Stadium, located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.
While the stadium primarily serves as the home field for professional baseball teams, it is also renowned for hosting the National High School Baseball Tournament every spring and summer.
The summer National High School Baseball Championship, whose predecessor dates back to 1915, and the Spring Selected High School Baseball Tournament, held since 1924, both take place at this historic venue.
High school baseball players from across Japan practice tirelessly, dreaming of competing in these national tournaments at Koshien and reaching the pinnacle of success.
Many top Japanese baseball players, whose names you might recognize, have also competed in the Koshien tournament, creating numerous stories and legends that are cherished by fans.
Spring Senbatsu and Summer Koshien
Photo source: photo AC
In spring, the National High School Baseball Tournament, known as "Spring Senbatsu," takes place, followed by the National High School Baseball Championship, or "Summer Koshien," in the summer.
For the Spring Senbatsu Tournament, high schools are chosen by the Selection Committee based on their performance in the prefectural tournaments held in the fall.
The Summer Koshien Tournament occurs in early summer, featuring representative schools that have won their respective prefectural championships.
This summer tournament holds particular significance for third-year students, who are in their final year of high school. It is often their last chance to compete, and watching these players give their all, showcasing the results of their rigorous training, is a profoundly moving experience for many.
Tournament Season
Photo source: photo AC
Spring Senbatsu: Mid-March to late March
Summer Koshien: Early August to mid-August
Highlights
Spring Senbatsu
Photo source: photo AC
The Spring Senbatsu tournament offers a chance to see how much teams have developed since the third-year students retired after the summer tournament. It's also an opportunity to watch new players start to emerge and make their mark.
One unique aspect of this tournament is the inclusion of "special quota" schools. These are schools that, despite not performing well in the fall tournaments, are selected for their academic excellence, contributions to the community, or overcoming hardships such as disasters or challenging practice environments.
Additionally, the opening ceremony features a popular song as the marching song, sparking annual discussions and excitement about which song will be chosen.
Summer Koshien
Photo source: photo AC
For third-year students, this is the final tournament of their high school baseball careers.
Losing a game means retirement from high school baseball for them.
In these "life-or-death" matches, every player gives their all, creating unexpected, surprising, and moving dramas that captivate many.
Your heart will surely burn hotter than the summer heat.
How to Get to Koshien from Haneda Airport
Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station
↓
Shinagawa Station
↓
Shin-Osaka Station
↓ ＜Midosuji Line＞
Umeda Station
↓
Osaka Umeda Station
↓
Koshien Station
↓
Hanshin Koshien Stadium
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 4 hours
Conclusion
Baseball fans, make sure to visit Koshien to witness the heroic performances of high school baseball players.
You will surely be moved and excited.
By the way, is your internet ready?
Don't forget to set up your internet for a comfortable trip.
When you visit Haneda Airport, come to GTN Haneda Airport Garden.
Feel free to contact GTN with any questions you may have about the internet, travel, short-term apartments, and more.
If you arrive in Osaka, it's still not too late.
The GTN Namba Marui Store can also assist you with your SIM needs.
How to Get to Koshien from Namba Marui
Osaka Namba Station
↓
↓
Hanshin Koshien Stadium
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes
Written by
As a general counter exclusively for foreigners, we sell SIM cards that can be used in Japan, and arrange hotels, residences, sightseeing tours, etc. in multiple languages. As a certified tourist information center, we also have tourist brochures for Tokyo and other regions.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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