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Kokoyakyu: Fighting Spirit

by Kenneth Eng, Director , August 11, 2008 This excerpt from Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball, explains how baseball in Japan is used to teach about the importance of "heart" or having a strong spirit.  The manager of Chiben High School, one of the strongest teams in the nation, explains why he puts  his players through such an unusually strenuous training regimen.  The documentary explores the world of Japanese high school baseball, especially the journey to reach the national tournament at Koshien Stadium in Osaka.  The National High School Baseball Tournament is a huge cultural phenomenon in Japan, drawing tens of thousands of live attendees as well as a television audience in the millions. 

This copyrighted excerpt appears for educational purposes courtesy of Projectile Arts, and was directed by Kenneth Eng. 

Kokoyakyu Fighting Spirit

More Clips from Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball

Introduction - Introduction to the important role of high school baseball in Japanese society. Includes interviews with managers as well as footage from the National Tournament at Koshien Stadium in Osaka.

Heart - Following a player through his morning routine from 4:15AM, this excerpt illustrates the role of baseball in teaching about both developing a strong spirit and leadership skills, as well as including good footage of daily life in urban Japan.

Youth - Explores the motivations for making the commitment to play high school baseball, and includes footage of practice, player interviews, as well as shots inside a players home.

Effort - Illustration of the importance of students who play a supporting role for the baseball team, as well as footage of the selection of members of the team who will participate in the tournament.

Last Player Chosen - Footage of the announcement of the final three players being selected to participate with the Tennoji team to play in the tournament. Illustrates the importance of being the final player chosen.

Post Chiben Win - Footage immediately following a victory by heavily favored Chiben High School. Excellent illustration of focusing on areas of weakness following a victory.

Post Chiben Loss - Shows the emotions of the favored Chiben High School team following their loss in the Prefectural Tournament. Illustrates the importance of the sempai/kohai (senior classmate to junior classmate) relationship.

Post Tennoji Loss - Follows the underdog Tennoji High School team after their loss in the regional tournament. Illustrates the bond between the players and the manager, as well as the emotions felt by the players after the loss.

 

External Links

Find more information about this documentary on Point of View on PBS. 

William W. Kelly, Professor of Anthropology & Sumitomo Professor of Japanese Studies at Yale University, offers links to many of his articles analyzing baseball in Japan on his website.