⚾ Tennozu Park Baseball Ground
Three baseball/softball fields that can be reserved even at night
Opening period: Open all year round from January 4th to December 28th
(closed over the New Year holidays. In addition, maintenance days may be set for facility management purposes.)
Facilities: Changing rooms, base, toilets, shower rooms, vending machines, paid parking, paid meeting room available.
Baseball – In Japan?
Baseball, known as “Yakyū” (野球) in Japan, was introduced to the country in 1872 and has since become one of the most popular sports for both participation and spectating. The first professional competition appeared in the 1920s, and the highest level of baseball in Japan is the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), which consists of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League, each with six teams.
The atmosphere of baseball in Japan is said to be less relaxed than in America, with fans regularly singing and dancing to team songs. American writer Robert Whiting, in his 1977 book “The Chrysanthemum and the Bat”, wrote that “Japanese views of life, group identity, cooperation, effort, respect for age, respect for superiors and ‘face’ permeate almost all aspects of the sport”, which partly explains why baseball in Japan differs from other countries.
National stars of Japanese professional baseball, such as Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平), Ichiro Suzuki (鈴木一朗), Hideki Matsui (松井秀喜), Shigeo Nagashima (長嶋茂雄), and Sadaharu Oh (王貞治), have contributed to the popularity of baseball in Japan with their outstanding performances. All of these players have either received the People’s Honor Award (Kokumin Eiyoshō) or have been approached to receive it due to their achievements and popularity.
Japanese Baseball: Corporate Ownership
In Japan, professional baseball teams are often named after their corporate owners. This is a common practice in Asian baseball and is a bit different from North American leagues. The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the highest level of baseball in Japan, consists of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League, each with six teams.
Here are some examples of teams named after corporations:
- Yomiuri Giants: Owned by the Yomiuri Group, a media conglomerate which includes the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
- SoftBank Hawks: Owned by SoftBank Group Corp., a multinational conglomerate holding company.
- Tokyo Yakult Swallows: Owned by Yakult, a probiotic dairy product company.
- Nippon-Ham Fighters: Owned by Nippon Ham, a food processing conglomerate known for its meat products. The team has had two of the most electric pitchers in Japanese baseball, Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani, both of whom made the move from NPB to the major league in America.
These teams compete in the NPB league games and championships, contributing to the rich history and popularity of baseball in Japan. It’s a unique aspect of Japanese baseball that adds an extra layer of competition and rivalry.
Where is Tennozu Park Baseball Ground?
| what3words | ///crouch.pilots.backed |
| latitude longitude | 35.6195446 139.7473601 |
| Nearest station(s) | Tennozu Isle (Rinkai Line, Tokyo Monorail) |
| Nearest public conveniences | On the west side of the Baseball Park near the water. |
Show me a sign.
I found the sign once. Then they moved it. And, then I found it again.
Withervee says…
If you like baseball you’ll love it. Fill your boots.
Site Character
- Lifestyle 生活 (Seikatsu): ✔️
- Historical Significance 歴史 (Rekishi): ❌
- Atmosphere/Natural Features 風土 (Fūdo): ✔️
Who in their right mind would vote for this?
- Local athletes
- Night sports fans
- Amateur teams
- Urban hobbyists
- Baseball romantics
Further reading
Shinagawa City Tennozu Park Information
While you’re there…
Explore the stylish Tennozu Isle canal walkways, or stop by a waterfront café nearby for a relaxed post-game snack or drink.
