Every summer, Japan holds the National High School Baseball Championship at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, a revered venue in the nation. Koshien Stadium has played host to the National High School Baseball Championship since its construction in 1924.
Thousands of high schools compete in tournaments leading up to the event to determine which 49 teams will compete for the title. The tournament is single elimination, meaning extra innings determine the winner in each game.
Before the tournament begins, all teams participate in opening ceremonies. During these ceremonies, teams enter the field, led by the previous year’s championship squad or its captain. Teams enter from north to south on odd-numbered years and from south to north on even-numbered years.
Despite deep-rooted tradition, the tournament structure is changing this year to combat rising heat levels in Japan. According to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, temperatures in the nation can reach 35 degrees Celsius in the summer, which, according to the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature in Japan, is dangerous for physical activities like baseball.
The Japan High School Baseball Federation will introduce a morning and evening two-part system to play three games per day and ensure players are not competing during the hottest parts of the day.
Despite hot temperatures and even talks from the Japan High School Federation to shorten games from nine innings to seven, Koshien is in full swing, with fans cheering on their favorite teams. The tournament has already begun and will conclude with the championship game on Aug. 23.
Photo Credit: This photo taken on August 22, 2022 shows members of Sendai Ikuei, a school in Miyagi prefecture, celebrating their victory over Shimonoseki Kokusai, a school in Yamaguchi prefecture, in the final match on the final day of the two-week All-Japan High School Baseball Championship Tournament at Koshien Stadium. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT / TO GO WITH STORY: baseball-JPN-Japan-Koshien (Photo by STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
