NPB Bullet Points: Koshien, College Ball, Auctions
Lots going on tonight, let’s jump right in.
- With Koshien underway, I’d like to once again endorse the Goro Shigeno blog as the premier English destination for Koshien coverage. Video is available online here (requires MS Windows), and since many games are played early in the day it should be a little easier to enjoy them on this side of the Pacific.
- If you’re unfamiliar with Koshien and Japanese high school baseball, I recommend checking out the film Kokoyakyu, which can be purchased on dvd or viewed via Hulu.
- As I type this, Japan is playing Korea for the bronze in the World University Baseball Championship. Yuki Saito surrendering a grand slam in Japan’s last game against America cost Japan a shot at the gold. I tried to get into this tournament, but the number of blowouts made it hard to follow. As I type this, Japan is holding a 9-0 lead over Korea.
- NPB is auctioning off signed, game-worn All-Star jerseys for charity. I haven’t looked through all of them, but Yu Darvish’s jersey figures to fetch the highest sum, with a current bid of 524,000 yen ($6130 at the current, awful exchange rate). If loyal reader EJH wants to purchase Masataka Nashida’s jersey, he’ll only have to beat a bid of 71,000 yen.
- Mac Suzuki is making a return to Calgary Vipers of the independent Golden League.
And on a final, non-baseball note, August 6/7 marked the 65th anniversary of the World War II atomic bombing of Hiroshima. I was glad to learn this morning that for the first time, the United States sent an envoy to Hiroshima’s annual memorial ceremony. I visited Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Museum in 2003, and it was a moving experience that really cemented my already strong opposition to armed conflict. Despite the fact that the conventional firebombing of Tokyo caused more damage than the atomic bomb, Hiroshima is certainly the more striking example of the cost of war. Today it’s one of the nicest cities in Japan, and I’d recommend visiting to anyone, for both the historical significance and the civic beauty. Today is also a good day to remember Langdon Warner, the American Harvard historian who is credited with convincing the US government to spare Kyoto and Nara from serious attacks.
07/08/2010 at 12:21 am Permalink
Hi Patrick,
I been following this site on a daily basis since the WUBC began in Tokyo. Do you know of any justin.tv feeds that will be streaming the USA/Cuba game live??
I’m over here in the states and it’s been really tough trying to find live feeds of the games. Thank you very, very much!
-Albert
07/08/2010 at 12:40 am Permalink
All the feeds I usually watch are listed on the NPB Live page. One of them may have it. Otherwise, check out justin.tv’s search feature. Failing that, give ustream.tv a try.
07/08/2010 at 12:54 am Permalink
Patrick,
Thank you very much! Appreciate the fast feedback. Hope to come across it! If you do see one, would you mind posting the link here? Thank you!!!
-Albert
07/08/2010 at 1:29 am Permalink
You’d have to pay me 71,000 yen to wear a Nashida jersey. Actually, I am not even sure that would be enough.
And, by the way, the reason Kyoto was not bombed during the war is because it was being saved as a possible atom bomb target. The idea that it was preserved for cultural reasons is a myth that was very convenient to both nations after the war.
07/08/2010 at 2:05 am Permalink
Hey Albert, according to the official WUBC site, J-Sports will be airing the game
http://www.wubc2010.jp/en/schedule_results/index.html
After a quick search, I found it on the Justin TV channel: Cubavision
http://www.justin.tv/cubanosiempre
07/08/2010 at 7:48 am Permalink
Hey Albert, according to the official WUBC site, J-Sports will be airing the game
Thanks critical, unfortunately your comment got held in the moderation queue.
And, by the way, the reason Kyoto was not bombed during the war is because it was being saved as a possible atom bomb target. The idea that it was preserved for cultural reasons is a myth that was very convenient to both nations after the war.
Note that I used the phrase “is credited” as a qualifier to my statement about Warner. I didn’t know that Kyoto was being saved as an atomic bomb target, would love to read more on the subject. I always figured that Kyoto, being landlocked, was an unappealing target in addition to cultural considerations. For me, the idea that Warner lobbied against destroying Kyoto is noteworthy in itself though.
07/08/2010 at 9:12 am Permalink
I didn’t realize ‘Kokoyakyu’ was available on Hulu. I may watch it again if I find some time. Thanks for the tip.
07/08/2010 at 11:20 am Permalink
Today it’s one of the nicest cities in Japan, and I’d recommend visiting to anyone, for both the historical significance and the civic beauty.
I have to agree. When I went to Hiroshima last year I was astonished how nice the atmosphere in the city was. Heiwa Kouen is a great place to to commemorate what happened 65 years ago. To me, only knowing those heavy and gloomy memorials in Europe, the peaceful and almost joyful atmosphere there was very impressive.
It wasn’t an atom bomb that destroyed 90% of Cologne but I would have liked the people to have built a nicer city than the one that’s standing here right now. Compared to Hiroshima it’s just ugly.
09/08/2010 at 11:20 pm Permalink
More on Kyoto…
Found these:
http://www.dannen.com/decision/targets.html
(1) Kyoto – This target is an urban industrial area with a population of 1,000,000. It is the former capital of Japan and many people and industries are now being moved there as other areas are being destroyed. From the psychological point of view there is the advantage that Kyoto is an intellectual center for Japan and the people there are more apt to appreciate the significance of such a weapon as the gadget. (Classified as an AA Target)
http://www.doug-long.com/stimson5.htm
[Altho Kyoto was the atomic bomb Target Committee’s number one target choice, Stimson did not want Kyoto bombed because that former capital city of Japan was now a Japanese cultural and religious center. He felt that bombing Kyoto would increase the likelihood that Japan would be driven into Russia’s arms after the war.]
This was new to me. It’s chilling reading this since it’s a place I region I lived in and feel some personal connection with.
09/08/2010 at 11:52 pm Permalink
Soviet Union was a significant factor on dropping the bombs to bring about a swift end to the war. Alternate history with northern Japan under Soviet control/influence would’ve been very different, and with hindsight, not very good.