The series has finally reached its sixth installment.
I suddenly became worried about whether it was okay to write so much, but I remained firm in my determination to write honestly.
I'm typing on the numeric keypad again today.
Today we'll be talking about baseball.
This may seem sudden, but I am such a big fan of the Yokohama BayStars that I even joined their fan club.
(Whoa, what team was that just now? Did anyone think that? I'm sure Mr. S, who writes this column with me, is a Carp fan, as I write this.)
First, let me tell you the story of how I fell in love with baseball.
This is a bit off topic from the discussion of the merits of baseball, but please listen as an introduction.
A few years ago, I was talking to an acquaintance of mine.
My acquaintance said, "These days, fewer people are settling down or becoming engaged with the place they live (basically, feeling happy about belonging to a place)!" That's why a lifestyle of moving freely from place to place without settling down is gaining attention these days. I found this strangely convincing.
On the other hand, when asked about himself, he replied, "Oh, I love Yokohama so much that I don't think I'd ever want to leave."
As you may know, the boss of LAYOUT is also a former Yokohama resident, but Yokohama residents, commonly known as Hamakko, tend to have a strong love for Yokohama.
(This is my personal opinion)
Although I was born in Kyoto, I grew up in Yokohama and still live there, so I am a true Yokohama native.
Even though a free and unrestricted lifestyle is in vogue these days, if I still have an attachment to Yokohama, I want to incorporate a little more of my "YOKOHAMA love" into my life. There was a time when my love for Yokohama grew stronger and stronger.
So, being the simple person I am, I thought, "Yeah, it's a sport."
Whether it's the J.League, professional baseball, or the recent B.League, I think the organizational design is really good!
I think the method of linking the team with the local area is really clever, as it skillfully enhances fan sentiment and brings sports into the business market.
So I did some research to see if I should focus on the Yokohama F. Marinos (soccer) or the Yokohama BayStars (baseball).
In the end, I chose the Yokohama BayStars (baseball), and here's why.
There are three reasons.
First, I preferred the way I worked in baseball, where defensive roles are clearly defined, to the formation-based approach of soccer.
Second: We were going to win the league.
If I was going to cheer, I wanted to feel the drama of the win or loss!
Third: I thought it would be better to have fun with my husband, and I felt that the baseball stadium would be a better fit for my husband, who loves beer.
For this simple reason, I started going to see Baystars games.
By the way, my father is a Giants fan.
My father has no connection to Tokyo, but he is from the so-called "Star of the Giants generation," so perhaps it's like a giant myth, but we are rivals.
Furthermore, my mother is a Hanshin fan.
It can't be helped since she was born and raised in Kyoto, but she's not a big enough fan to sing Rokko Odori, so it's not a problem.
I've been talking about snacks for a while now, but I want to talk about baseball.
The first point.
About the differences between soccer and baseball.
There are many different theories and opinions from many different people, but personally I believe that the baseball temperament is well suited to Japanese people.
However, I think that in the future, it will be people with a soccer brain who will become successful businessmen on the world stage.
I'll write about the differences between the two and my thoughts on them.
First, it is easy to understand
The difference is whether the defensive and offensive times alternate or are simultaneous.
In baseball, the timing for offense and defense is clearly defined: when it's time to defend, you defend! When it's time to attack, you attack!
and flip the switch on your head and body again.
On the other hand, in soccer, everyone is always ready to attack, aiming for the goal, and then suddenly it becomes all-out defense.
It's nerve-wracking for those watching as well.
(The only time to go to the bathroom is during breaks!)
The way baseball roles are not complicated and players switch between them clearly and progress steadily is a very Japanese characteristic (good at discipline, rules, and routine).
On the other hand, in terms of flexibility and adaptability, soccer requires more instantaneous thinking and results, so I think the business style of "thinking and acting for yourself" is more like soccer.
The next notable difference is whether your turn will definitely come or whether you have to go out and grab your turn yourself.
This is the difference.
In baseball, the batting order is set, and each player gets a fair chance.
The rest is a battle with yourself.
On the other hand, in soccer, where a small ball rolls around on a large field, it's a battle with yourself to see whether you can have a chance of scoring.
For Japanese people, who are not naturally prone to being strikers, it seems that fair opportunities lead to a sense of psychological security and safety, allowing them to focus on the moment.
I don't think it's a question of which is better or worse, but rather which style is easier for each person to demonstrate their strengths.
Finally, the clear difference is whether you are given instructions during the game or whether you have to think for yourself.
In baseball, the manager or coach always gives instructions on what to do in the form of signs, and baseball is about making an effort based on those instructions.
In soccer, although there are broad guidelines, there are no detailed instructions during the 45-minute match, and players basically have to think and act on their own.
In terms of fulfilling the responsibilities that are given to you, baseball, where players can demonstrate their value as players thanks to a clear chain of command, seems to be a better fit for Japanese people than soccer, which offers a greater degree of freedom.
In my work as a manager, I basically adopt a "baseball style."
Sometimes we observe the situation and listen to the person's free thoughts as we move forward.
I've only been a baseball fan for a few years, so I'm sure my views are still quite naive, but the reason I love it so much is that I'm captivated by the passion of the people involved, such as the manager's intentions behind pitching rotations and the players' understanding and hard work.
You might be wondering if I'm still going to talk about it in my next column! This time I'll be talking about the passion of baseball.
The end
Yuka Yamagata
After working as a textile designer, she was in charge of planning, sales and design for carpets and rugs, and is now an art director focusing on spatial design. One of her responsibilities at work is managing designers. She started writing serials under the name "Yamagata Yuka." In her private life, she lives a relaxed life with her pet dog and a very ordinary husband. She loves Natsuo Giniro's books.