ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB AND GONGGONG
Story #20: baseball-bonkers Taiwanese are gearing up for the 2025 World Classic Qualifiers – I’ve got the stickers to prove it!
Puli Town, Taiwan, China.
Dear Granddaughter Mila,
Going out tomorrow at the post office!
Last Christmas, you inspired me to write an article about Taiwanese baseball (https://radiosinoland.com/2024/12/26/adventures-in-asia-with-ladyb-and-gonggong-story-12-taiwanese-are-n-u-t-s-about-baseball-japanese-too/ ). Of course, the fever-pitch passion for baseball in Taiwan is at an all-time high, because they beat Japan in the 2024 World Championship for the very first time, finally vanquishing their arch-nemesis Japan.
The other day, Laolao went into a FamilyMart, which is like 7-11 in the United States, and they were handing out free stickers for the 2025 baseball season. The Taiwanese are already going bonkers in the off-season! I’m including these stickers for you in the envelope I’m mailing out tomorrow,
What a cool collection of stickers, free from FamilyMart! Go Taiwan GO!
The round sticker in the upper left-hand corner says, “To be qualified” (够资格 = gouzige). The second sticker that says “Team Taiwan”, with the blue glove has, 再拼一场 （zaipin yichang）, which means “Go all out, sacrifice and risk your life one more time”. The sticker in the far upper right-hand corner is the logo for Taiwan’s team, called China Taipei. I do not understand the two dice that have all sixes. That may be some baseball symbolism. Finally, on the right-hand side, you can see 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. Next to the jersey are two Chinese characters, blue and red. That word means “To blow up or blow apart” (炸裂 = zhalie). Below it is three characters that get bigger and bigger, 吼吼吼 （houhouhou）. It means “ROAR or HOWL”. There are even little numbers you can peel off to put on the jersey, for your favorite player!
This summer, we hope to go to a baseball game or two in the biggest city closest to us, Taizhong/Taicheng (台中). Driving back to Puli from Lugang Old Street （https://radiosinoland.com/2025/02/23/adventures-in-asia-with-ladyb-and-gonggong-story-18-yowzer-we-hit-the-mother-lode-for-beautiful-handmade-handicrafts/） we drove past Taizhong’s stadium, which is pictured below. It’s not very big. It only holds 20,000 fans, but it is really beautiful. Since opening in 2006, it has been the venue for many international baseball games and tournaments (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taichung_Intercontinental_Baseball_Stadium),
The inside of the stadium in daytime is really beautiful.
If you are like me, you probably thought that baseball came to Taiwan and Japan after World War Two, when the Americans occupied them. But that is not the case. I was surprised to learn that baseball in Japan goes all the way back to the 1870s. For Taiwan, its baseball history starts in 1895, when Japan began occupying it until its 1945 surrender. They’ve both been playing baseball as long as Americans have. I asked Qwen2.5-Max AI to give me a short early history of Japanese baseball, which is included at the end of this post. It’s really quite interesting to see how far back it goes.
In a previous envelope, I sent you a one-New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) coin, copper colored, in a small, handmade silk pouch. Today, I’m including the next larger denomination, which is five NTD. It is the same color as an American nickel and about the same size. All of the coins in Taiwan feature the portrait of Chiang Kai-Shek, the founder of the Taiwanese Republic of China in 1949. Today’s five-NTD coin is hidden in a second little handmade silk bag, which I told you about in Story #18 (https://radiosinoland.com/2025/02/23/adventures-in-asia-with-ladyb-and-gonggong-story-18-yowzer-we-hit-the-mother-lode-for-beautiful-handmade-handicrafts/).
The silk pouch is being put in an envelope that is given to children for Chinese New Year, called “red envelopes” (hongbao = 红包), traditionally to give money. This one is very colorful. It shows a little yellow serpent, for the Year of the Snake 2025. It is inside a costume, holding it up for the big Lion Dance. Here is a short clip of a performance in Southern China, where your Grandmother Maflor and I lived for three years!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrZtB7Ur-OQ
You will now have six – count ’em – six NTD! At 33 NTD to the US dollar, you can ask your parents how much money you have. Safe to say, you’re still not rich enough to retire. You still have to go to preschool!
Hopefully, these souvenirs from Taiwan Province can be some fun and interesting things that you can take to school for show and tell. Thinking about you.
Of course, LadyB was with us all the way, cheering us on!
Love, Grandfather Gonggong
Early history of Japanese baseball
The early history of baseball in Japan is a fascinating story of cultural exchange, adaptation, and the sport’s rapid integration into Japanese society. Baseball was introduced to Japan in the late 19th century during the Meiji Era (1868–1912), a period marked by Japan’s efforts to modernize and Westernize its society. Here’s an overview of the key moments and developments in the early history of baseball in Japan:
- Introduction of Baseball to Japan (1870s)
– Origins: Baseball was first introduced to Japan by American educators and missionaries during the Meiji Restoration. The earliest known game took place in 1873, taught by an American teacher named Horace Wilson, who worked at Kaisei Gakko (the predecessor of Tokyo University). Wilson introduced baseball as part of his English-language curriculum.
– Purpose: At the time, baseball was seen as a way to promote physical education and discipline among Japanese students, aligning with the Meiji government’s emphasis on modernizing education and fostering a strong national character.
- Early Adoption and Spread (1880s–1890s)
– First Teams: By the 1880s, baseball had gained popularity among students at elite schools in Tokyo. The Shimbashi Athletic Club, founded in 1884, became one of the first organized teams to play baseball regularly.
– School Competitions: The first recorded baseball game between Japanese teams took place in 1896, when the team from Ichiko (First Higher School of Tokyo) defeated a team of foreign residents in Yokohama. This victory was significant because it demonstrated that Japanese players could compete with and surpass Westerners, boosting national pride.
– Role of Schools: Elite educational institutions like Ichiko, Waseda University, and Keio University played a crucial role in spreading baseball across Japan. These schools viewed baseball as a tool for character-building and teamwork, values that resonated with Japanese culture.
- Cultural Adaptation and Growth (Early 1900s)
– Waseda-Keio Rivalry: One of the most important milestones in Japanese baseball history was the establishment of the Waseda-Keio rivalry in 1903. The annual games between these two universities attracted large crowds and helped popularize baseball nationwide. This rivalry continues to this day and remains a cornerstone of Japanese collegiate sports.
– High School Baseball: In 1915, the first National High School Baseball Tournament was held in Osaka, marking the beginning of organized high school baseball competitions. This tournament evolved into the famous Summer Koshien Tournament, which remains one of Japan’s most prestigious sporting events.
– Cultural Significance: Baseball quickly became more than just a sport; it symbolized modernity, discipline, and teamwork. Its structured rules and emphasis on group harmony aligned well with traditional Japanese values.
- Influence of American Players and Coaches (1920s–1930s)
– Professional Beginnings: While amateur baseball dominated the early years, professional leagues began to emerge in the 1920s and 1930s. Many American players and coaches traveled to Japan to teach and play, helping refine the skills of Japanese players.
– International Tours: Japanese university teams started touring the United States in the 1900s and 1910s, while American teams, including Major League stars, visited Japan for exhibition games. These exchanges strengthened ties between the two countries and elevated the level of play in Japan.
– Formation of Professional Leagues: In 1936, the Japanese Professional Baseball League was officially established, modeled after Major League Baseball in the United States. The league initially featured seven teams and laid the foundation for modern Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
- National Identity and Symbolism
– Baseball as a National Sport: By the 1930s, baseball had become deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. It was embraced not only as a Western import but also as a reflection of Japanese ideals such as perseverance, loyalty, and collective effort.
– Military Influence: During World War II, baseball faced some challenges due to resource shortages and government restrictions. However, it survived and even thrived afterward, becoming a symbol of postwar recovery and unity.
Legacy of Early Baseball in Japan
The early adoption and adaptation of baseball in Japan set the stage for its enduring popularity. Today, baseball is considered Japan’s national pastime, with millions of fans following both professional leagues (NPB) and high school tournaments like Koshien. The sport’s integration into Japanese society reflects the country’s ability to embrace foreign influences while reshaping them to fit its unique cultural context.
In summary, baseball in Japan began as a Western import during the Meiji Era but quickly evolved into a beloved national institution, blending modernity with tradition and fostering a sense of unity and pride among the Japanese people.
Final Answer:
Baseball was introduced to Japan in the 1870s by American educator Horace Wilson and gained popularity through elite schools and universities. By the early 1900s, it had become a major cultural phenomenon, leading to the establishment of amateur competitions, high school tournaments like Koshien, and eventually professional leagues in the 1930s.
Source: Qwen2.5-Max AI
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