illustration by kuniko nonaka

PLAY BALL!


　Hello folks who love baseball game and international communication!
　Who am I? I'm a writer and baseball mad!
　I am Mikio.E, living in Tokyo,Japan. I watch many games of MLB on TV not only Nomo's and Ichiro's game but also others. Baseball is a beautiful game. And I love American baseball and Jazz music.
　Several years ago, I planned and wrote a guidebook of MLB for Japanese people who have some curiousity about American baseball itself and baseball language(English). It was published from NHK Service-Center.
　And now, I have a series of column titled "Baseball English Jam" on the magazine"The monthly Major League" for almost five years. Of course it is for Japanese readers.
　In this column I have already introduced the meanings of "bang-bang play""golden sombrero""Baltimore chop""Mendoza line"and "Uncle Charlie" e.t.c. These words made me so interested. I always think that baseball is a treasure box of languege!
　I sit down on my chair and am drinking and smoking a lot.
　By the way, the most popular sport in Japan is neither Sumo nor Judo, soccer, basketball, but Yakyu. Do you know Yakyu? That is the baseball in Japanese. I don't know how to think the other Japanese people, Yakyu has a very particular "Japanese" style. For example, you can see bunt play oftener here than in U.S.. Because both Japanese players and fans believe that to win the game is the first and the final mission. They don't think "tomorrow is another day".
　So I think "Stoic" is suitable word to Japanese baseball game. I can show you another example. You can never escape from the bad noizy sound of trumpets and drums from outfield seats all through the every games. So when you go to the ballpark in Japan you should bring a pair of ear plug. I always feel big stress on that noise,because I can't hear the sound of grab,hit,call of umpire,even a lovely voice from next seat.
　But I am a baseballa-holic and also Yakyu-holic. These two kind of baseball games fascinate me very much. Fortunately, over ten Major Leaguers from Japan are born one by one in current days. So it has become easier to get American baseball news than before even for a person who has never been to America like me! <At last, I went to N.Y. in Augast 2002!>
　In this my site, I'd like to introduce baseball English for Japanese people, and Japanese baseball information for people in the world. The biggest problame is my English ability, but I will do my best. Please enjoy it!
　　　　2002/10/01