Latham's Guide to Japanese Baseball:

See a Minor League Game

Like its Major League counterpart, Japanese pro baseball has a minor league system for developing young players. But while there are three levels (A, AA, and AAA) North American, the Japanese farm system features only one ni-gun (second string) level.

The twelve ni-gun teams are divided into two geographic circuits. The Eastern League is composed of Tokyo-area farm teams (BayStars, Fighters, Giants, Lions, Marines, and Swallows) while the Western League features the remaining six ball clubs (BlueWave, Buffaloes, Carp, Dragons, Hawks, and Tigers). All Eastern League teams play within 90 minutes of central Tokyo, but Western teams stretch from Nagoya to Fukuoka. Most farm teams play fairly close to their parent franchise.

One reason for the close proximity between farm and varsity team is that borderline or rehabilitating players frequently play for the minor league squad in the afternoon and the big league team in the evening.

With only two levels, the substantive difference between ichi-gun (first string) and ni-gun squads often appear murky. Depending on clubhouse politics, players are usually either in or out and there isn't much emphasis on growth or advancement. On a team like the Giants, who are stocked with free agents, qualified young players often rot away on their the franchise's farm team. Yomiuri usually prefers to to buy other teams stars than develop and promote their own minor league talent.

On some occasions, the ni-gun squad also serves as a ball club's penal colony. If a varsity player screws up, there's a good chance he'll be sent down to the farm team for a few days or weeks. Before he earned three straight MVP awards, Orix BlueWave outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was banished to the ni-gun squad because he didn't get along with the varsity team's manager Shozo Doi. After Doi was canned, new skipper Akiro Ogi promoted Ichiro to the varsity team where he hit .385 in his first full season.

Clubhouse politics often determines such seemingly irrational personnel choices. Yakult manager Katsuya Nomura reportedly demands that his players not dye their hair. This apparently was one factor in Yakult's decision not to select Tomonori Maeda in the 1989 draft. Maeda was selected by the Hiroshima Carp and became their all-star center fielder. Nomura also demanded that Rex Hudler (14 homers, .300) be released after the American slugger, attempting to entertain his teammates, ate an earthworm during a 1993 rain delay.

But ni-gun teams often attract little attention. After minor leaguer Katsuhiro Hiratsuka finally got a chance to prove himself on the Hanshin varsity team, where he hit .254 and .293 in 1996 and '97 (with eleven and seventeen home runs respectively), some were surprised that he could do so well after languishing in the farm system for several years. Many decent players like Hiratsuka are routinely passed over, and no one seems to notice or care.

While the Japanese daily sports tabloids and Baseball Magazine Sha may include box scores of minor league games, these matches are largely ignored by other media. None of the major Japanese papers, nor their English editions, bother to report ni-gun games. Since they're never televised nor highlighted on the evening sports programs, often the best way to find out what's happening on the farm is to see a game with your own eyes.

Since attendance is sparse, it's easy to get a front row seat. Tickets are very cheap, sometimes free, and if you understand any Japanese, you can sit near the dugouts and eavesdrop, ask for autographs, take pictures or do pretty much whatever you want.

Eastern League:

Yakult Toda Kyujo (Swallows -- Saitama Prefecture): A few minutes northwest of Central Tokyo, the Yakult farm team plays at Toda Field. Because the venue only offers two five meter benches for spectators, other fans must either stand around the playing field or climb the levee that lies along the left field foul line. Games are free, but pack your own food and drinks. Since the ballpark is about a 30 minute walk from Kita-Toda Station (Saikyo Line), it may be a good idea to take a taxi.

Lotte Urawa Kyujo (Marines -- Saitama Prefecture): Just a few train stops away from Yakult Toda Kyujo, the Marines ni-gun squad plays their home games at Lotte Urawa Kyujo. Like Toda, it's an extremely Spartan field, with little seating capacity. It's only a five minute walk from Musashi Urawa Station (Saikyo Line).

Seibu Dome and Seibu Dai Ni Kyujo (Lions -- Saitama Prefecture): When the big league Lions are out of town, the farm team often plays in Seibu Stadium. Otherwise, they usually use the neighboring number two practice field. Seibu Kyujomae Station (Seibu Sayama Line).

Kamagaya Town Kyujo (Fighters -- Chiba Prefecture): Despite their weakness at the varsity level, the Fighters have a strong farm team. Nippon Ham's minor league field is located near Kamagaya Station (Tobu Noda Line).

Yomiuri Giants Kyujo (Giants -- Kanagawa Prefecture): The Giants have some players with good potential on their ni-gun squad, but few will get a chance to prove themselves on the big league club. Keio Yomiuri Land Station (Keio Sagamihara Line).

Oppama Stadium (BayStars -- Kanagawa Prefecture): The BayStars' ni-gun squad finished last in the Eastern League in 1997. Unlike other farm teams, the Yokosuka BayStars are currently the only one that goes by their town, rather than corporate, name. Oppama Station (Keihin Kyuko Line).

Western League:

Nagoya Stadium (Dragons -- Aichi Prefecture): Though the minor league Dragons play their home games in several locations, the easiest and most comfortable place to catch a game is at Nagoya Stadium. Until 1997, the big league Dragons had used the aging ballpark. Nagoya Kyujo-mae Station (Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line). See map.

Fujiidera Stadium (Buffaloes -- Osaka Prefecture): Halfway between Osaka and Nara, Fujiidera Stadium was home of the big league Buffaloes until 1997 when Kintetsu moved to Osaka Dome. When it was still regularly used for Pacific League games, Fujiidera had a reputation as a great home run park. Fujiidera Station (Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line). See map.

Kobe Dai Ni Kyujo a.k.a. Kobe Sub Stadium (BlueWave -- Hyogo Prefecture): In 1997, the minor league BlueWave topped the Western League with a 58-35 record. A two-minute walk from Green Stadium Kobe, Kobe Sub Stadium lies near Sogo Undo Koen Station (Seishin Subway Line). See map.

Hanshin Naruohama Kyujo (Tigers -- Hyogo Prefecture): Located three train stops east of Koshien Stadium, Naruohama Stadium lies along the Osaka Bay waterfront. Mukogawa-danchi Station (Hanshin Mukogawa Line).

Yuu Kyujo (Carp -- Yamaguchi Prefecture): Despite the Carp ni-gun team finishing last in the Western League (38-53), the editors of Professional Baseball News 1998 Yearbook named Hiroshima the best scouting team. That may be true. The Carp run a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic (most of their foreign players come from Latin America). Unable to pay for high-priced free agents, Hiroshima has concentrated on developing their younger players and advancing them to the big league club. Though they have one of the lowest payrolls in the Pacific League, Hiroshima remains a strong team. Perhaps because the Carp rely so heavily on their farm team to supply talent for their ichi-gun squad, the best talent has already been sucked out of the minor league club. Yuu Kyujo is located near Yuu Station (Sanyo Main Line).

Gannosu Kyujo (Hawks -- Fukuoka Prefecture): Located across Hakata Bay from Fukuoka Dome, Gannosu Stadium is a short walk from Gannosu Station (Kashii Line).

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