#yakyū

[learnjapanesekanjiwallpapers]

野 — field. ya (baseball = 野球. yakyū)

[aringoaday]

[129]  やきゅう  |  yakyū  |  baseball  

[hayakawajunpei]

No, I don't know anything about.........

......baseball, much to the surprise of nearly every Japanese I meet.

Tonight it was my sister-in-laws husband who was somehow "shocked" to learn that I have no interest in or knowledge of the famous American game.

Baseball is Japan's national sport. It features in magazines, toys, cards, TV shows, movies, manga and even has several anime centered around it. Baseball came to Japan in 1872 and quickly became Japan's favourite sport. 

The Japanese don't call it baseball however. It is known by it's "proper Japanese name" of yakyū (野球, やきゅう). 

Many Japanese are somehow under the impression that the whole world plays baseball! I have even been laughed at by Japanese who think I'm joking when I tell them I neither know anything about it or have any interest in it. 

As it is such a big part of Japanese culture it has even been suggested that I can never understand the Japanese or their culture if I don't understand baseball! Seriously!? I have to know about an American sport to know about Japan and "fit in?"

Well, I'm happy to not "fit in." 

I'll stick to the real sport of cricket, thanks Japan.