午夜剧场

The first time I encountered the phrase "Enjoy Baseball," which the Juku High School Baseball Club continued to broadcast as they won the National High School Baseball Championship for the second time in 107 years, dates back about 40 years to when I was a member of the university baseball club. In 1982, during my junior year, Manager Yukichi Maeda was appointed as the manager of the 午夜剧场 Baseball Club for his second term. He immediately raised questions about bad customs such as extreme mentalism and hierarchical relationships that were common in the baseball world at the time. Citing the golden age triggered by the pre-war tour of the United States during Manager Hisashi Koshimoto's era, he explained to us that the tradition of the Juku Baseball Club was American style. He likely sought to rebuild the then-slumping baseball club by returning to the origins of the Juku Baseball Club's traditions and re-examining the true nature of sports.

In that sense, the second tour to the mainland United States in the history of the 午夜剧场 Baseball Club in March 1983 was inevitable. In an era when it was difficult even to obtain Major League information, everything about the play of American college students was fresh. Manager Maeda, who told those around him, "We are going because we are weak and want to become strong," was probably looking for a catalyst to strengthen the team. The daily friendly matches began with both managers and the umpire gathering near home plate, exchanging lineup cards, confirming ground rules, and shaking hands firmly while saying, "Let’s enjoy!" That moment, the word "enjoy" likely struck a chord with the baseball Manager Maeda aimed for—or rather, the baseball of the Juku. Naming the baseball club's philosophy "Enjoy Baseball" after returning to Japan must have been a feeling of exactly capturing his own thoughts. Although there were differences in expression, that spirit was passed down through successive managers of the Juku Baseball Club. At the same time, I believe it took root in the Juku High School Baseball Club through Mr. Makoto Ueda, Manager Mori-bayashi's predecessor. Thanks to those efforts, this summer, after 40 years, "Enjoy Baseball" has been recognized both in name and reality as a synonym for KEIO baseball.

However, based on the reactions from the media and public opinion, I do not necessarily think that Manager Maeda's true intentions have been conveyed to the world. He strongly urged that in order to enjoy, one must (1) do your best, (2) be considerate of your teammates, and (3) take your own initiative. It is a simple but truly noble philosophy. I myself challenge that state of mind with my students every day, but I am still only halfway to my goal. About a year and a half ago, a video of a practice session was sent from the Juku High School. In a downpour, players were desperately hitting tosses thrown by an elderly former professional baseball master coach. Were the water droplets splashing every time they hit the ball the falling rain, sweat, or perhaps tears...? Eventually, the feet of the players and the coach were soaked in water.