The Harsh Travel Conditions Before the Shinkansen
Before the Tokaido Shinkansen's opening in 1964, NPB road trips were grueling experiences for players. Travel from Tokyo to Osaka took approximately six and a half hours by limited express on conventional lines, and overnight train travel was not uncommon. Trips to Kyushu or Tohoku could consume an entire day just for travel. These long journeys significantly drained players' stamina and directly impacted game performance at away venues. For pitchers in particular, the strain on backs and shoulders from prolonged sitting was serious. Teams addressed this by scheduling travel days, but this also limited the number of games per season. Additionally, the quality of meals and sleep during travel was poor, making player conditioning incomparably more difficult than today.
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The Transformation Brought by the Tokaido Shinkansen
The opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen on October 1, 1964, brought revolutionary changes to NPB's travel system. Travel time between Tokyo and Osaka was reduced to approximately four hours initially, later shortened to two and a half hours. This dramatic time reduction made it possible to use days previously reserved for travel for games instead. Central League series involving Tokyo-Osaka travel (such as Giants vs. Hanshin) benefited most directly from the Shinkansen. The ability to board the Shinkansen after a game and prepare for the next day's game became realistic, enabling increased season game counts and more efficient scheduling. The Shinkansen was not merely an improvement in transportation but became a catalyst for transforming NPB's business model itself.
Expansion of the Shinkansen Network and NPB's Nationwide Reach
Following the Tokaido Shinkansen, the network expanded nationwide with the Sanyo Shinkansen (1972-1975), Tohoku Shinkansen (1982), Joetsu Shinkansen (1982), and Hokuriku Shinkansen (1997-). This transportation infrastructure development is closely linked to NPB's team distribution. Fukuoka, home of the SoftBank Hawks, became accessible from Tokyo in approximately five hours via the Sanyo Shinkansen. Sendai, home of the Rakuten Eagles, is approximately ninety minutes from Tokyo via the Tohoku Shinkansen. The expansion of the Shinkansen network became one factor promoting team relocations and new entries in regional cities. The Nippon-Ham Fighters' move to Hokkaido (2004) also had the development of transportation networks connecting New Chitose Airport and Sapporo as a prerequisite. Without transportation infrastructure development, NPB's nationwide expansion would not have been possible.
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Modern Travel Conditions and Fan Behavior
In modern NPB, an efficient travel system combining Shinkansen and air travel has been established. Teams secure dedicated Green Car sections, with consideration for player privacy and conditioning during travel. Meanwhile, the Shinkansen has also significantly changed fan behavior. Day-trip away game attendance has become easy, and the presence of visiting fans grows each year. For Giants vs. Hanshin games between Tokyo and Osaka, the sight of massive numbers of visiting fans arriving by Shinkansen has become routine. Furthermore, fans watching live game streams on the Shinkansen are increasing, with travel time itself becoming part of the baseball experience. The evolution of transportation infrastructure has been one driving force transforming NPB from a 'regional sport' into 'nationwide entertainment.'