Articles tagged with culture

Yomiuri's Grooming Rules and the Nameless Uniform - The "Be Gentlemen" Precept and the "FOR THE TEAM" Explanation

Dyed hair, long hair and facial hair are reported to be banned as a rule at Yomiuri, and from the 2023 season player names were removed from the back of its game uniforms. Both rules are explained through founder Matsutaro Shoriki's precept that the Yomiuri Giants must always be gentlemen and through the spirit of "FOR THE TEAM," with no published text and no reason that can be checked. Drawing on press reports and the club's own announcement, this article reads what the two rules are and how the club has explained them.

Controversies Estimated reading time: 6 min

Number 42 Is Not Special in Japan but Special in America - Jackie Robinson's Legacy and the Japan-US Gap in Feeling

In MLB, number 42 is retired by every team, and every year on April 15 all players wear number 42 for "Jackie Robinson Day". In NPB, however, number 42 is used as an ordinary number. Why does this gap in feeling exist? We consider the meaning of number 42 through the relationship between the history of racial discrimination and baseball.

Culture Estimated reading time: 3 min

The Voices of NPB Stadium Announcers - The Craftsmanship Lineage Inside the PA Booth

Stadium announcers in NPB, often called 'uguisu-jo,' read batter names, player substitutions, and announcements at every venue, supporting the game's flow from behind the scenes. Each franchise has its own pronunciation, intonation, and pacing traditions that shape the spectator experience. We trace the craftsmanship lineage of stadium announcers through famous voices that fans still recall, the meaning of women holding this role, and the contrast with modern digital transformations.

Culture Estimated reading time: 2 min