The upset is on!

Thanks for posting game updates and translating the brackets. I just can't believe there are others here in the States that care about Koshien. If you don't mind me asking, what is your background Edwin?

Yeah, wish I was back in Japan, too.

Go Oki Sho!

Why are you so surprised? You should have been around for the Summer Koshien chats like two years ago during the Handkerchief ordeal when we had a whole bunch of people from all over. (I still remember that I couldn't watch the replay of the final game because I had a prior commitment... got a text message around midnight Seattle time that simply said "waseda 4, komadai 3" and I was like "WTF!")

Of course, now I live in Japan, which means I actually have less chance to watch Koshien. Go figure.

No, just surprised, that's all. I have tried to explain to some people here in the States the magnitude of high school baseball in Japan, but it usually falls on polite but deaf ears. I grew up on Okinawa (my Mother is from there) and spent the summers and some springs watching Koshien with her family. I, of course, got caught up in it all, always rooting for the team from Okinawa.

Anyhow, I love Koshien. It has to be one of the purest sport competitions in the world - no real politics like with the Bowl system in U.S. college football. It's easy, win and you move on, lose and you're out. The players realize this so every game it's all out. When you have lived in Japan, you understand the dreams of the Koshien players, their families, their fellow students, and their fans carry with them.

If I'm not mistaken, 4,000 high schools in Japan compete at a chance to get to Koshien. To be the best out of that many schools is an amazing feat. I can only imagine what first time Koshien players must feel when they walk on to Koshien field that initial time. If you haven't watched the drama H2 (which they have on eBay with English subtitles), I suggest you do because they really do a good job at conveying how important Koshien is.

Yeah, I watched H2 several years ago around when it first aired, still re-watch it from time to time, it's my favorite drama ever, actually. I've mentioned it here and elsewhere a couple of times (and I made a joke once about how "you better look out for that Hiro Kunimi!" when someone asked who was coming to MLB).

(I would also guess that any subtitled version on eBay is illegal, but that's neither here nor there.)

I don't know. I have noticed it's become a lot easier to explain Koshien since that Matsuzaka kid went to MLB.

H2 is my favorite dorama of all time. Also, I've probably watched the whole series 5 times. I still put in the "H2" DVD on occasion (like right before Koshien starts) and watch my favorite parts. Sometimes I'll sit there watching it while I throw a ball into my SSK glove. Yeah, cheesy, but I don't care.

Well, unfortunately with a convention I'm attending I'm pretty much AWOL for the next couple of days. Not having the games live didn't help either. (Westbay, this means I'm pretty much defaulting updates to you until further notice. Between work and Koushien I suffered from sleep deprivation and it really got to me. I hope to have a complete recap done sometime around the end of the tournament along with a scorebook.)

As for my background, I didn't actually get involved with koukou yakyuu until I was getting ready to return from my first trip to Japan (just for traveling) back in 2004. I remember turning on the TV and watching kids play baseball on NHK. I was like, "what is this"? So when I got home I researched the topic and found out about the Koushien tournaments.

To me, Koushien is kinda like baseball in it's purest form. Kids whose dreams is to get onto the field at Hanshin Koushien Kyuujyo and represent their team/prefecture. There's just something about that that I like.

Of course before then I liked Japanese pro baseball (although admittedly not as well versed as say Deanna or Westbay), so liking koukou yakyuu was just an extension of that.

I did go and see the 2006 summer Koushien that Deanna is referring to, and it was amazing to see the buzz that grew and grew around Saitou Yuuki and the impending collision with Ma-kun and Komadai Tomakomai.

And then of course last year with the unbelievable run by Saga Kita culminating in the come from behind comeback against Kouryou Koukou last year.

Yeah, it's great to know that there are other giajin who have a thorough understanding and love for Koshien like I do. When you realize how hard these kids work and practice just for that dream of Koshien, it is easy to get caught up in all of the emotion. Although I will always root for my island boys from Okinawa, I have the utmost respect for all the teams - I know they all have their own special story.