One significant difference though is the balls; at least for younger aged players.

Kids in America use leather-covered baseballs in games. In batting practice, kids might use rubber balls either pitched by a coach or player, but most of the time it is only when a batting machine is being used.

In Japan, it is a world different. Young players all the way up to high school use only rubber balls whether it be practice or a game. The reason is rubber balls don’t hurt as much when a player is hit by a ball. Once players reach college level, they begin using leather baseballs…and cups.

Being a coach here in Japan, not a head coach, but an assistant one, I have come to understand why this rule has been put into place. However, I still like using a leather ball. It pitches and hits differently and this makes for a different game.

Now, what does using a rubber ball do for Japanese players other than protect them?

Rubber balls are a little cheaper. For kids, playing with rubber baseballs on cement doesn’t bring into play the leather tearing factor. So balls last longer. Rubber balls do wear down although at a very slow pace. Eventually, the rubber molded laces wear off and the ball is just round.

The main differences between rubber balls and leather ones are in fielding and batting. Rubber balls are difficult to hit. Make contact with a ball a little off center and it will spin right off the bat foul or dribble into the infield for an easy out. With that said, hit one with a lot of spin and it will possibly bounce for a hit. I see players miss balls all the time. The ball hits right in front of them and bounces left, right or over their heads. This teaches fielders to get their bodies in front of the ball better. Americans don’t want to get their bodies in front of the ball at a young age because the ball hurts.

One reason Ichiro Suzuki may be so good at fielding and hitting is he was raised using rubber balls. He probably learned better eye-hand coordination from using rubber balls.

Whether the baseball be rubber or leather, baseball in Japan is still the same sport. It’s just as fun and a great way to learn how to play game and work as a team! Play ba-ru!

For the past four days cities and towns up and down the Japan seaside have been getting snow.

The snow in Kyoto City (4cm) pales in comparison to the amount being dumped on the northern areas of Kyoto.

Current conditions for powder-skiing are ripe most anywhere in Japan!

Snowy Kamogawa

Daisuke Takahashi Wins Bronze!

Daisuke performed well enough to get the bronze medal in the 2010 Olympics even after falling on his quad attempt at the beginning of his last program giving Japan its first Olympic medal in a men’s singles figure skating event.

Learn to Skate Faster!

Takahashi is a student at Kansai University in Osaka. In Osaka, Japan, he trains under coach Utako Nagamitsu.

Way to go Daisuke! Everyone in the Kansai area of Japan is proud of you, foreign and Japanese alike!