Japanese College Baseball Guide

About All-Japan University Baseball

The All Japan University Baseball Federation (English: All Japan University Baseball Federation) is the governing body for hard-ball college baseball in Japan, and has 26 member university baseball federations. Together with the Japan High School Baseball Federation, it constitutes the Japan Student Baseball Association as a superordinate organization. The main office is located on the 9th floor of the Natori Building, 2-22-8 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (same as the Japan Student Baseball Association). It is also affiliating with University Sports Association (UNIVAS).

List of University League Federation That Linked Within the Association

  • Hokkaido Students Baseball Federation
  • Sapporo Students Baseball Federation
  • North Tohoku University Baseball Federation
  • Sendai Big 6 University Baseball Federation
  • South Tohoku University Baseball Federation
  • Chiba Prefecture University Baseball Federation
  • Kankou New Students Baseball Federation
  • Tokyo New University Baseball Federation
  • Tokyo Big 6 University Baseball Federation
  • Tohto University Baseball Federation
  • Shuto University Baseball Federation
  • Kanagawa University Baseball Federation
  • Aichi University Baseball Federation
  • Tokai District University Baseball Federation
  • Hokuriku University Baseball Federation
  • Kansai Students Baseball Federation
  • Kansai Big 6 University Baseball Federation
  • Hanshin University Baseball Federation
  • Kinki Students Baseball Federation
  • Keiji University Baseball Federation (Kyoto-Shiga)
  • Hiroshima Big 6 University Baseball Federation
  • Chuugoku District University Baseball Federation
  • Shikoku District University Baseball Federation
  • Kyushu Big 6 University Baseball Federation
  • Fukuoka Big 6 University Baseball Federation
  • Kyushu District University Baseball Federation

Leagues/Tournaments

All Universities League had the same timing of league season which start by Spring (April) and Fall (September), exactly after Spring and Summer Koshien Tournaments.

As for tournament, University Baseball Federation concludes two tournaments that exactly held after each seasons ended, namely All Japan University Baseball Tournament (Summer) and Meiji Jingu Tournament (Fall). Each tournament had its own condition for the team participation, but I will explain that in another part.

Game/Rules Condition

Apparently all college league had the same condition for winning a league. In each season and each division (if a league had multiple division which limited up to 6 teams only), two teams will face each other to win a game. They need to win two games to achieve one winning point. If the games are tied (max. 12 innings), they need to play more games until they reach one winning point. Total of winning point that needed to win a league is 5, which total of opponents that being faced in the league/division. If total of winning point are tied with another team, the one who won more winning points is the winner of the league. 

After winning the league, each winner become representative of its league to participate into tournament.

For your information, team that doesn't play in first division, can't participate into any tournament, unless they had to up-rank into first division through a desicive match between the lower rank team of league first division against the higher rank team (winner) of league second division (in a league consists of three or more division, it's decided with the upper and lower division―ex : 1st vs 2nd, 3rd vs 4th, etc.).

Both All-Japan University Baseball Tournament and Meiji Jingu Tournament is much alike with Intercollegiate Tournament (インカレ―Inkare) in another sports category.

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If you asking which league is the most popular among another league, it is Tokyo Big 6 League... since the league is way more old than my grandparents. Tohto League is also known much as a fiery league which you wouldn't know which team will be on the lower spot or higher spot (compared with Tokyo Big 6 that aren't much shifting lowest rank team with highest rank team―I mean Tokyo Univ. still holds the lowest as usual), that made them known wider because of their fiercing battle of passion (東都戦国―Tohto Sengoku). 

So, my recommendation if you're still a rookie in college baseball is to watch both Tokyo Big 6 League and Tohto League. For Tokyo Big 6 watching guide, visit this page since there's a little problem while watching it in another country outside of Japan. For Tohto, it's a safe sign since it's livestreaming in Sportsbull without any trouble. It's a pleasure for me if you give it a try to watch and support more Japanese Collegiate Baseball! 


Source : Wikipedia

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