Photo/Illutration Ichiro shakes hands with baseball players at Shinjuku High School in 2022.（Asahi Shimbun file photo)

To understand the appeal of high school baseball, ask an expert: "It's insanely fascinating because you have to use your head," former major leaguer Ichiro Suzuki said on the subject three years ago.

Ichiro’s philosophy is that each player should think and decide what to do, rather than just rely on data.

Since his retirement from professional baseball, Ichiro has visited and coached at many high schools around Japan.

While watching regional high school baseball games, I have noticed an increased use of data. Teams use it to make bold defensive shifts according to the batters they are facing, or to enable batters to focus only on certain pitches.

I also understand that more schools now have a data team to analyze videos of opponents' games.

Times have changed. The outdated cult of "konjo" (blind determination) has been replaced with reason.

Young ballplayers today avoid heatstroke by making sure they stay hydrated.

And they are now allowed to wear white spikes, whereas only solid black pairs were allowed in the past. In extreme heat, the difference between black and white can translate into a 10-degree difference in internal temperature.

Qualifying for the National High School Baseball Championship is under way. Yesterday's third game of the East Tokyo Tournament reminded me that some things never change.

Shinjuku High School, coached by Ichiro, pulled off a successful bunt in the first inning with a runner on first and no outs.

The next batter doubled in a run, and the team won when the umpire called the game in the seventh inning.

This game unfolded exactly how I think high school baseball should be played.

Ryutaro Himeno, a specially appointed professor at Juntendo University, said high school baseball teams should use data differently than the U.S. major leagues and other professional baseball teams.

"High schools should use data to improve each player's performance, such as to determine the best form to avoid injuries," Himeno said.

In the majors, where state-of-the-art machinery is used to analyze data to decide game strategies and evaluate player performance, the batting average is considered to be less important than on-base and slugging percentages. Bunting and base-stealing are not considered good strategies.

Some people say baseball has become boring. But I believe it's ultimately a matter of balance.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 19

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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