Comments on: Decrease in participation for Summer Koshien Regional Tournaments http://yakyubaka.com/2010/07/10/decrease-in-participation-for-summer-koshien-regional-tournaments/ Japanese Yakyu News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:03:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Erichttp://yakyubaka.com/2010/07/10/decrease-in-participation-for-summer-koshien-regional-tournaments/#comment-11640 Eric Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:36:07 +0000 http://yakyubaka.com/?p=23132#comment-11640 I've heard that when the J-league kicked off maybe ten or fifteen years ago (?) people thought soccer was set to blow baseball away as Japan's most popular team sport. We can all see how that turned out. I'm pretty sure baseball in Japan will be fine, despite how the media tries to sound the alarm every now and then. I’ve heard that when the J-league kicked off maybe ten or fifteen years ago (?) people thought soccer was set to blow baseball away as Japan’s most popular team sport. We can all see how that turned out. I’m pretty sure baseball in Japan will be fine, despite how the media tries to sound the alarm every now and then.

]]> By: Genhttp://yakyubaka.com/2010/07/10/decrease-in-participation-for-summer-koshien-regional-tournaments/#comment-11615 Gen Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:00:06 +0000 http://yakyubaka.com/?p=23132#comment-11615 The population as whole isn't really declining that quickly.2004: 127,761,000 2005: 127,773,000 2006: 128,756,000 2007: 127,770,750 2008: 127,704,000The problem, more specifically, is the declining birth rate and the aging population. In 2005, only 13.7% of the population was between 0-14 years of age. And that's projected to drop to 9.7% in 2030.So there is likely a direct correlation between the drop in high school participation and the shrinking population of young people (specifically teens and younger).BTW: To be clear, I didn't post this to make it seem like the popularity of baseball in Japan was dropping. <del datetime="2010-07-13T01:42:27+00:00">Although I wouldn't be surprised if popularity was on the decline. At least ever so slightly.</del> I take that back... I don't really have any facts of figures to back that claim. Plus, I have a feeling that competition on the international level (like the WBC) has actually helped maintain the popularity of the sport.It should also be noted that a drop in TV ratings shouldn't be confused with a drop in popularity of the sport either. I think the media tries to tie those two things together every now and again. The population as whole isn’t really declining that quickly.

2004: 127,761,000
2005: 127,773,000
2006: 128,756,000
2007: 127,770,750
2008: 127,704,000

The problem, more specifically, is the declining birth rate and the aging population. In 2005, only 13.7% of the population was between 0-14 years of age. And that’s projected to drop to 9.7% in 2030.

So there is likely a direct correlation between the drop in high school participation and the shrinking population of young people (specifically teens and younger).

BTW: To be clear, I didn’t post this to make it seem like the popularity of baseball in Japan was dropping. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if popularity was on the decline. At least ever so slightly. I take that back… I don’t really have any facts of figures to back that claim. Plus, I have a feeling that competition on the international level (like the WBC) has actually helped maintain the popularity of the sport.

It should also be noted that a drop in TV ratings shouldn’t be confused with a drop in popularity of the sport either. I think the media tries to tie those two things together every now and again.

]]> By: westbaystarshttp://yakyubaka.com/2010/07/10/decrease-in-participation-for-summer-koshien-regional-tournaments/#comment-11612 westbaystars Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:14:54 +0000 http://yakyubaka.com/?p=23132#comment-11612 The population is decreasing, too. This has no bearing on the popularity of baseball. The population is decreasing, too. This has no bearing on the popularity of baseball.

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