The Old Ball Game :: essays research papers fc

The Old Ball Game An American dream can be defined through an examination of the American lifestyle, and by picking out the most common themes. The most common themes Americans associate with are the basics: graduating at the top of the class, finding a high-paying job, settling down with the perfect spouse, a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence, two children running through the yard chasing the dog and of course apple pie and baseball. Yes, baseball is considered by many to be part of the American dream. It is through baseball that many can relive their childhood. It has been the one daily and constant event that the American society depends on to be there during every summer night. The annual fall classic, the World Series, catches the attention of the entire country. Like the New York Yankees, baseball has become a part of America. After World War II, many countries were completely demolished physically and mentally. Among these countries was Japan. Countless numbers of Japanese people were dead, and land, buildings, and entire cities were destroyed. For the first time in Japan's history, their "God" had spoken to the public destroying his immortal reputation. During the postwar years, Japan looked to the major powers of the world to develop a foundation for a new country. Included in this foundation was a need for new ideas and dreams. Of course Japan did not completely erase thousands of years of tradition and culture, but Japan did take many international ideas and transformed them into her own. In the Movie Mr. Baseball, a Japanese woman describes Japan's borrowing techniques. "Japan takes the best from all over the world and makes it Hers" (Welles). Included in the world powers of the time was America; therefore, Japan borrowed several ideas from the United States. One such idea just happened to be America's National pastime, baseball. The history of Japanese baseball dates back to the middle 1800's. They "adopted baseball from the U.S. as early as 1873" (Constable 23), but the spark for baseball ignited during the post war occupational years. A foreign student from Japan explains, "The thousands of American troops stationed in Japan after the war kindled the passion for baseball that was lacking before the war" (Akutsu). The American soldiers showed the Japanese the American ways of baseball, and the popularity of Japanese baseball has skyrocketed from that time on. Baseball in Japan has reached the top level with its professional standings. Many other countries throughout the world have tried to establish the American sport of baseball but "Japan is the only country in the world to have