About This Issue
The Taiwanese passion for baseball stems from a series of historically significant moments that have deeply resonated with the island’s people. In 1925, the Nenggao team traveled to Japan, showcasing the determination and skill of local players; in 1929, the Kaohsiung First Public School team, composed entirely of Taiwanese students, won the All-Island Youth Baseball Tournament; and in 1931, Chiayi Agricultural and Forestry School captured the runner-up position at Kōshien, astonishing the Japanese baseball world. These pivotal moments ignited the islanders’ enthusiasm for baseball and established the sport as Taiwan’s “national pastime.” Even after periods of relative quiet, the resurgence of interest in the story of Chiayi Agricultural School and the national excitement over the 12-strong baseball tournament remind us that those “yakyū” years have never truly faded.
These historic victories belong not only to the players on the field but also to the fervent spectators in the stands. As games gained prominence, Taiwan gradually developed a collective emotion and identity centered around baseball. During the Japanese era, baseball fields were more than competitive arenas—they were vessels of communal imagination, where victory often served as a unifying force. For instance, Kaohsiung First Public School’s triumph in the first All-Island Youth Baseball Tournament instilled islanders with the confidence that “Taiwan can be a champion on the field.” Later, the Chiayi Agricultural School baseball team, representing Taiwan at Kōshien and achieving remarkable results, became a symbol of local identity and sparked Taiwan’s first wave of baseball fever.
At the same time, a baseball fan culture gradually emerged during the Japanese period. Fans not only expanded the social foundation of baseball identity but also enriched the cultural landscape of the sport. Through synchronized participation via radio broadcasts and live attendance, more fans could engage with the excitement of the games, while the emergence of baseball magazines allowed interest to extend beyond wins and losses, cultivating deeper understanding and engagement. Moreover, the circulation of related merchandise demonstrated that baseball had permeated everyday life, reflecting the diverse needs of fans and the community-oriented nature of baseball culture.
A closer examination reveals that Taiwan’s baseball network during the Japanese era had already transcended the island itself. As illustrated in the story of Takehiko Hosokawa, the network encompassed Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and Manchuria. Players active on this stage included not only Japanese baseball athletes trained or performing in Taiwan but also Major League players from the United States, whose superior skills delineated the hierarchical relations among Taiwan, Japan, and the United States within the baseball world. Additionally, many Taiwanese players went to Japan for study or competed at Kōshien, the six universities, and professional leagues, demonstrating how baseball during the Japanese era offered opportunities for social mobility.
Yet, not every figure who once shone on the field has been remembered by history. In this issue, we also focus on those forgotten narratives—the long-hidden stories of Chiayi Agricultural and Nenggao—revealing the silence of a generation of baseball players. We trace the life paths of Okamura Toshiaki, SALAW, and Tōwa Ichidō, witnessing the glory once brought by exceptional skill and the era when baseball could serve as a form of personal capital.
The act of tracing these stories is essential to filling historical gaps and constitutes an act of justice that replaces forgetting with memory. From the collective identity surrounding baseball, to cross-regional baseball networks and diverse fan cultures, and finally to the overlooked moments of individual and historical glory, this issue invites readers to view a century-long passion for baseball from multiple perspectives. The past and present have never been disconnected; only by remembering history can the depth of identification be strengthened—and to truly understand Taiwanese baseball, one must begin with the Japanese era.
ISBN 9772518947252 04
