Hanshin Tigers
Encyclopedia
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya
, Hyōgo Prefecture
, Japan
, and are in the Central League
. Hanshin Electric Railway
Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings
Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly. The team's circular logo is very similar to the classic Detroit Tigers
logo, except that the tiger in the Major League version is orange whereas Hanshin's is yellow. The Tigers' cap logo is very similar to that of the New York Yankees and they often wear similar pinstriped uniforms.
Though they are the sister team of the American baseball team Detroit Tigers
, they are frequently compared to the Boston Red Sox
. Both the Tigers and Red Sox have an enthusiastic fan base and play in older stadiums. The Tigers' rivalry with the Yomiuri Giants
of Tokyo parallels the rivalry between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees. At one time both teams shared the title of "cursed"; leading to the Tigers' nickname of "Hard-Luck Hanshin." This idea is explored in
Stephen King
and Stewart O'Nan
's 2004 book Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season
where the Tigers are often portrayed as the Japanese Red Sox
.
The Tigers won four titles before the establishment of the two league system in 1950. Since the league was split into the Central League
and the Pacific League
, the Tigers have won the Central League pennant five times (1962, 1964, 1985, 2003, 2005) and the Japan Series once (1985).
When the 2004 Major League Baseball
season opened in Japan, the Tigers played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees
at the Tokyo Dome
on March 29. The Tigers won 11–7.
In each of 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, more than three million people attended games hosted by the Tigers. The Tigers were the only one of the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams to achieve this.
On January 31, 2007, the Tigers presented uniforms for the 2007 season. For the home uniforms, yellow, one of the colors of the team, was used again.
The home field, Hanshin Kōshien Stadium, is used by high school baseball teams from all over Japan for play in the national championship tournaments
in spring and summer.
Famous players in Hanshin Tigers history include Randy Bass
, Masayuki Kakefu, Minoru Murayama
, Jeff Williams, and many others.
, is one of three major natural grass baseball stadiums in Japan. The others are the Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima (Hiroshima Toyo Carp), and Skymark Stadium in Kobe (part-time home of the newly-merged Orix Buffaloes). Of the three, only Koshien has a dirt infield. There are numerous smaller grass field ballparks around the country; Japanese baseball teams frequently play games in small cities so that local fans can see more of their heroes.
Koshien Stadium is the oldest ballpark in Japan; built in 1924, the stadium was once visited by American baseball legend Babe Ruth
on a tour of Major League
stars in 1934. There is a monument commemorating this visit at the front gates of the park.
Koshien is revered as a "sacred" ballpark, and players traditionally bow before entering and before leaving its hallowed field. The losing team in any high school baseball game played at the ballpark is allowed to scoop up handfuls of Koshien infield dirt, stuffing holy clay clods into tiny plastic bags as hordes of Japanese papparazzi snap photos at arm's length.
is believed to lurk over the Tigers. After their 1985 Japan Series win, fans celebrated by having people who looked like Tigers players jump into the Dotonbori Canal
. According to legend, because none of the fans resembled first baseman Randy Bass
, fans grabbed a life-sized statue of Kentucky Fried Chicken mascot Colonel Sanders
and threw it into the river (like Bass, the Colonel had a beard and was not Japanese). After many series without a series win, the Tigers were said to be doomed never to win the season again until the Colonel was rescued from the river.
In 2003, when the Tigers returned to the Japan Series after 18 years with one of the worst records in the Central League, many KFC outlets in Kōbe and Ōsaka moved their Colonel Sanders statues inside until the series was over to protect them from Tigers fans.
The top half of the statue (excluding its left hand) was finally recovered on March 10, 2009, and the bottom half and right hand shortly after, in the canal by construction workers while constructing a new boardwalk area as part of a beautification project. The KFC outlet where this statue once stood has since closed.
A famous Tigers fan tradition is the release, by the fans, of hundreds of air-filled balloons immediately following the seventh inning stretch and the singing of the Tigers' fight song. This tradition is carried-out at all home and away games, except at games against the Yomiuri Giants in the Tokyo Dome due to the Giants' notoriously authoritarian and heavy-handed rules for controlling behavior by visiting fans.
The Tigers-Giants rivalry is considered the national Japanese rivalry, on par with the New York Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball or Real Madrid
vs. FC Barcelona
in Spanish football
.
"", as known as "", lyrics by and composed by , is a popular song in the Kansai
area. In Japan, wind which blow down from mountain is known to be cold and harsh, hence the song symbolise Tiger's brave challenge under hardship. The song can even be found on karaoke
boxes.
Retired:
Broadcasting stations
Nishinomiya, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball...
, Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and are in the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
. Hanshin Electric Railway
Hanshin Electric Railway
is a Japanese private railway company of Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group that links Osaka and Kobe. It also owns the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.The second character for Osaka and the first character for Kobe combine to form the company name, 阪神, which can be read Han-shin.IC cards are accepted when...
Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings
Hankyu Hanshin Holdings
is a stockholding company which owns Hankyu Corporation, Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. and affiliate companies.On October 1, 2006, Hankyu Holdings changed its name to the present corporate name following the merger with Hanshin Electric Railway...
Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly. The team's circular logo is very similar to the classic Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
logo, except that the tiger in the Major League version is orange whereas Hanshin's is yellow. The Tigers' cap logo is very similar to that of the New York Yankees and they often wear similar pinstriped uniforms.
Though they are the sister team of the American baseball team Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, they are frequently compared to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Both the Tigers and Red Sox have an enthusiastic fan base and play in older stadiums. The Tigers' rivalry with the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
of Tokyo parallels the rivalry between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees. At one time both teams shared the title of "cursed"; leading to the Tigers' nickname of "Hard-Luck Hanshin." This idea is explored in
Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
and Stewart O'Nan
Stewart O'Nan
- Life and work :Born on February 4, 1961 to John Lee O'Nan and Mary Ann O'Nan, née Smith. He and his brother were raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
's 2004 book Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season
Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season
Faithful is a book co-written by Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan. It chronicles exchanges between King and O'Nan about the Red Sox's season, beginning with an e-mail in summer 2003, and throughout the 2004 season, from Spring Training to the World Series...
where the Tigers are often portrayed as the Japanese Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
History of the Hanshin Tigers
The Hanshin Tigers, one of the oldest professional clubs in Japan, were founded on December 10, 1935 with the team being formed in 1936. The team was first called "the Ōsaka Tigers". In 1940, amid anti-foreign sentiment, the Tigers changed the name to "Hanshin" and in 1947 changed the name back to "Ōsaka Tigers". The current team name was assumed in 1961.The Tigers won four titles before the establishment of the two league system in 1950. Since the league was split into the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
and the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
, the Tigers have won the Central League pennant five times (1962, 1964, 1985, 2003, 2005) and the Japan Series once (1985).
When the 2004 Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
season opened in Japan, the Tigers played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
on March 29. The Tigers won 11–7.
In each of 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, more than three million people attended games hosted by the Tigers. The Tigers were the only one of the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams to achieve this.
On January 31, 2007, the Tigers presented uniforms for the 2007 season. For the home uniforms, yellow, one of the colors of the team, was used again.
The home field, Hanshin Kōshien Stadium, is used by high school baseball teams from all over Japan for play in the national championship tournaments
High school baseball in Japan
In Japan, high school baseball generally refers to the two annual baseball tournaments played by high schools nationwide culminating at a final showdown at Hanshin Kōshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan...
in spring and summer.
Famous players in Hanshin Tigers history include Randy Bass
Randy Bass
is a former American baseball player and current politician. He is less notable for his career in Major League Baseball than for his success in Japan's Hanshin Tigers of Central League, where he had the most spectacular run of any American to ever play in Japan...
, Masayuki Kakefu, Minoru Murayama
Minoru Murayama
was a professional baseball player for the Osaka Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball. His number 11 is retired with the Tigers. A pitcher with Hanshin from 1959 to 1972, he recorded a career 2.09 ERA and 192 career complete games to go with 222 wins. Hall of Famer.-Early life:He was born on...
, Jeff Williams, and many others.
Koshien Stadium
The home field of the Tigers, Hanshin Koshien StadiumKoshien Stadium
is a baseball park located near Kobe in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The stadium was built to host the national high school baseball tournaments, and opened on April 1, 1924. It was the largest stadium in Asia at the time it was completed, with a capacity of 55,000.The name Kōshien comes...
, is one of three major natural grass baseball stadiums in Japan. The others are the Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima (Hiroshima Toyo Carp), and Skymark Stadium in Kobe (part-time home of the newly-merged Orix Buffaloes). Of the three, only Koshien has a dirt infield. There are numerous smaller grass field ballparks around the country; Japanese baseball teams frequently play games in small cities so that local fans can see more of their heroes.
Koshien Stadium is the oldest ballpark in Japan; built in 1924, the stadium was once visited by American baseball legend Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
on a tour of Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
stars in 1934. There is a monument commemorating this visit at the front gates of the park.
Koshien is revered as a "sacred" ballpark, and players traditionally bow before entering and before leaving its hallowed field. The losing team in any high school baseball game played at the ballpark is allowed to scoop up handfuls of Koshien infield dirt, stuffing holy clay clods into tiny plastic bags as hordes of Japanese papparazzi snap photos at arm's length.
Curse of the Colonel
As with many other underachieving baseball teams, a curseCurse
A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
is believed to lurk over the Tigers. After their 1985 Japan Series win, fans celebrated by having people who looked like Tigers players jump into the Dotonbori Canal
Dotonbori
is one of the principal tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan. It is a single street, running alongside the Dōtonbori canal between the Dōtonboribashi Bridge and the Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba ward of Osaka...
. According to legend, because none of the fans resembled first baseman Randy Bass
Randy Bass
is a former American baseball player and current politician. He is less notable for his career in Major League Baseball than for his success in Japan's Hanshin Tigers of Central League, where he had the most spectacular run of any American to ever play in Japan...
, fans grabbed a life-sized statue of Kentucky Fried Chicken mascot Colonel Sanders
Colonel Sanders
Harland David "Colonel" Sanders was an American fast food businessman who founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain, now re-branded as KFC...
and threw it into the river (like Bass, the Colonel had a beard and was not Japanese). After many series without a series win, the Tigers were said to be doomed never to win the season again until the Colonel was rescued from the river.
In 2003, when the Tigers returned to the Japan Series after 18 years with one of the worst records in the Central League, many KFC outlets in Kōbe and Ōsaka moved their Colonel Sanders statues inside until the series was over to protect them from Tigers fans.
The top half of the statue (excluding its left hand) was finally recovered on March 10, 2009, and the bottom half and right hand shortly after, in the canal by construction workers while constructing a new boardwalk area as part of a beautification project. The KFC outlet where this statue once stood has since closed.
Fandom
Tigers fans are known as perhaps the most fanatical and dedicated fans in all of Japanese professional baseball. They often outnumber the home team fans at Tigers "away" games. Tigers fans also have a reputation for rough behavior and a willingness to brawl with other fans or with each other, although long fights are rare.A famous Tigers fan tradition is the release, by the fans, of hundreds of air-filled balloons immediately following the seventh inning stretch and the singing of the Tigers' fight song. This tradition is carried-out at all home and away games, except at games against the Yomiuri Giants in the Tokyo Dome due to the Giants' notoriously authoritarian and heavy-handed rules for controlling behavior by visiting fans.
The Tigers-Giants rivalry is considered the national Japanese rivalry, on par with the New York Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball or Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
vs. FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in Spanish football
Football in Spain
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. The Royal Spanish Football Federation is the national governing body and it organizes La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spain national football team, current champion of the FIFA World Cup...
.
"", as known as "", lyrics by and composed by , is a popular song in the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
area. In Japan, wind which blow down from mountain is known to be cold and harsh, hence the song symbolise Tiger's brave challenge under hardship. The song can even be found on karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
boxes.
| 阪神タイガースの歌 (六甲颪, kanji) 六甲颪 (ろっこうおろし)に颯爽 (さっそう)と 蒼天 (そうてん)翔 (か)ける日輪 (にちりん)の 青春の覇気 美 (うるわ)しく 輝く我が名ぞ 阪神タイガース オウ オウ オウオウ 阪神タイガース フレフレフレフレ 闘志 (とうし)溌剌 (はつらつ) 起 (た)つや今 熱血 既 (すで)に敵を衝 (つ)く 獣王の意気高らかに 無敵の我等ぞ 阪神タイガース オウ オウ オウオウ 阪神タイガース フレフレフレフレ 鉄腕強打幾千 (いくち)度 (た)び 鍛えてここに 甲子園 勝利に燃ゆる栄冠は 輝く我等ぞ 阪神タイガース オウ オウ オウオウ 阪神タイガース フレフレフレフレ |
Hanshin Tigers no Uta (Rokko Oroshi, romaji) Rokkō oroshi ni sassō to Sōten kakeru nichirin no Seishun no haki uruwashiku Kagayaku wagana zo Hanshin Tigers Ō-ō-ō-ō Hanshin Tigers Fure-fure-fure-fure Tōshi hatsuratsu tatsu ya ima Nekketsu sude ni teki o tsuku Jūō no iki takaraka ni Muteki no warera zo Hanshin Tigers Ō-ō-ō-ō Hanshin Tigers Fure-fure-fure-fure Tetsuwan kyōda ikuchitabi Kitaete koko ni Kōshien Shōri ni moyuru eikan wa Kagayaku warera zo Hanshin Tigers Ō-ō-ō-ō Hanshin Tigers Fure-fure-fure-fure |
The Hanshin Tigers' Song (The Wind of Mount Rokko) (An official English version, not a direct translation) Dashing swiftly through the wind blowin' from Rokko Like the big sun soaring in the clear blue sky Mighty spirit of the youth shows the victor's grace The name that shines in glory "Hanshin Tigers" Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Hanshin Tigers Go, Go, Go, Go! Powerful hits and skillful pitch achieved a thousand times Trained with every discipline here at Koshien Crowned with constant victory glorious, matchless feat Always proud, invincible "Hanshin Tigers" Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Hanshin Tigers Go, Go, Go, Go! |
Season-by-season
From the guidebook.| Season | Place | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Former Japanese Baseball League | ||
| 1936 | Spring: Did not place Summer: Did not place Autumn: 2nd |
→ |
| 1937 | Spring: 2nd Autumn: 1st (League Champion) Annual League Champion |
|
| 1938 | Spring: 1st (League Champion) Autumn: 2nd Annual League Champion |
|
| 1939 | 2nd | |
| 1940 | 2nd | |
| 1941 | 5th | |
| 1942 | 3rd | |
| 1943 | 3rd | |
| 1944 | 1st (League Champion) | |
| 1945 | No league play | |
| 1946 | 3rd | |
| 1947 | 1st (League Champion) | |
| 1948 | 3rd | |
| 1949 | 6th | |
| In the Central League | ||
| 1950 | 4th | |
| 1951 | 3rd | |
| 1952 | 2nd | |
| 1953 | 2nd | |
| 1954 | 3rd | |
| 1955 | 3rd | → |
| 1956 | 2nd | |
| 1957 | 2nd | |
| 1958 | 2nd | |
| 1959 | 2nd | |
| 1960 | 3rd | |
| 1961 | 4th | → |
| 1962 | 1st (League Champion) | |
| 1963 | 3rd | |
| 1964 | 1st (League Champion) | |
| 1965 | 3rd | |
| 1966 | 3rd | → |
| 1967 | 3rd | |
| 1968 | 2nd | |
| 1969 | 2nd | |
| 1970 | 2nd | |
| 1971 | 5th | |
| 1972 | 2nd | → |
| 1973 | 2nd | |
| 1974 | 4th | |
| 1975 | 3rd | |
| 1976 | 2nd | |
| 1977 | 4th | |
| 1978 | 6th (last place) | |
| 1979 | 4th | Don Blasingame Don Blasingame Don Lee Blasingame was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed... (Don Blazer) |
| 1980 | 5th | Don Blasingame (Don Blazer) → |
| 1981 | 3rd | |
| 1982 | 3rd | |
| 1983 | 4th | |
| 1984 | 4th | |
| 1985 | 1st (League Champion) Japan Series Champion |
|
| 1986 | 3rd | |
| 1987 | 6th (last place) | |
| 1988 | 6th (last place) | |
| 1989 | 5th | |
| 1990 | 6th (last place) | |
| 1991 | 6th (last place) | |
| 1992 | 2nd | |
| 1993 | 4th | |
| 1994 | 4th | |
| 1995 | 6th (last place) | → |
| 1996 | 6th (last place) | → |
| 1997 | 5th | |
| 1998 | 6th (last place) | |
| 1999 | 6th (last place) | |
| 2000 | 6th (last place) | |
| 2001 | 6th (last place) | |
| 2002 | 4th | |
| 2003 | 1st (League Champion) | |
| 2004 | 4th | |
| 2005 | 1st (League Champion) | |
| 2006 | 2nd | |
| 2007 | 3rd (Advanced to the Climax Series) | |
| 2008 | 2nd (Advanced to the Climax Series) | |
| 2009 | 4th | |
| 2010 | 2nd (Advanced to the Climax Series) | |
| 2011 | 4th | |
MLB Players
Active:- Kei IgawaKei Igawais a Japanese left-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent, originally from Ōarai, Ibaraki, Japan. He played for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball from to . He led all pitchers in the Central League for strikeouts in , and 2006...
(2007-)
Retired:
- Tsuyoshi ShinjoTsuyoshi Shinjois a former Japanese professional baseball outfielder.-Career:Born in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan and raised in Minami-ku, Fukuoka, he played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan from until , then for Major League Baseball's New York Mets and San Francisco Giants...
(2001-2003) - Keiichi YabuKeiichi Yabuis a Japanese baseball pitching coach for the Hanshin Tigers and a former baseball pitcher...
(2005-2008)
Media relating to the Tigers
Newspapers- Daily Sports (デイリースポーツ, published by the Kobe ShimbunKobe Shimbunis a daily newspaper based in Kobe, Japan, and the company publishing that newspapers is also called .-External links:...
, except Hiroshima region) - Nikkan SportsNikkan Sportsis the first-launched Japanese daily sports newspaper founded in 1946.It has a circulation of 1,965,000, and is an affiliate newspaper of Asahi Shimbun.-Companies and regions:...
(日刊スポーツ, affiliated company of the Asahi ShimbunAsahi ShimbunThe is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
, Kansai region) - Sankei SportsSankei Sportsis a Japanese language daily sports newspaper published by Sankei Shimbun. In 2002, it had a circulation of 1,360,000. The newspaper is known by its nickname .-Relating sports teams:*Kanto - Tokyo Yakult Swallows...
(サンケイスポーツ, published by the Sankei ShimbunSankei Shimbunis a daily newspaper in Japan published by the . It has the sixth highest circulation for a newspaper in Japan, and is considered as one of the five "national" newspapers...
Osaka Head Office) - Sports NipponSports Nipponis the first-launched Japanese daily sports newspaper founded in 1948.It is an affiliate newspaper of Mainichi Shimbun.- External links :...
(スポーツニッポン, affiliated company of the Mainichi ShimbunMainichi ShimbunThe is one of the major newspapers in Japan, published by .-History:The history of the Mainichi Shimbun begins with founding of two papers during the Meiji period. The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was founded first, in 1872. The Mainichi claims that it is the oldest existing Japanese daily newspaper...
, Kansai region)
Broadcasting stations
- Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc.Mainichi Broadcasting Systemis a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
(MBS, 毎日放送, Radio and TV) - Asahi Broadcasting CorporationAsahi Broadcasting Corporationis a regional radio and television broadcaster headquartered in Osaka, Japan, serving in the Kansai region.-Offices:*Headquarters: 1-30, Fukushima Itchome, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan...
(ABC, 朝日放送, Radio and TV) - Kansai Telecasting CorporationKansai Telecasting Corporation, often called or , is a TV station affiliated with Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System in Osaka, serving the Kansai region of Japan...
(関西テレビ, TV) - Yomiuri Telecasting CorporationYomiuri Telecasting Corporationis a TV station joining Nippon News Network and Nippon Television Network System in Osaka Business Park, Osaka, Japan founded as "" on February 13, 1958...
(読売テレビ, TV) - Television Osaka, Inc. (テレビ大阪, TV)
- SUN-TV (サンテレビ, TV)
See also
- Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
- Western LeagueWestern League (Japanese baseball)The is one of the two minor leagues of Japanese professional baseball. The league is owned and managed by the Pacific League.-History:The league was created in 1952 as the Kansai Farm League, and contained the minor league teams of the seven professional teams that had their homefields in the...
- Hankyu Hanshin Toho GroupHankyu Hanshin Toho Groupis a Japanese keiretsu centered around Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, H2O Retailing and Toho. The keiretsu historically included Sanwa Bank, now part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, and is still closely linked to MUFG....
- Hanshin Electric RailwayHanshin Electric Railwayis a Japanese private railway company of Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group that links Osaka and Kobe. It also owns the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.The second character for Osaka and the first character for Kobe combine to form the company name, 阪神, which can be read Han-shin.IC cards are accepted when...
Co., Ltd.