2022 marks the 150th anniversary of baseball's introduction to the Japanese public. Keio University has made numerous invaluable marks on the sport of baseball in Japan. Among them is the tradition of the "Keio-Waseda Baseball Games," a rivalry that ranks in the top three of competitions of its kind in the world. As opposed to Waseda University's popularized style of play such as "passion with every pitch" and "the way of baseball," Keio has taken a different perspective by first and foremost aiming to "Enjoy Baseball." This attitude is rooted in and shaped by history, many parts of which can be traced directly to Yukichi Fukuzawa and the origins of baseball in Japan.
This exhibition is meant to make visitors think on how Keio's motto, "Enjoy Baseball," relates to our modern-day context by using invaluable baseball records and ideologies from the past to position Keio's tradition within the larger story of modern Japan and baseball's history in Japan.
For those interested in this incredible opportunity to view these rare historical documents and memorabilia, please stop by and visit the exhibition.