The 84th Intercity Baseball Tournament (hosted by The Mainichi Newspapers and the Japan Baseball Federation) is approaching. The bracket is posted in the free space on the east side of Palaceside Building 1F, building excitement. The tournament runs July 12–23 — twelve days of heated play to look forward to.
The draw was held publicly on June 20 at the Japan Education Center before about 300 fans. The opener pits last year's champion Yokohama JX-ENEOS, which won a record tenth title, against Osaka NTT West Japan. NTT group companies NTT Business Associe and NTT Data are tenants at Palaceside Building; as usual both Tokyo NTT East Japan and West Japan qualify — an east-west pair. Also watch last year's runner-up Tokyo JR East Japan, Ishinomaki Nippon Paper Ishinomaki — first advance since the Great East Japan Earthquake — and Urasoe Okinawa Electric Power, aiming for Okinawa's first win.
This year's catchphrase: "Baseball Connects Regional Pride — Joy and Emotion Through Play." Corporate baseball matches pro power with the one-and-done tournament thrill of high school baseball — irresistible — plus the depth of regional representation. Special trains and buses will bring crowds again; colorful regional cheering battles are worth watching.
A memorable recent tournament was the 79th five years ago. I remember Shin-Nippon Oil (now JX-ENEOS) pitcher Junichi Tazawa (now Boston Red Sox) and Honda infielder Hisayoshi Nagano (now Yomiuri Giants) starring — quite a frenzy. (Wasn't there also a fuss over Tazawa in that year's draft...?)
Why not watch the hot summer night ball feast with a beer in hand!