Emperor's Attendance Elevates WBC Japan vs. Australia to Historic 'Tenranjiai': Who Will Be the Next Legend?

On March 8th, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) match between Japan and Australia, held at the Tokyo Dome, has been announced as a 'Tenranjiai' with His Majesty the Emperor in attendance, drawing significant national attention. This will be a truly historic event, marking the first time in 67 years that a professional baseball game has been designated as a Tenranjiai, since the legendary 1959 contest between the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. In that iconic game, Shigeo Nagashima, then in his second professional year, hit a walk-off home run, becoming a national hero. Anticipation is high as to who will emerge as the 'Reiwa Nagashima' in this WBC and carve out a new legend.

While His Majesty the Emperor has previously attended baseball games at Jingu Stadium and rugby matches during his time as Crown Prince, and also baseball games at the Tokyo Dome in 2006 and 2009, this specific designation as a 'Tenranjiai' for a professional baseball game is unprecedented.

On social media, there's passionate discussion about what kind of performance Samurai Japan's ace, Shohei Ohtani, will deliver in this Tenranjiai, with high expectations for a home run. Comments like, 'If Ohtani hits a home run in this Tenranjiai, that would truly make him Mr. Baseball – no, *the* Baseball itself,' are circulating. Excitement is spreading at the prospect of witnessing such a historic moment, with other comments like, 'The ace pitching in a Tenranjiai – what a moment!' Some posts even speculated about the possibility of Princess Aiko attending.

However, despite the historic nature of the game, numerous voices are expressing dissatisfaction and questions about the lack of terrestrial television broadcasting. Criticisms such as 'No terrestrial broadcast for a Tenranjiai...' and 'A Tenranjiai, of all things, and they're not airing it on terrestrial TV?' are rampant. Opinions like 'Isn't that what national broadcasters are for?' and 'It's pathetic that old media can't live-broadcast a Tenranjiai' have also been observed. Amidst a situation where streaming services like Netflix are the primary viewing option, the public is voicing earnest requests, stating that 'more people should be able to witness this historic moment.'

For Samurai Japan, this is a battle they cannot afford to lose in front of His Majesty the Emperor. Not only baseball fans but all of Japan is eagerly watching the outcome of this historic WBC game against Australia.

The context

A 'Tenranjiai' (天覧試合) is a Japanese sports match attended by the Emperor. These events are exceedingly rare and carry immense cultural and historical significance, elevating the game to a national spectacle. The most famous Tenranjiai in baseball occurred in 1959, where the legendary Shigeo Nagashima, often referred to as 'Mr. Baseball,' hit a walk-off (sayonara) home run, cementing his status as a national hero. The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), featuring national teams from around the world. 'Samurai Japan' (侍ジャパン) is the popular nickname for the Japanese national baseball team. Shohei Ohtani is a two-way superstar who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB and is a key player for Samurai Japan. 'Reiwa' (令和) is the current imperial era of Japan, which began in 2019. Thus, a 'Reiwa Nagashima' refers to a new legendary player who emerges in the current era, akin to Shigeo Nagashima's impact. The public's frustration over the lack of terrestrial TV broadcasting for such a significant event highlights the changing media landscape in Japan, where traditional broadcasters are increasingly challenged by streaming services.