Premiere Date: July 4, 2006
Synopsis
In Japan, baseball is not a pastime — it's a national obsession. And for many of the country's youth, the sport has become a rite of passage, epitomized by the national high school baseball tournament known simply as "Koshien." Four thousand teams enter, but only 49 are chosen to compete in the championship that grips the nation for two weeks every August.
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Film Update
August 22, 2008
Critical Acclaim
Kokoyakyu brings us the players, coaches, parents, yell leaders and spectators who make the Koshien a life-altering experience. . . . The approach of director-editor Kenneth Eng is intimate but never intrusive. . . . The joy of victory and, in particular, the agony of defeat are palpable. . . . For an American audience, Kokoyakyu succeeds marvelously . . .
— Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times
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Reviews & Reactions
Average Review
| based on 5 reviews
What an outstanding piece! I'm not sure which I'm more impressed with -- the Japanese baseball culture, or the quality of this production. Both are remarkable.
by Ed
June 7, 2009, 8:11 PM
Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball
One of the best things ever aired on TV. Outstanding!
by V. Wilkins
June 10, 2009, 2:58 PM
Brilliantly captivating
It first halted my channel-surfing finger when I noticed something out of the ordinary-- a flatly-colored, earthy-toned piece with English subtitles.
It seemed to be telling the story of a typical rural high school baseball team-- with a school band, cheerleaders, and loudspeakers -- except everyone was Japanese.While trying desperately to figure out what it is I was actually watching, I became stricken by the way high schoolers are required to act in Japan.
Everything looks the same-- striped long pants, dark socks up to the knees, bands with trumpets and saxophones, cheerleaders in red skirts-- but the way that the kids act shines a light on the Japanese culture as a whole and how people are expected to act-- with honor, respect, and integrity towards everyone around them.
by Matthew Mammola
June 15, 2009, 11:24 PM
I have been looking!
I agree with Matthew Mammola it stoped our channel surfing too, and it does shine a light on Japanese culture. This brought tears to me and my older brothers eyes.
I have been loking for a way to put on my movie shelf for years: so I could back at this for inspiration. I have seen so many anime and things that are Japenese but even through a man's imagination. He could not teach a better lesson. I say bravo and if ever this so called movement of Japanese/anime loses its respect this should be what all Americans should see.
by Cedric Goliday
July 2, 2009, 6:59 PM
Great depiction of Japanese HS Baseball
I watched this show and it was very accurate about the culture of Japan, its fascination with HS baseball, and the heart of these young players. Living in Japan for 18 years, I had the opportunity to witness Koshien as a sacred institution. The entire faculty, the team, the local community, supports their hometown HS team wishing each and every moment they will make it all the way. When they don't, the tears that follow are amazing. You really get a feel for all the hard effort and work they put into something they truly believe in.
I think the honor, respect, integrity, appreciation, thankfulness thats portrayed in this film is something that greatly lacks in our society in the U.S. today.
by Daniel C.
September 13, 2009, 2:28 AM