Koshien Tournament
Yesterday the 90th Koshien HS baseball tournament began in Osaka ,the tournament takes its name from the famed Koshien stadium where the tournament began . Teams from 48 prefects march into the stadium with much pomp ans circumstance . The Koshein ranks very high with Yakyu fans and is considered even more important than the championship for the Pros at the seasons end . It was an incredible expierence with thousands of banner waving cheering fans . The Games will continue through the next 2 weeks .The rules are simple you lose you go home ,you win you stay until you lose or win it all.
The teams that lose gather dirt from the Koshien field into bags as tears roll down their face in the shame of losing . In Japan there is no greater glory than winning the Koshien !
Photos by Lance Miccio
