The meaning of Yakyu

I had heard something similar for the use of "Yakyu" over "Be-subo-ru," that it was part of the "purification" during WWII. Perhaps it was one of Whiting's books? Or maybe I just inferred it with the "purifying" team name changes of the time.

Nonetheless, "Yakyu" is written in Kanji. The characters literally mean "field ball."

What I find interesting is that a number of words are written in Kanji in the newspaper, but pronounced in English/Katakana. For example "shikkyu" is pronounced "foa- bo-ru." "Ichirui shu" is pretty much always pronounced "fa-suto," etc. And, of course, I can't remember ever hearing an announcer say anything but "wan auto" or "tsu- auto" for the out count. Yet it's always printed in the newspaper as a "1" or "2" followed by the Kanji for "dead."

I find Kanji very interesting. Personally, I like it better than the Western alphabets. With Kanji, one is able to read for content, the spoken language can be completely removed, and even unknown. Just witness Japanese and Chinese being able to communicate via pen without knowing each others' spoken languages. Even now, I read a lot of the newspaper understanding what I'm reading, but not able to pronounce it all.

Some people seem to consider having to learn so many characters to be a handicap to learning. To be considered literate in Japan, one must be able to read a couple thousand characters! Yet, Japan achieves better literacy rates than some developed countries that only use 26 characters for thier written communications. Something to think about?

According to Robert Whiting ("You Gotta Have Wa"), besuboru as the name of the sport became yakyu as a result of the war. Brian Maitland ("Japanese Baseball A Fan's Guide") makes the point that the horsehide implement remains a besuboru. For Americans, this is a source of some confusion.

> What I find interesting is that a number of words are
> written in Kanji in the newspaper, but pronounced in
> English/Katakana. For example "shikkyu" is
> pronounced "foa- bo-ru." "Ichirui shu"
> is pretty much always pronounced "fa-suto,"
> etc. And, of course, I can't remember ever hearing
> an announcer say anything but "wan auto" or
> "tsu- auto" for the out count. Yet it's
> always printed in the newspaper as a "1" or "2"
> followed by the Kanji for "dead."

I think that it's not so much a matter of ichirui-shu being pronounced as fa-suto, as it is two words being used. I think they use the English based terms to add color during a broadcast, but for articles they use kanji because it's more expedient. Consider that ichirui-shu would only take up 3 character spaces, while fa-suto would take up four. foa bo-ru would take up 7, while shikyuu would take up only 2.

> Some people seem to consider having to learn so many
> characters to be a handicap to learning. To be
> considered literate in Japan, one must be able to
> read a couple thousand characters! Yet, Japan
> achieves better literacy rates than some developed
> countries that only use 26 characters for thier
> written communications. Something to think about?

Well, it's more than 1,945 vs 26, since those 26 characters represent significantly more than 26 sounds, and can further be arranged in a myriad of complex spellings. But I do agree that Japan's literacy success is quite remarkable.

The word "yakyu" as a result of WWII is not true. Foreign writers like Whiting have a tendency to connect everything in Japanese baseball to Japanese culture, war, etc. Everyone seems to think that Japan always liked to use "Japlish" but that started after the war. Baseball came to Japan in the 1880's, about 20 years after Japan opened itself up to the world. During the Meiji era, Japlish didn't exist. Back then, people were speaking proper Japanese and converted most of the foreign word into Japanese. Most of the foreign words were converted literally into Japanese (yakyu - "baseball," shashinki - "camera," dentoh - "electric lamp," jidousha - "automobile," kisha - "steam locomotive," takkyu - "table tennis," kentou - "boxing," hikouki - "airplane," and only some words were phonetically converted into Japanese (like korokke - "croquette," kareh - "curry," biiru - "beer"). It's as simple as that.

Actually, I would translate "yakyu" back to English as "field-ball," which is a fairly accurate description. But then, pretty much all sports are played on a field, aren't they?

Whiting's bibliography contradicts his text. He references uses of the word "yakyu" going back many years before the war, such as "Saikin Yakyu Jutsu" by Makoto Hashido (Tokyo: Haku Bunkan, 1905).

The term "yakyu" to represent "baseball" was introduced in early Meiji. This was acknowledged on page 28 of the Vintage edition of "Wa." Both terms were used until the war when "baseball" along with other foreign words was banned. I fail to see any contradiction.

> Actually, I would translate "yakyu" back to
> English as "field-ball," which is a fairly accurate
> description. But then, pretty much all sports are
> played on a field, aren't they?

Well, yes. But at the time Wilson introduced baseball to Japan, soccer had not quite gripped the world, and the rules for American football weren't quite standardized. Considering that the only competing sporting event in Japan at the time was Ozumo, I can see why it was translated the way that it was.

Whiting has two things to say about the "yakyu" issue: "Baseball, or yakyu (field ball) as it was also known..." references the Meiji era (p. 28). Discussing the war years at p. 46, Whiting claims that "...American baseball terminology was banned (besuboru became yakyu or 'field ball')..." The citation is to "You Gotta Have Wa" (New York: Vintage Departures, 1989), ISBN 0-679-72947-X.

> Whiting has two things to say about the
> "yakyu" issue: "Baseball, or yakyu
> (field ball) as it was also known..." references the
> Meiji era (p. 28). Discussing the war years at p.
> 46, Whiting claims that "...American baseball
> terminology was banned (besuboru became
> yakyu or 'field ball')..." The citation is
> to "You Gotta Have Wa" (New York: Vintage
> Departures, 1989), ISBN 0-679-72947-X.

It may be that both besuboru (man, it sucks not being able to use lengthening bars...) and yakyuu were both in use back in Meiji and Taisho Eras, but yakyuu became the preferred term shortly before war. Again, "besuboru" may have been a commonly used spoken term, and the more expedient "yakyuu" may have been used mostly in the papers. Two character spaces versus six. Can't beat that for efficient typesetting...

- Again, "besuboru" may have been a commonly used spoken term, and the more expedient "yakyuu" may have been used mostly in the papers. Two character spaces versus six.

Funny you mention that. Even today there are a great many Katakana words that the radio (and TV) announcers use which are written in Kanji in the press. "Auto," "tsu-be-su" (there, I used lengthening bars ) to name a couple.

However, when one looks at history, what is going to be remembered? What was spoken or what was written? I know, much of today's spoken and visual record is being recorded on film, tape, CD's, DVD's, and other wonderful contraptions. But did you know that paper will last longer than a DVD without degrading? Furthermore, will there be a way to get data out of a DVD in another 100 years? How many of you can listen to an LP if you found one in your attic today? (Everyone does know what an LP is, right?)

I had commented to somebody in the past that I wished that the Pro Yakyu Encyclopedia would have all of the players' names with Yomigana. But I was told that a reason that they don't is because the pronunciation of some of the lesser known historical figures is unknown, and even disputed among decendents of some of the players. This makes a diffinitive guide to how to transscribe some of the names nearly impossible. And Pro Yakyu is very much under 100 years old!

Something to think about.