Japanese Minor League?

There is a Western League and Eastern League built of of the minor league teams of the parent teams. The second teams you're probably thinking are of the Industrial League.

Yes, ni-gun (the "second team") is comprised of the Eastern and Western Leeagues, as ichi-gun (the "first team") is comprised of the Central and Pacific Leagues.

Ichi-gun

Central League
Chunichi Dragons
Yakult Swallows
Yomiuri Giants
Hanshin Tigers
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Yokohama BayStars

Pacific League
Seibu Lions
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (to be renamed on December 24)
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Chiba Lotte Marines
Orix Buffaloes
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Ni-gun

Eastern League
Nippon Ham Fighters
Yomiuri Giants
Yakult Swallows
Seibu Lions
Lotte Marines
Shonan SeaRex (Yokohama BayStars)
Rakuten Golden Eagles

Western League
Chunichi Dragons
Hanshin Tigers
Surpas (Orix)
Hiroshima Carp
Daiei Hawks (to be renamed)

This is how the Eastern and Western Leagues will be divided up next year. Kintetsu used to be part of the Western League, but with the team moving to Sendai along with ni-gun, the farm team is switching to the Eastern League.

Having an uneven number of teams in each league is a major reason why teams are scheduling the hosting of international games and games with the Industrial Leagues (Japan's defacto farm system along with a number of university leagues).

Hope this helps.

I just graduated from Wake Forest University and am looking to further my playing career. I'd like to learn more about the Industrial Leagues. Here are my questions:

• What kind of pay do the players receive?
• Are all players employees of the company that sponsors the team?
• What does the level of play compare to in the states?
• Wood bats?
• What kind of attendance do they get?
• Are there any foreign players already playing in the leagues?
• What kind of exposure do the players get to MLB/NPB scouts?

Any links to other pro leagues around Asia are also appreciated.

Thanks!

Nic Blue

- Are all players employees of the company that sponsors the team?

Yes.

- Wood bats?

I think they use wood bats in the Industrial League.

- What kind of exposure do the players get to MLB/NPB scouts?

The players in the Industrial League get scouted and signed by NPB teams quite often.

- Any links to other pro leagues around Asia are also appreciated.

There's the KBO (Korean Baseball Organzation) [Link - in Korean] and the CPBL (Chinese Proffessional Baseball League) [Link - in Chinese]. The CPBL is in Taiwan. There's also going to be a new independent league in Japan in 2006, I think. Though if you haven't played professional baseball at least in the Independent League, you probably don't stand a chance in playing in Japan. Also for starters, I would read the "So you want to play in Japan" page at Japan Baseball Daily.

Have you also considered playing in the U.S. as a Major League prospect player?