National Anthem at NPB Games?

That's a very good question. I don't remember hearing it before this season except at Giants games, I think it was. And when they played it, it seemed like half the crowd was surprised as well, not standing up until about half way through it. (Except, of course, for the hard liners who refused completely, and there are still quite a few. Fortunately, nobody makes them.)

Perhaps this is something implemented by the new commissioner? As a former police chief, I wouldn't be surprised if he thought more highly of patriotism than many from the past.

[And, yes, the site does seem to have become a bit of a ghost town. The community has gone off and created their own more focused sites, which I am very proud to have been an inspiration for.]

It used to be just a Pacific League thing - the Central League never bothered. So it is a surprise to hear that it had spread further.

From my experience, they don't play it at Koshien, but they do at Kyocera and Hotto Motto. So, yes, could be a mostly PL thing. Or a stadium decision.