Japan's 108th National High School Baseball Tournament Begins Across Prefectures

The 108th annual National High School Baseball Championship opened on July 4 with the Mie prefectural tournament at Dream Ocean Stadium. First‑round games such as Ujiyamada vs Aoyama and Yokkaichi vs Sōka were scheduled, with admission fees of ¥700 for the public, ¥200 for high‑school students, and free for younger children.

Shizuoka’s summer qualifier also started on July 4, featuring 21 first‑round matches. Notable results included Numazu City beating Fuji‑North 5‑4 and Koyama’s 28‑0 shutout. The opening games began 30 minutes earlier than the previous year to address heat concerns, and the designated‑hitter rule was in use.

In Kanagawa, the opening ceremony was held on July 5. No‑seeded Tokai University Sagami is targeting a victory over powerhouse Yokohama, which aims for a fourth straight Koshien appearance. Players and coaches emphasized the rivalry, citing the need to “defeat Yokohama to move forward.”

Oita’s tournament opened on July 5 with a ceremony despite rain, postponing the first match to July 6. Captain Sōta Inoue led the player oath, and the tournament song was performed live. Forty‑two schools (including a joint team) participated, and Meiyo is pursuing a possible sixth consecutive title.

Okinawa’s qualifier featured 61 schools competing for spots at the national tournament, highlighted in a photo‑rich online gallery.