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The Ultimate Japanese Baseball Quiz | Baseball

Here is a quiz on arguably the number two baseball-playing nation, Japan. The questions aren't too hard if you're a fan. Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by hews. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
hews

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
99,281

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
489

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What are the names of the two leagues in which Japanese teams compete? Hint

Pacific League and Central League

Tokyo League and Prefectural League

Northern League and Southern League

Western League and Eastern League

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was the first Japanese player to play in an American World Series? Hint

Ichiro Suzuki

Hideo Nomo

Kazuhiro Sasaki

Tsuyoshi Shinjo

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which Japanese team won the most Japan Series Championships between 1991 and 2001? Hint

Yomiuri Giants

Yakult Swallows

Seibu Lions

Orix BlueWave

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which notorious underachievers retain a huge fan base despite not winning a Japan series from 1985 through the 2003 season? Hint

Osaka Buffaloes

Seibu Lions

Fukuoka Hawks

Hanshin Tigers

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Question 5 of 10

5. The largest sports stadium in Japan is allocated solely for baseball matches.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. How many teams make the playoffs each year? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which team did Ichiro Suzuki play for before joining the Seattle Mariners in 2001? Hint

Orix BlueWave

Fukuoka Hawks

Yomiuri Giants

Osaka Buffaloes

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which team did Hideki Matsui sign with for the 2003 season? Hint

Toronto Bluejays

San Francisco Giants

Seattle Mariners

New York Yankees

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which legendary player broke the home run record in 1964? Hint

Emperor Showa

Masaaki Sakai

Tetsuharu Kawakami

Sadaharu Oh

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Question 10 of 10

10. When was baseball first played in Japan? Hint

1919

1873

1945

1951

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What are the names of the two leagues in which Japanese teams compete?

Answer: Pacific League and Central League

In 2002, each league consisted of six teams, the top two of which play off against each other in the Japan Series every October/November.

2. Who was the first Japanese player to play in an American World Series?

Answer: Tsuyoshi Shinjo

Shinjo appeared for the San Francisco Giants on October 19, 2002.

3. Which Japanese team won the most Japan Series Championships between 1991 and 2001?

Answer: Yakult Swallows

Though dwarfed in revenues and fan support by their neighbours the Yomiuri Giants, the Swallows have been consistent, winning titles in 93, 95, 97 and 2001.

4. Which notorious underachievers retain a huge fan base despite not winning a Japan series from 1985 through the 2003 season?

Answer: Hanshin Tigers

Hanshin finished last in the Central League four years in a row, from 1998-2001. They recorded the third highest crowd figures in Japanese baseball in 2001, were number one in merchandising receipts and had a feature film made about a fictional succesful team. The team finished runner-up to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 2003.

5. The largest sports stadium in Japan is allocated solely for baseball matches.

Answer: False

The largest stadium in Japan is Yokohama Stadium, which is a soccer ground and hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final.

6. How many teams make the playoffs each year?

Answer: 4

Each playoff series is played on a best of seven basis.

7. Which team did Ichiro Suzuki play for before joining the Seattle Mariners in 2001?

Answer: Orix BlueWave

Ichiro played eight years with Orix before moving to the United States.

8. Which team did Hideki Matsui sign with for the 2003 season?

Answer: New York Yankees

Matsui joined the Yankees from the Japanese team, Yomiuri Giants.

9. Which legendary player broke the home run record in 1964?

Answer: Sadaharu Oh

Oh hit 55 home runs in 1964, which still stood at the close of the 2002 season. In 1985 as a manager he instigated Japanese baseball's most controversial moment - he ordered his Yomiuri Giants pitchers to pitch wide of the plate to Randy Bass (Hanshin Tigers) to avoid the latter breaking his record.

10. When was baseball first played in Japan?

Answer: 1873

Baseball was brought by American teachers and professors to Japan in the 1870's. The first profesional league began in 1936.

Source: Author hews

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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