Last month, with the victory of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second consecutive year in the baseball World Series, and thinking of their superstar Shohei Ohtani (the best player in the world), I wanted to delve into the origins of this sport in Japan, where it is almost a religion. Then the name of this Sunday’s protagonist came out: Horace Wilson.
Born in Gorham, Maine, on February 10, 1843, Wilson fought in the American Civil War (1861–1865) for the Unionist side against the Confederacy. Once the conflict ended, it was initiated by the government of Japan which, as you know, in the second half of the 19th century and under the reign of Emperor Meijiwanted to modernize the country and bring it up to par with the great Western powers.
Wilson was charged with modernizing the Japanese education system and was appointed English teacher at the Kaisei School in Tokyo, the institution that was the predecessor of the Japanese school. Tokyo Imperial University.
During his stay in Tokyo, Wilson advocated supplementing students’ academic training with physical exercise and sports. And as a good American, he decides to teach students what is already the national sport of his country: baseball.
In 1873, after having trained the students in the notions of this sport, he organized the first baseball match in the history of Japan, between local students and foreign teachers. Five years later, the first Japanese team was formed, Shimbashi Athletic Club.
As for Wilson, he returned to the United States in 1877 and settled San Franciscowhere he was a member of the city council.
Horace Wilson died on March 4, 1927, at the age of 84. Several years later, in 2003, it was introduced to the world. Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
I hope you liked the story. Until next week.
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