NTT West and Toshiba to Meet in Japan's Corporate Baseball Final
Listen to the story
NTT West and Toshiba will face each other in the final of Japan's national corporate baseball championship. The event brings together company baseball teams from across the country.
Before the match, both teams announced their starting lineups, the players chosen to begin the game. Fans and local media have been following the news closely.
Toshiba secured its place in the final by defeating Nippon Express in a close contest. Photos showed Toshiba players celebrating happily after the victory.
The final will be held at Kyocera Dome, a well-known venue for sports events in Japan. Corporate baseball tournaments like this one are a long-standing tradition in the country.
One player drawing attention is Toshiba's Hagiwara, who is expected to turn professional soon. Reports suggest his skill and determination helped Toshiba reach this stage, and many hope he can help the team reclaim its former glory before he leaves for the professional leagues.
The term "ๅ้" used in Japanese coverage refers to a team with a strong, respected history. Toshiba is considered one of these traditional baseball powerhouses, and supporters are hoping for a revival of its past success.
Corporate baseball holds a special place in Japan, where many large companies sponsor amateur teams. These teams compete nationally, offering talented players a path toward professional careers.
Vocabulary8 words
- championship
- a big contest to find the best team
- starting lineups
- the players chosen to begin a game
- close contest
- a game where both sides are nearly equal
- venue
- the place where an event happens
- professional
- paid to play a sport as a job
- skill
- ability gained from training or practice
- reclaim its former glory
- to become successful again like before
- revival
- becoming strong or popular again
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Nippon Express 2. He will soon become a professional player 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
NTT West and Toshiba will face each other in the final of Japan's national corporate baseball _____.
Before the match, both teams announced their starting _____, the players chosen to begin the game.
Toshiba secured its place in the final by defeating Nippon Express in a close _____.
Photos showed Toshiba players celebrating happily after the _____.
The final will be held at Kyocera Dome, a well-known _____ for sports events in Japan.
One player drawing attention is Toshiba's Hagiwara, who is expected to turn _____ soon.
Reports suggest his _____ and determination helped Toshiba reach this stage.
Many hope he can help the team reclaim its former _____ before he leaves.
Toshiba is considered one of these traditional baseball _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think corporate baseball is popular in Japan?
- What qualities do you think make a good baseball team?
- How might it feel for a player to win a title before turning professional?
- Do you have similar company-sponsored sports teams in your country?
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