Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams (甲子園：フィールド・オブ・ドリームス)

Is everyone here?

Okay, all here.

- Attention! Bow! - Thank you!

May we sit?

Sit down!

Excuse us.

- Number 1, Shigenari! - Yes!

- Number 2, Ohnuma! - Yes!

Thank you, I will do my best!

- Number 3, Kamata! - Yes!

On our team, we can't afford even one lazy member.

Okay?

Each person must understand their respective position,

and give it their all.

That may be preparing the grounds, taking care of our guests,

or cleaning the toilets.

For the team, for our school, for the fans who support us…

For everyone to be happy, we must all do our part.

The historic 100th tournament is rapidly approaching.

This will be our year.

Dedicate every moment of your life towards the team's victory.

- Understand? - Yes, sir.

Koshien is a sacred place.

Every high school baseball player desires to reach it.

There is a romance in dreaming of Koshien.

Koshien is like our World Series.

Except that it's single-elimination, so one loss and it's over.

The hardest part is even getting to go to Koshien.

Just the short word, Koshien

brings so many emotions to my mind.

Seeing the players giving it their all

gives adults the chance to remember the purity of their own youth.

The tournament coincides with Obon, when we pay respect to our ancestors.

Today people are too busy to visit their family grave.

Watching Koshien connects them to their hometown.

Of course we praise the winners.

But what we truly want to see

is the losers in tears scraping up Koshien's dirt.

It's amazing, this year is the 100th Koshien.

The concept of "sports" did not exist in Japan,

so when baseball was imported, it became a part of youth education.

Watching students compete is how baseball became popular.

After the war, we had nothing to enjoy

except for high school baseball.

Here comes the first pitch.

It's a hit!

From 100 years ago, it has been Japan's source of solace.

The crowd is cheering on Matsuzaka.

He threw 250 pitches just yesterday!

He's done the impossible!

Every year, a hero is born.

The scale of history and meaning is unimaginable.

That's why people go wild for high school baseball.

Dash!

Dash!

One two… one two…

I became Hayato's head coach in 1991.

Chopped to second.

The runner's coming home!

A walk-off victory!

Yokohama Hayato is going to Koshien for the first time!

We have received so much support over the years…

The players truly gave it their all.

Thank you very much.

It took me 18 years to make it to Koshien.

We have since struggled to make it back.

Our cleanup hitters are stuck batting in the .200s.

Koshien is a field of dreams,

so every year, I want to take my players there.

This year is the 100th tournament, so we are going to cause a miracle.

It's not like warrior-like bushido, but we've always valued our family.

In the past, we would even commit ritual suicide to protect the family honor.

Dash!

Dash!

We regard our teams, groups, and organizations with utmost importance.

In baseball, we often bunt to sacrifice ourselves for the team.

Players leave home base and face all sorts of obstacles,

striving to return home again.

Baseball is the only sport that uses a ball yet requires a human body to score.

That's why we must value communication, the relationships involved,

our human connections and bonds.

Catcher, crouch further back!

Crouch further back.

Hey you, hey, hey.

You won't pass along my direction?

- I've been repeating myself. - Yes, sir.

You're standing right there, and you won't pass along my direction?

- I will. - You haven't been.

Your coach is yelling right here, why are you staying quiet?

- Explain it to me. - Sir!

This is a waste of time, you're being replaced.

- Go run. - No.

- Go run the outfield, you're not needed. - No, sir.

- You're not being a part of the team. - No, sir!

- Go and pick up the balls. - Yes, sir.

- You lack the ability to communicate. - Yes, sir.

So you don't have the power to connect.

No one is relaying what's important.

That's why I sent him to pick up balls, because everyone has to play their part.

You must connect with one another.

That's what playing catch is all about, right?

Same with a batting rally, one hit after another.

So what can you work on first to connect?

- Our voices. - Yes, your voices.

- Understand? - Yes, sir.

- Thank you! - Alright, let's go!

I want to remain a stubborn man of the 20th century.

So, I don't plan to change my ways.

Today begins the new fiscal year,

as organizations across Japan welcome their new members.

Written here are the key philosophies and rules of our baseball club.

Our primary goal is to grow as human beings through baseball.

As Coach Mizutani always says, we must improve at baseball and as people.

Even things like picking up trash, lining up our bags, and eating properly,

to become the best in Japan.

Greetings are the first step of any human interaction.

Therefore you must treat them as highly important.

Good morning! Thank you!

Your articulation is terrible…

"Good morning." Make sure to pronounce each syllable.

"Good Morning."

"Thank you."

Exaggerate it.

Good morning! Thank you!

Good morning! Thank you!

- Too fast! Way too fast. - Okay.

Good morning! Thank you!

Also…

When a coach finishes talking, even if you've been scolded,

you must say "thank you" and bow.

- Okay? - Yes.

You must appreciate everything, understand?

Yes.

- Attention, bow! - Thank you!

Let's go captain!

- Captain, come here. - Sir!

Watch if they're playing according to our rules.

Here comes the first pitch!

- Hey, hey! - His bat is too close.

- Raise your bat! - Keep your hands above your head.

We got this!

No, wrong order…

What are you doing? Make sure you get the first out.

Captain, a mistake like that would be unbearable during the tournament.

Yes, sir.

It's your responsibility to raise everyone's level.

- Understand? - Yes.

To become a winning team, lots of players have to improve.

Yes, sir.

The ball's coming your way!

Once you mess up, there's nothing you can do about it.

Just think about what you can do next.

One person's negative mood has a rippling effect on the team,

like a rotten tangerine.

Let's keep working to win the prefectural tournament,

then all of Koshien.

Yes!

No one has quit the club from our grade.

You're about to learn Hayato's traditional group run.

Left… left…

Dash!

When we were freshmen, training was so tough.

One two… one two…

It was hell, but we stuck with it.

Your stomach hurts?

One, two, three, four…

Gather up!

Why did you guys just laugh?

Why, in this moment when we are failing to run in sync,

and we're about to try again, why are you guys laughing?

I'm probably not as good at baseball as many of you.

Some of you can throw the ball faster than I can.

But do you see that I'm trying my best to teach you?

- Yes! - Yes.

Our year was the same way, you think we can't do this, right?

Yes.

But we must try.

Why? Because we're all one team.

You are my underclassman.

We all are teammates under Coach Mizutani.

- Don't take that lightly. - Yes.

Give it another go with the intent to succeed.

- Do you understand? - Yes!

- We will succeed next time, okay? - Yes!

Let's go!

One two, one two…

We've endured tough practice year-round, every day from morning to night.

But many have never made the A-Team.

They want to play baseball, but spend their time in supporting roles.

That's why I'm determined to lead this team to victory.

Japanese take sports very seriously.

This is due to our culture of martial arts,

which is a matter of life and death.

Even baseball was adapted into a martial art when it was imported from America.

The practice grounds are considered sacred.

Therefore, practice is also extremely rigorous.

There was a time when 1,000-knock drills and catching balls with bare hands

were the norm.

But young players are still challenged to practice for hours in the summer heat.

- Coach, do you have a moment? - Yes?