Since the start of the national high school baseball tournament, Teruyo has been fascinated by the new-age managing style exhibited by the Keio University High School’s manager, Takahiko Moribayashi, one feature of which is his not requiring players to shave their heads in the fashion that for long had been the norm among high school baseball clubs.
On the off day before the quarterfinals begin Friday, a colleague wrote that three of this year’s quarterfinalists, Keio, Tsuchiura Nichidai, and Shohei Ohtani’s old school, Hanamaki Higashi, have shed the rule requiring buzz cuts.
Five years ago, Hanamaki Higashi manager Hiroshi Sasaki went to the U.S. on a research tour and upon his return, did away with the need for head-shaving.
“From the outside, people took note of the traditions and practices of Japan,” he said. “Why the buzz cuts? When I thought about what the purpose was, I quit that.
Moribayashi, who has remarked that Japan is no longer in the postwar period and in a more liberal era and began looking at its rationale and effectiveness, said “What is the point of ‘Marugari?’”
The Japan High School Baseball Federation had 170,000 registered players in 2014, but has just 130,000 now, according to the story, with one federation official saying the practice presents an image that players are forced into doing it.
Tsuchiura Nichidai manager Isao Kosuge, who took over the job in 2016, said, “I want to loosen up school sports. We’re in an era where players come first.”
Still, he’s not entirely ready to let the players go their own way.
“Two-thirds of your forehead should show,” he said. “Seeing a player’s bangs when he’s wearing a baseball cap is a bad look.”
While a fan at one of Tsuchiura Nichidai’s fans was less than pleased with the reality that has been gaining traction across the country.
“This (shaved heads) is something that essential,” the fan grumbled, while a player Keio said, “People can say that if a player wears his hair long, he’s taking it lightly, but I can you tell you we work very earnestly.”
