What is Yakyu-ban ? | Commentary by Japanese webmaster | Common in Japan #39

SHINTA+

Hello World !

This is SHINTA+, Japanese writer.

Friend

What is ‘Yakyu-ban’ ??

I want to know it !

This page is

To introduce ‘Yakyu-ban’ as product well known in Japan
To clear your question about it

I wrote this article to introduce ‘Yakyu-ban’, as popular Japanese product and to clear your question about it.

I would like to explain about the topic with mainly two parts.

Introduction of ‘Yakyu-ban’ in Japan
Deep Diving with Q & A style
- History
- Real Yakyu-Ban
- Price
- Size, etc

In first part, you can get basic information about ‘Yakyu-ban’ in Japan.

And next, I would like to introduce more details, with style of answering questions. You can get information with cherry pick style, in stead of reading long article.

I hope you will have proper information about Yakyu-ban in Japan, after reading this page.

This Article is written by

SHINTA+

Japanese Blog Writer | Born and raised in Japan. Lived, worked, visited in 21 countries in total. Introducing Japanese culture, based on experiences both domestic and international.

Table of contents

What is ‘Yakyu-ban’ ?
Deep Diving into Yakyu-Ban in Japan
Postscript

What is ‘Yakyu-ban’ ?

‘Yakyu-ban’ is famous toy in Japan.

‘Yakyu’ means ‘baseball’ and ‘ban’ means ‘board’. It’s toy to play baseball. People play baseball game in line with actual baseball rules. People can throw a breaking ball.

Although it’s kind of toy, people play baseball with much excitement.

Introduction of Yakyu-Ban

Popular toy in Japan
To play baseball on board
Well designed to play in line with actual rules
Breaking ball available

Deep Diving into Yakyu-Ban in Japan

I would like to introduce more information about Yakyu-Ban in Japan, in this paragraph with Q & A style, so that you can access information easily.

Please kindly open items what you want to know.

SHINTA+

I hope you can clear your question in this part.

What is the history ?

Yakyu-Ban has history more than 60 years in Japan.

In 1958, first ‘Yakyu-ban’ was released by producer, Epoch. At that time, baseball was king of entertainment in Japan. So ‘Yakyu-ban’ was sold very well. Epoch made improvements in product continuously, setting function ‘disappear ball’ , design of field, etc. ‘Yakyu-ban’ is still have support of consumers.

1958 First products of Yakyu-ban released
1959 Added breaking ball function
1972 Added ‘Disappear ball’ function
1977 Added multi ball system

Reference : epoch webpage

What is ‘REAL Yakyu-Ban’ ?

‘REAL Yakyu-Ban’ is popular seasonal special TV program in Japan.

As ‘Yakyu-ban’ has large popularity, it became seasonal TV program. Presenter is very famous comedian Mr. Takaaki Ishibashi.

He play baseball with professional baseball players, in actual baseball field, closely realized ‘Yakyu-ban’. It’s popular program as seasonal special broadcast.