Baseball — Korea KBO vs Japan NPB, and MLB
The system that produced Ohtani vs the route of Ryu/Kim Ha-seong
Baseball is among the most popular pro sports in both Korea and Japan, but league scale, attendance, and overseas presence differ significantly.
League Comparison
| Factor | KBO (Korea) | NPB (Japan) |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | 10 | 12 (6+6 leagues) |
| Farm system | Futures League | Eastern/Western |
| Independent leagues | None | 4 leagues |
| Avg attendance | ~8,000 (2023) | ~25,000 (2023) |
| Popularity | Competing with football | Overwhelmingly #1 |
Koshien — Japan's Unique Asset
Japan's high school baseball championship (甲子園) is a national event broadcast on NHK. No other country has high school baseball as such a massive cultural phenomenon.
MLB Comparison
Japan: ~70+ total MLB players, both pitchers and batters. Korea: ~30+ total, pitcher-heavy. Japan's system from high school through pro develops players diversely, enabling Ohtani's two-way play.
Key Differences
NPB 12 vs KBO 10 — including independent/farm leagues, Japan's scale gap is large
Koshien: Japan high school baseball = national event, Korea = minor
Attendance: NPB avg 25K vs KBO 8K — baseball is overwhelmingly #1 in Japan
MLB: Japan 70+ vs Korea 30+ — Ohtani's two-way play is product of Japan's system