Hypotheses on Baseball Decline Among Youth in Japan

Youth well-being has become an increasing concern in Japan in recent years. This study considers sports as a potential factor impacting the lives and psychology of young people and examines the long-standing and widely cherished sport of baseball in Japan. The study focuses on high school baseball, given that it has consistently attracted public attention across the nation. By analyzing publicly available data from the Japan High School Baseball Federation, this study examines trends such as declines in club membership, formation of combined teams due to a lack of players, and the overall decline of baseball among youth in Japan. Furthermore, it hypothesizes two potential causes for this decline: 1) increased diversity in sports and entertainment, and 2) the negative image associated with baseball. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on youth well-being by documenting the current decline in baseball participation among young people and proposing hypotheses regarding its underlying causes.