高校野球(こうこうやきゅう)

A compound of 高校(こうこう) (high school) and 野球(やきゅう) (baseball). One of the most popular spectator sports in Japan.

Common collocations

• 高校野球(こうこうやきゅう)の大会(たいかい): high school baseball tournament
• 高校野球(こうこうやきゅう)の選手(せんしゅ): high school baseball player
• 夏(なつ)の高校野球(こうこうやきゅう): summer high school baseball

Cultural note

High school baseball holds a special place in Japanese culture. The two major national tournaments are held at 甲子園(こうしえん) (阪神甲子園球場(はんしんこうしえんきゅうじょう)) in Hyogo Prefecture: the 選抜(せんばつ)大会(たいかい) (Spring Invitational) and the 選手権(せんしゅけん)大会(たいかい) (Summer Championship). The summer tournament in particular draws enormous nationwide attention, with games broadcast live on NHK. It is often simply called 甲子園(こうしえん).

Related words

• 甲子園(こうしえん): Koshien — synonymous with the high school baseball tournament
• 球児(きゅうじ): young baseball player — often used for high school baseball players