2009年03月25日
ＷＢＣ連覇 日本を元気づける世界一だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 25, 2009)
WBC title defense has energized Japan
ＷＢＣ連覇 日本を元気づける世界一だ（3月25日付・読売社説）
Team Japan once again climbed to the top of the world at the second World Baseball Classic on Monday in Los Angeles. It certainly was an amazing achievement by the players, collectively dubbed "Samurai Japan."
再び世界の頂点を極めた。サムライジャパン、見事な連覇である。
Japan beat South Korea 5-3 in the WBC final in an extended, 10-inning game, to retain the title.
ワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）の決勝で、日本は韓国を延長戦の末に破り、第１回大会に続く優勝を果たした。
Expectations that the team would hold on to the title were high, and the players representing their country handsomely lived up to those expectations. We would like to applaud them for coping with the pressure and proving their abilities.
連覇を期待され、それにこたえた。重圧をはね返し、実力を十分に発揮した代表選手たちに拍手を送りたい。
Team Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said after the final that he was happy to share the joy of victory with everybody. Many people must have been literally energized by the success of Team Japan.
原辰徳監督は決勝戦の後、「皆さんと喜びを分かち合えてよかった」と語った。その言葉通り、日本チームの活躍に元気をもらった人も多いことだろう。
Since the tournament's Tokyo round started on March 5, the Japanese people had shown great interest in the event. TV viewership has been high. People crowded in front of TV sets at home appliance sections of shopping arcades and major electronics stores. Many people watched games on their cell phone TVs on trains and other places.
５日に東京ラウンドが開幕して以来、今大会は高い関心を集めた。テレビの視聴率は好調だった。家電売り場の画面の前に人垣ができた。電車内などでテレビ機能付き携帯電話に見入る人もいた。
===
Event has taken root
As a major event to decide the world's No. 1 baseball country, the WBC seems to have taken root firmly among Japanese baseball fans.
野球の世界一を決める祭典として、ＷＢＣは日本のファンにすっかり定着したようだ。
By advancing to the final of the WBC, Japan and South Korea proved that the level of Asian baseball is very high. The tense, thrilling pace of the games made us feel anew the sport's real enjoyment.
日本と韓国が決勝まで勝ち上がり、アジアの野球が高い水準にあることを示した。決勝の緊迫した試合展開は、野球の醍醐(だいご)味を改めて実感させてくれた。
Japan beat the United States in a semifinal. Manager Hara commented that he does not think the win means Japan's baseball has surpassed that of the United States.
日本は準決勝で米国を下した。原監督は「これで米国を追い越したとは思っていない」とコメントした。
He is right if we think about the U.S. lineup, which can hardly be regarded as the best, among other things.
米国がベストメンバーとはいえない編成だったことなどを考えれば、その通りだろう。
But Japanese baseball has been steadily evolving, as shown in its consistent pitching strength and its batting lineup that can connect strings of hits, for instance.
ただ、日本の野球も確実に進化していることが、安定した投手力、つながりのある打線などに表れていたのではないだろうか。
While watching Team Japan's games, many other baseball players must have thought they would like to play in the WBC someday.
日本チームの戦いぶりを見て、「いつかは自分もあのグラウンドに立ちたい」と思った選手も多いはずだ。
Such players will work hard in the hope they will be someday selected for Team Japan. This may result in the further improvement of the level of baseball among professionals and corporate players, as well as university and high school players.
日本代表に入ろうと頑張る。それが、国内のプロ野球や社会人、大学、高校野球などのさらなるレベルアップにつながる。
The WBC this time also impressed upon us the improvement of skills among European players. The Netherlands, for instance, advanced to the second round after beating the Dominican Republic, one of the pre-tourney favorites.
欧州勢の技術が向上していることを印象付ける大会でもあった。特に、オランダは優勝候補とされたドミニカ共和国などを退け、２次ラウンドに進出した。
===
Game's appeal still too narrow
Europeans would probably take more interest in the event if their own countries' teams became stronger. To bring baseball back as an Olympic event, the further internationalization of baseball is indispensable.
自国チームが強くなれば、欧州での関心も高まるだろう。野球が五輪競技として復活するためにも一層の国際化は欠かせない。
Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea met five times in this year's WBC. The main reason for this was that both teams, which survived the Tokyo round, were put in the same group again in the second round under the latest system.
日本と韓国は、今大会で５回も対戦した。東京ラウンドを突破した両国が、２次ラウンドでも同じグループに入るシステムだったことが主な要因だ。
The major issue in the next tournament will be how to prevent the same teams from meeting several times.
対戦相手の偏りをどう防ぐかが、次回大会の課題となるだろう。
Japan's professional baseball season will start on April 3. We hope the players will do their best to make fans watching games feel joyful, with performances comparable to those we saw in the WBC.
日本のプロ野球は４月３日に開幕する。野球の面白さを満喫させてくれたＷＢＣに負けないプレーでファンを楽しませてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25, 2009)
（2009年3月25日01時50分 読売新聞）
WBC title defense has energized Japan
ＷＢＣ連覇 日本を元気づける世界一だ（3月25日付・読売社説）
Team Japan once again climbed to the top of the world at the second World Baseball Classic on Monday in Los Angeles. It certainly was an amazing achievement by the players, collectively dubbed "Samurai Japan."
再び世界の頂点を極めた。サムライジャパン、見事な連覇である。
Japan beat South Korea 5-3 in the WBC final in an extended, 10-inning game, to retain the title.
ワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）の決勝で、日本は韓国を延長戦の末に破り、第１回大会に続く優勝を果たした。
Expectations that the team would hold on to the title were high, and the players representing their country handsomely lived up to those expectations. We would like to applaud them for coping with the pressure and proving their abilities.
連覇を期待され、それにこたえた。重圧をはね返し、実力を十分に発揮した代表選手たちに拍手を送りたい。
Team Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said after the final that he was happy to share the joy of victory with everybody. Many people must have been literally energized by the success of Team Japan.
原辰徳監督は決勝戦の後、「皆さんと喜びを分かち合えてよかった」と語った。その言葉通り、日本チームの活躍に元気をもらった人も多いことだろう。
Since the tournament's Tokyo round started on March 5, the Japanese people had shown great interest in the event. TV viewership has been high. People crowded in front of TV sets at home appliance sections of shopping arcades and major electronics stores. Many people watched games on their cell phone TVs on trains and other places.
５日に東京ラウンドが開幕して以来、今大会は高い関心を集めた。テレビの視聴率は好調だった。家電売り場の画面の前に人垣ができた。電車内などでテレビ機能付き携帯電話に見入る人もいた。
===
Event has taken root
As a major event to decide the world's No. 1 baseball country, the WBC seems to have taken root firmly among Japanese baseball fans.
野球の世界一を決める祭典として、ＷＢＣは日本のファンにすっかり定着したようだ。
By advancing to the final of the WBC, Japan and South Korea proved that the level of Asian baseball is very high. The tense, thrilling pace of the games made us feel anew the sport's real enjoyment.
日本と韓国が決勝まで勝ち上がり、アジアの野球が高い水準にあることを示した。決勝の緊迫した試合展開は、野球の醍醐(だいご)味を改めて実感させてくれた。
Japan beat the United States in a semifinal. Manager Hara commented that he does not think the win means Japan's baseball has surpassed that of the United States.
日本は準決勝で米国を下した。原監督は「これで米国を追い越したとは思っていない」とコメントした。
He is right if we think about the U.S. lineup, which can hardly be regarded as the best, among other things.
米国がベストメンバーとはいえない編成だったことなどを考えれば、その通りだろう。
But Japanese baseball has been steadily evolving, as shown in its consistent pitching strength and its batting lineup that can connect strings of hits, for instance.
ただ、日本の野球も確実に進化していることが、安定した投手力、つながりのある打線などに表れていたのではないだろうか。
While watching Team Japan's games, many other baseball players must have thought they would like to play in the WBC someday.
日本チームの戦いぶりを見て、「いつかは自分もあのグラウンドに立ちたい」と思った選手も多いはずだ。
Such players will work hard in the hope they will be someday selected for Team Japan. This may result in the further improvement of the level of baseball among professionals and corporate players, as well as university and high school players.
日本代表に入ろうと頑張る。それが、国内のプロ野球や社会人、大学、高校野球などのさらなるレベルアップにつながる。
The WBC this time also impressed upon us the improvement of skills among European players. The Netherlands, for instance, advanced to the second round after beating the Dominican Republic, one of the pre-tourney favorites.
欧州勢の技術が向上していることを印象付ける大会でもあった。特に、オランダは優勝候補とされたドミニカ共和国などを退け、２次ラウンドに進出した。
===
Game's appeal still too narrow
Europeans would probably take more interest in the event if their own countries' teams became stronger. To bring baseball back as an Olympic event, the further internationalization of baseball is indispensable.
自国チームが強くなれば、欧州での関心も高まるだろう。野球が五輪競技として復活するためにも一層の国際化は欠かせない。
Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea met five times in this year's WBC. The main reason for this was that both teams, which survived the Tokyo round, were put in the same group again in the second round under the latest system.
日本と韓国は、今大会で５回も対戦した。東京ラウンドを突破した両国が、２次ラウンドでも同じグループに入るシステムだったことが主な要因だ。
The major issue in the next tournament will be how to prevent the same teams from meeting several times.
対戦相手の偏りをどう防ぐかが、次回大会の課題となるだろう。
Japan's professional baseball season will start on April 3. We hope the players will do their best to make fans watching games feel joyful, with performances comparable to those we saw in the WBC.
日本のプロ野球は４月３日に開幕する。野球の面白さを満喫させてくれたＷＢＣに負けないプレーでファンを楽しませてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25, 2009)
（2009年3月25日01時50分 読売新聞）
【このカテゴリーの最新記事】
-
no image
-
no image
-
no image
-
no image
-
no image
この記事へのコメント
コメントを書く