Koshien: Japan’s Field Of Dreams (2020)

Hard Work and Sacrifice toward pursuing baseball goals

The documentary follows one team, coach and his family and looks at the joys, frustrations and consuming passion that surround Japanese high school baseball. The annual summer tournament Koshien is a goal and dream of thousands of high school baseball players across Japan.
This movie doesn't choose to overglorify or to criticize the means and ways the coach works and teaches his players. This does a good job of showing what happens and letting the viewer decide how to feel about it. Another good choice is to follow a program that is good but not an overwhelming powerhouse. Also, a former protege of the coach has gone on to coach a team of his own. It shows that coach's approaches and team to a lesser extent.
This could have easily made a 3 part series that delved more deeply into how baseball shaped the coach, his former players and family. But this provides a good taste and is recommended for anyone interested in Japanese culture or baseball.

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