Japan Cricket Blast
In 2020, I had my first chance to photograph a cricket tournament in Tokyo, the Akishima Mayor’s Cup. It was a great event that got youngsters at a multi-cultural sporting event. My camera caught a lot of bat-against-ball action.
The competition was a part of the Cricket Blast series. That is an entry-level program run by the Japan Cricket Association for children. The JCA hopes to grab their interest to increase the game’s popularity.
Many people say that cricket is slow and complicated. I’m a cricket fan, so I don’t agree, but the JCA does. They have relaxed the rules to make things easier and faster. It’s a good idea for countries where the game isn’t in the public consciousness.
Japan Cricket Blast series rules
- In the case of wides, batters get a free hit.
- There are no leg-before-wicket (LBW) dismissals.
- The balls are of soft plastic.
- There are six players per team.
There were four teams for the day. Players were from Bangladesh, England, India, and Japan. The kids were from seven to twelve. They were competitive.
Some of the teams came long distances to play. One was from Edogawa Ward. That is in the extreme east of Tokyo, about fifty kilometers away. These kids were keen to play.
As the teams were very young, they lacked some skills, which was understandable. But, their enthusiasm for the game was boundless. Everyone put in a massive effort. Dropped catches were never a problem! They took them in their stride.
The eventual winner was the Akishima Junior Club. They played very consistently. Their trophy was well-deserved.
It was an enjoyable afternoon. Cricket fans were delighted to see the game played locally in Japan. We can only hope it continues to grow.
I again wondered how successful cricket might be in Japan after the games finished. It has an uphill battle. Games like baseball and soccer are way more entrenched. But we shall see! Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites
- Japan Cricket Association (official website)