“Students Can Still Grow Even If High School Baseball Switches to a 7-Inning Format”… What a Coach from a Koshien Regular Wants to Say in Support of the Reform

In a survey of 460 organizations and approximately 13,000 people, 70 percent opposed the change.

The 7-inning format—which the Japan High School Baseball Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Japan High School Baseball Federation) is considering introducing in the spring of ’28 as a measure to combat the midsummer heat—Amid heated debate, at the first “opinion exchange meeting” held on May 30, Osaka Toin High School Coach Koichi Nishitani (56) maintained his stance of “firm opposition.”

Amid this, a coach has emerged who has expressed support for the introduction of the seven-inning format, albeit with certain conditions.

Click here for Part 1 of our article, which details the reasons for Coach Nishitani’s opposition.

Like Coach Nishitani, Wataru Sue (43), head coach of Sendai Ikuei—another private school that is a regular at Koshien—participated in the second opinion exchange meeting.

At the outset, seemingly mindful of Manager Nishitani’s remarks from the previous week, he said:

“I have not taken a firm stance—whether strongly opposed or in favor—of the seven-inning system, but have been listening to everyone’s opinions.”

The Japan High School Baseball Federation conducted a survey on the seven-inning format and reported that 70% were “opposed.” Meanwhile, Coach Sue also conducted his own survey and, surprisingly, received responses from 460 organizations and approximately 13,000 people.

“When I spoke with coaches on the ground and high school students, I didn’t get the impression at all that ‘70 percent were opposed.’”

Although he did not disclose specific figures, his tone suggested that a number of baseball people—well above 70 percent—were opposed.

“Last year, you held a series of deliberative meetings over the course of 10 sessions, which must have required a tremendous amount of effort, but unfortunately, the survey results suggest that the content of those meetings has not been effectively communicated.

I share the same view as the members of the review committee that, with an eye toward the next 100 years, it will be extremely difficult to continue the tournament based on current values. I believe we should pause and conduct further review, but I oppose any structural reforms that encroach on the sacred aspects of the tournament.”

His use of deliberately roundabout language to express conditional support for the seven-inning format was likely an effort to be considerate of the opposition. It’s a statement typical of Manager Sue, who is known for his keen sense of balance.

“I have long coached junior high school softball, and I know from personal experience that students can grow even under a seven-inning format. Is it possible to change the venues for high school baseball? Is it possible to change the timing of the tournament? And on top of that, can we improve the infrastructure? Building a new stadium sounds like a pipe dream, but is that really out of the question?

The discussion may already have been exhausted, but if the things I just mentioned cannot be realized, I think it would be best for everyone to finally take the seven-inning format seriously and work toward making it a reality.”

Coach Sue, who won the national junior high school championship before becoming a high school baseball coach and leading his team to victory at the Summer Koshien in 2022, made remarks that stood in stark contrast to those of Coach Nishitani, who finds the seven-inning format difficult to accept.

Furthermore, in light of the current disparity in team sizes and skill levels among schools, Coach Sue stated, “It’s becoming impossible for all schools to play under the same regulations,” and proposed a model for high school baseball that does not aim for Koshien.

In response, Mr. Zenyu Ogura (69), former manager of the Japanese high school national team and former manager of Daizan High School, countered, “High school baseball players should, after all, aim for Koshien,” sparking a heated debate.

If we’re going to switch to a seven-inning format, we should adopt the “mercy rule” instead.

This spring, I visited Takumi Kajisha (75)—former head coach of Gifu Prefectural Commercial High School and current head coach of the Hirakata Boys—to seek his opinion.

Coach Kajisha, who followed the elite path of amateur baseball through Gifu Prefectural Commercial High School, Waseda University, and Matsushita Electric, and who also managed at Shugakukan High School in Kumamoto, was, as expected, opposed to the seven-inning format.

“The U-18 World Cup (which uses the seven-inning format) has no choice but to play numerous games in a short period of time to finish within the allotted schedule. However, the Summer Koshien schedule is designed with players’ well-being in mind, and during half of a baseball game (while not at bat), players sit in the shade.

In contrast, the Inter-High Soccer Tournament, where players run continuously in the scorching sun throughout both halves, plays six matches over eight days. Compared to that, high school baseball players are fortunate and well-protected.”

Mr. Kajisha believes there are other issues that need to be addressed before the seven-inning system.

“The designated hitter rule was finally adopted this spring, but I’ve suggested that if Koshien were to adopt a seven-inning mercy rule, it would prevent games from dragging on due to lopsided scores, and the number of players on the bench could be reduced to 25. ‘It’s not such a bad thing if we just have to prepare a few more medals, is it?’ I said (laughs).”

The high school baseball community is largely opposed to reducing the number of innings to seven. However, the tide is slowly turning toward the introduction of the seven-inning rule.

It was, as expected, Coach Nishitani who voiced the question on everyone’s mind during the discussion session.

“With so many people opposed to it, who exactly is pushing for the seven-inning format? I can’t see who it is. Is it the chairman of the Japan High School Baseball Federation? Or is it the organizers—the Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun?”

Both supporters and opponents share the same desire to protect high school baseball players. Perhaps that is precisely why the two sides cannot find common ground.

From the June 26 & July 3, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*