They’re Strong! The University of Tokyo Baseball Team Is Boosting Its Batting Power with a Custom-Developed VR System Created by Top-Notch Student Analysts!

Students with a knack for data are making great strides by leveraging technology!

“Since we can repeatedly watch and study footage of the opposing pitcher before games, even when facing a pitch type for the first time, it no longer feels like I’m seeing it for the first time.”

Speaking while wearing VR (virtual reality) goggles is Ryohei Kadota (senior, first baseman) of the University of Tokyo baseball team (first photo).The images displayed inside the goggles show the star pitchers from rival teams in the Tokyo Six University League, such as Waseda and Keio. The University of Tokyo is making great strides by making full use of VR. Kadota continues:

“In the footage, the pitchers actually throw the ball from the mound. The spin and trajectory of each pitch type are realistically reproduced for every pitcher. By watching the VR footage in advance, we can visualize the opposing pitcher in detail—such as whether a fastball tends to break sharply—and devise specific strategies.”

This VR system was developed independently by the University of Tokyo baseball team. Since a student analyst in the Department of Applied Physics at the Faculty of Engineering completed the prototype in the spring of ’24, the team has been continuously updating the system to improve the accuracy of its analysis.

“We base the pitchers’ movements on footage shot from behind the netting at Jingu Stadium, where league games are held. For ball analysis, we use measurement data from ‘TrackMan’ (a ballistics measurement device) installed at the stadium. The University of Tokyo’s strength lies in having more students than other universities who can utilize such data and program accordingly,” (ibid.)

The effectiveness of using VR to improve batting performance was evident in this spring’s league games. On May 10, against Hosei University, the team won 8–5 with 13 hits, including a two-run home run by leadoff hitter Yu Hasegawa (sophomore, outfielder) in the third inning.Having also won 2–1 the previous day, this marked the first time in 98 years that the team had secured two consecutive victories and points against Hosei—a team boasting numerous Koshien veterans—in the spring league. The victory evoked memories of the “Akamon Typhoon” of spring 1981, when the team recorded six wins and finished in fourth place.

It’s not just VR that’s driving the University of Tokyo’s surge. The presence of nearly 20 student analysts is also crucial (other universities have about 10). The University of Tokyo baseball team’s analyst division was established in December 2020.It was launched under the leadership of Shu Saito, who currently serves as the data analyst reporting directly to the general manager of the SoftBank Hawks. Second-year student analyst Sadatoshi Kanazawa explains.

“Before the analyst division was established, each player would analyze the opposing team and devise strategies on their own. Now, we divide the analysts into groups based on the opposing pitcher or fielders, and provide the players with the necessary data and video footage. We don’t just analyze—we focus on conveying data that will help us win.
The underlying premise is ‘making mistakes.’ For example, suppose we analyze the opposing team’s cleanup hitter and determine that ‘throwing this pitch to this location results in the lowest probability of being hit.’ However, there’s no guarantee that a pitcher from the University of Tokyo will be able to throw an effective pitch.If a pitcher throws a bad pitch, what kind of pitch is likely to end up in which zone? If that pitch is hit, what kind of hit will it be, and where will it land? We consider all of that when providing data. Our goal is to be ‘Japan’s number one analysts.’”

The team is also working on physical conditioning

In addition to data analysis, the team is also focusing on physical conditioning. Kanazawa continues:

“The management system led by our student trainers and head trainer is contributing to our physical conditioning.Starting this year, we’ve been sharing metrics like weight through weekly fitness assessments, and each player is tailoring their diet and training methods as we work together as a team to improve our physical conditioning. Most players have successfully gained weight. Ken Akashi (senior, catcher), who had three hits in the (previously mentioned) Hosei game, has gained 6 kg since last fall and now weighs 80 kg.
Our BMI—which was among the lowest compared to other universities—is now the highest in the Six Universities League ahead of the spring league opener. In terms of physical stature, our players are certainly on par with those who have played at Koshien.”

On the wall of the baseball stadium at the University of Tokyo’s Yayoi Campus (Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo), a photo is displayed above the 2-3 scoreboard bearing the characters “Gashin Shotan” (enduring hardship and humiliation).It’s from a game this past spring in which they suffered a narrow defeat to Meiji. The University of Tokyo is no longer a team that is “expected to lose.” Using that frustration as fuel, they aim for even greater success in the fall league.

The Goal: “Japan’s Top Analyst”