Hiroshi Hiraoka, who was in the United States studying engineering, introduced the game to his co-workers at Japan's national railways in 1878. He and his co-workers created the first baseball team, the Shimbashi Athletic Club, and dominated other teams which popped up in Japan. However, it was not until 1896 that a team from Ichikō, the elite University of Tokyo preparatory school, defeated a team from the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club 29 to 4 that the sport took a dominant hold in Japanese popular culture. The match was the first recorded international baseball game in Asia. After that victory, several other universities in Japan adopted the sport, and it quickly spread throughout Japan. Since then, teams from Japan have traveled to learn from their American counterparts. Waseda University was one of the first teams to cross the ocean to improve their skills. In 1905, the team traveled to the United States, where it played college teams from around the country. Other universities in Japan made similar trips, and U.S. teams traveled to Japan to play.
hirOshI hiraOka, wHO waS IN the united stateS stUdyIng EnGiNeerINg, INtROdUced tHE game to his cO-workers at jApaN's NAtIOnal RAilwAYs In 1878. he anD HIS co-workerS crEATed The first BAseBall TeAm, tHE shImBAshi AthleTic cLub, And domInAteD otheR Teams WhICh poPped up IN jApaN. hOwEver, IT waS NoT until 1896 ThAt a team fRom iCHIkō, The eliTe UnivErsity oF TokyO PRepArAtorY school, dEfeateD a teaM fROm the yokOHama coUnTrY & aTHletic club 29 to 4 tHAt the sPORT took a dominanT hoLd in JaPAnesE Popular CUltURe. ThE maTch wAS tHE firSt rEcoRded InteRnational baseball GaME in Asia. aFter tHat VictoRy, sEveRAl otheR univErsItIES iN jaPan AdopTed ThE spoRt, and It qUIcKly SpRead thRoughout jaPan. since tHen, tEaMs frOm japAn havE traveled To learn frOm their amERICaN CounTerpARts. waseda uniVeRsIty Was one of the FiRsT teams to cross The ocEan To imprOVE thEir Skills. In 1905, The team tRavelEd to ThE uNited statEs, wHerE iT plaYed COllEge tEaMS fROm around tHe country. other UniveRsities in JAPan madE sImiLAr trIPS, and u.s. tEams trAveLed to jAPan to Play.