By Naonobu Nishimoto

On September 18 and 19 of this year Japanese major league players went on a strike. It is the first time in the 70-year history of Japanese professional baseball. First of all, the reason for the strike was that Nippon Professional Baseball revealed plans to merge Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes, and to a reorganization Japanese baseball into a single league with 10 teams. The Japan Professional Baseball Player's Association denied permission to merge Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes, and insisted that professional baseball have at least six teams in the Central League and six in the Pacific League for the 2005 season. The owners and the player's union held collective bargaining negotiations, but both sides could not agree and the players went on strike.

What is the relationship between Japan Professional Baseball and the Labor Union? The Japan Professional Baseball Player's Association is an organization which is composed of members of every team in Japan's Professional Baseball league. It includes Japanese and non-Japanese players. In 1985, the Japan Professional Baseball Player's Association become certified as a Labor Union by the Tokyo Local Labor Relations Commission. They are not only engaged in ways to improve the player's position, but are also engaged in carrying out public activities vigorously, for example, baseball clinics and various events for charity.

After the weekend strike, on September 18 and 19, the Japan Professional Baseball Player's Association held discussions with the owners and they finally agreed not to strike if the owners promised not to merge the Orix Blue Wave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes for at least a year. They also agreed not to strike if the owners agreed to make it easier for new companies to assume ownership of a baseball team and administer 12 baseball teams for the 2005 seasons. Finally, both sides agreed that if Orix and Kintetsu merged, the Kintetsu Buffaloes players would be traded to other teams.

At a press conference, Ryuzo Setoyama, speaking on behalf of the owners, read a prepared statement, while union leader Atsuya Furuta spoke freely about the agreement. In spite of the problem occurring during the 2004 season, union leader Furuta's attitude clearly showed his sincerity and perseverance. He tried to play his best and negotiate at the same time, devoting much time to the issue. Regarding the strike, the playerﾕs fans and their communities were very supportive. Consequently, the public was moved by tears Furuta he shed during the negotiated settlement.

The decline of baseball's popularity has caused a heavy financial strain on clubs management. The Free Agent system was established to allow players to be traded to other teams, but this system has caused player's salaries to rise and gives players a disproportionate share of revenues. As a result, the owners decided to push the merger through and in the process create a single league without consulting the Player's Union first. There is also the problem of the income from broadcasting right's as part of the owner's scheme. Pacific League owners favor a single-league setup, which would enable them to host games with the popular Yomiuri Giants and be virtually assured of large crowds for such games. But it is a palliative solution and makes light of baseball tradition. By the way, pay attention to the Nippon Ham Fighters. The Nippon Ham Fighters moved from Tokyo to Sapporo in Hokkaido and play an active role in Hokkaido's growth. Why did the owners have such a provincial attitude about club management? The strike was the only way to change their thinking.

Professional baseball players belong to the Nippon Professional Baseball Player's Association Labor Union. The Labor Union plays a role in protecting and improving the labor conditions of the players. It also protects players from being replaced during a strike. According to article eight of the Labor Union Law, players have the right to strike without penalty as a last resort. The strike, which lasted for only two days, showed that baseball has deep roots in our culture. Baseball is a business and club management can't work without thinking of financial problems, but baseball can't manage without baseball fans. The owners tried to say the strike was wrong, but baseball fans were more knowledgeable about the strike than the owners thought. In the end, the labor union could maintain a two-league, 12-team setup. This was an important result because it meant the owners admitted the labor union was right.

Recently, the owners allowed the Rakuten Eagles to join the Professional Baseball League and called for a revision of the draft system. I wish the owners would back off the idea that players are just chess pieces, and come face to face with players and work together to solve problems. I hope the rules improve so that, in the future, we can say that this strike was not in vain. By striking, the players and the labor union are able to express themselves. Keeping in mind the tense feeling during this first strike in Japanese baseball history, it is important for both players and owners to do their best for the future prosperity of baseball in Japan.