Sumo may be the national sport, and the one most often associate with the country, but baseball is actually the most watched and played sport here. It was introduced to the country during the Meiji Period and gained huge popularity thanks to the heavy American presence in Japan after World War II. Japan has two professional baseball leagues, as well as countless high school and university leagues across the country. Japanese baseball games are particularly notable for their fervent cheering sections, with people singing fight songs and participating in organised cheers continuously throughout most games.
