Japanese Cricket at Suginami Festa

A masked boy swings a plastic cricket bat at a red ball during a lesson at an outdoor festival. — *A future Matthew Hayden?*

Cricket in Japan? It’s a question that might surprise many, but the answer is a resounding yes! The Japanese do play it. And as an avid fan and photographer, I was thrilled to witness and capture the sport’s growing presence right at Tokyo’s Suginami Festa.

The surprising history of cricket in Japan

While cricket was first played in Japan over a century ago, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the sport began to take root with the formation of university clubs. Since then, its progress has been slow but steady. Today, Japan is an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), a promising sign for the future of the sport in the country.

A young girl swings a plastic bat at a red cricket ball during a lesson from the Japan Cricket Association in a grassy park. — *This ball will go over the fence for 6.*

Experiencing Tokyo’s Suginami Festa at Momoiharappa Park

If you found yourself at Momoiharappa Park near Ogikubo Station back in 2020, you would have stumbled upon the Suginami Festa. This annual family-friendly community event bustled with food and drink stalls and featured entertaining on-stage performances. Amidst it all, cricket made a memorable appearance, and I was there with my camera to document it.

A masked coach guides a young boy holding a plastic cricket bat during a lesson at an outdoor festival. — *Don’t stop till you get to the other end.*

The JCA ‘Cricket Have a Go Dome’: Introducing the game to Tokyo

The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) set up the “Cricket Have a Go Dome” to introduce the game to a new audience. Players and coaches were on hand to guide children and their parents, offering a free opportunity for everyone to try their hand at the sport. The aim was simple: to promote cricket in Japan and spark a newfound interest in the game.

A masked young girl hits a red ball off a cricket tee during a lesson at a busy outdoor festival. — *A resounding “thunk” and the ball flies.*

It was a joy to see so many people, especially the kids, hitting the ball with such excitement. Their enthusiasm was infectious. Hopefully, this fun introduction to the sport inspired some to go home and learn more about cricket. It’s doubtful that anyone there had heard of my personal heroes, Don Bradman, Bill O’Reilly, or Abdul Qadir, but every new fan is a win for the sport.

A masked young girl carries a plastic cricket bat past a blue inflatable net at a busy outdoor festival. — *Cricket Blast was a fun family event at Suginami Festa.*

The children, both boys and girls, were completely captivated. They eagerly listened to tips from the coaches, and for many, it was an entirely new experience. It was clear that some of them didn’t want to put down the bats and balls! Who knows, perhaps a future star, Japan’s own Mahendra Dhoni, was discovered that day, destined to shine in Test matches or Twenty20 cricket.

While I can’t say for sure how many people visited the dome, the festival itself drew thousands. The line of people waiting to try cricket was consistently long, keeping the staff busy all day. I enjoyed the photography and was lucky enough to be invited to another JCA event a few months later, Japan Cricket Blast in Akiruno City.

A coach in a cricket uniform points to the field while guiding a young boy with a bat — *A Japan Cricket Association coach guides the next generation of players at Suginami Festa.*

Baseball culture vs. cricket technique

One thing that caught my attention was how the participants held the bat. In Japan, baseball is king, so naturally, many people hold the cricket bat horizontally. In cricket, however, it is held vertically.

Of course, the modern, fast-paced T20 format has introduced a variety of innovative shots, but the classic technique remains distinct. As cricket becomes more popular, I’m looking forward to seeing the knowledge and skill levels of local players grow.

A masked girl swings a plastic bat at a red ball during a cricket lesson at a busy outdoor festival. — *She has her eye firmly on the ball as she swings hard.*

The growing future of cricket in Japan

Cricket still has a long way to go to challenge the dominance of baseball in Japan. But the Japan Cricket Association is actively working to raise awareness and grow the sport from the grassroots level. They organize displays and hold clinics in schools, a smart strategy for nurturing young talent. With Japan’s large population, the potential for cricket to take off is immense.

A masked girl throws a red ball next to a cricket player in front of a blue inflatable net at an outdoor festival. — *We need more left-arm bowlers. Here’s one more!*

My photography gear for this shoot

For those interested in the technical side of my photography, here’s the equipment I used to capture the action:

Camera body: Fujifilm X-T2
Lenses:
- Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- Fujifilm XF 55-200 mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

A masked young woman smiling as she holds a cricket bat at a bustling outdoor festival. — *People learned that even holding the bat was different in cricket.*

The road ahead for Japanese cricket

The idea of cricket in Japan might seem unusual, but it’s a growing reality. There is genuine interest in the sport, especially in Tokyo. Events like the Suginami Festa highlight its potential to capture the hearts of a new generation. While the road ahead is long, with continued effort, Japan could become a notable presence in the global cricketing community.

A masked adult in a cricket uniform and a small child practice throwing red balls in front of an inflatable net. — *He looked unsure, but he had expert guidance.*

Suginami Festa actually served as a stepping stone into my short career as a professional sports photographer in 2021. You can see my first photos for it, which were taken under cherry blossoms!

What are your thoughts on cricket’s growth in Japan? Share your questions and comments below! To learn more about the game, look at the Japan Cricket Association (official) website.