Taishō Baseball Girls

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The main cast. Top row, left to right: Noe Kawashima, Tamaki Ishigaki, Kochou Kikusaka. Middle row: Yuki Souya, Akiko Ogasawara, Koume Suzukawa, Shizuka Tsukubae. Bottom row: Anna Curtland, Tomoe Tsukubae, Kyouko Sakurami.

1925, Japan. The Taishou era is nearing its end, an era that increased the western influence of the Meiji era. Among other things, the now ever-present "sailor uniform" was introduced in 1920. Another sign of the times was the feminist movement, which began to gain traction. However, Japan is still a very patriarchal society, and even running is seen as a vulgar thing for women to do.

It is to this backdrop that Taishō Baseball Girls is set. A girl in middle school named Akiko Ogasawara is at a party held by her father, wherein the subject of feminism is brought up by one Sousuke Iwasaki. After he voices patriarchal views to Akiko, she becomes angry. She decides to beat Iwasaki at his own game - baseball. Together with her friend Koume Suzukawa, she tries to gather an all-girls baseball team. However, there are many obstacles in the way - finding enough members, learning how to play, continuing in the face of humiliating defeats...

Based on a light novel by Atsushi Kagurasaka. Animated by J.C.Staff. Licensed and released by Sentai Filmworks in North America. Compare with Princess Nine.

Tropes used in Taishō Baseball Girls include:

• Ahoge: Kyouko and Kochou.
• Arranged Marriage: Koume is told by her parents to marry Saburou which seems to suit her just fine.
  • There is also a similar arrangement between Akiko and Iwasaki, the major reason she wants him to recognise her equality.
• Blush Sticker: Koume.
• Butt Monkey: Kyouko. She is thrown a bone once in a while, though.
• Clingy Jealous Sister: Shizuka acts like this towards her sister Tomoe. Most probably just being over-protective.
• Crowning Moment of Awesome: In the final game, although they lost, the score was 9-8. They only lost because Koume's slide was off and she had a few millimeters left to home base. And they were able to have that score in that match against a middle school men's team that was vying for the nationals.
• Crowning Moment of Funny: Last half of Episode 7, the one with the ninja street batters.
• Daydream Surprise: The first episode opens on Koume singing a cute rendition of "Tokyo Bushi" (a Japanese song set to the melody of "Marching Through Georgia") in a fashion reminiscent of a musical. It's all in her head.
• Dogged Nice Guy: Takahara.
• Down to the Last Play
• Early-Bird Cameo: Kochou appears briefly playing with Kyouko in the first episode.
• Hair Decorations: The entire team.
• Flower in Her Hair: Koume
• Exactly What It Says on the Tin: although the tin is in Japanese.
• Expressive Hair: Noe
• Expy: Koume looks and acts a lot like Yurie from Kamichu!. Minus the god-like powers, of course.
• Forehead of Doom: Kyouko
• Genki Girl: Anna-sensei has all the tale-telling signs of having been one. Age has mellowed her out... somewhat.
• Hime Cut: A lot.
• Hot Springs Episode
• I Have This Friend: Koume uses this to check her father's opinion on girls playing sports and to get a leatherworker to modify a baseball glove to fit her hand.
• I'm Taking Her Home with Me: Koume to Tamaki.
• Keigo: Used by most of the girls and many teachers as is demanded culturally and in their school environment. Special mention goes to Tamaki--although she uses more informal, masculine tenses, she also speaks in a particularly archaic dialect which is a throwback to times when surnames were uncommon and women were referred to by given name with the respectful prefix "o" (eg. Oyuki, Okoume).
• Lover Tug of War: Tomoe and Akiko, over Koume.
• Luminescent Blush: Often used in combination with Koume's ever present rosy cheeks.
• Martial Arts and Crafts: Tomoe's kendo skills make her a good batter.
• Meganekko: Noe
• Miracle Rally: Is that Mamiko Noto giving a (gentle, of course) Rousing Speech? Followed by a Theme Music Power-Up, even.
• Mistaken for Cheating: In episode 9, Koume's mom finds a photo of one of Asaka's baseball players that fell out of Koume's drawer. The parents assume that Koume is going out with someone other than her fiancê. They approach Koume, who in turn assumes that they're talking about her secret baseball training. Hilarity Ensues.
• Mundane Made Awesome:
  • The street batters (and one pitcher) in episode 7. Ninja baseball duels!
  • Koume's epic catching in ep 3.
• Nakama
• Onee-Sama: Tomoe and Shizuka, who have a huge fangirl following amongst the younger students.
• The Ojou: Akiko.
• Person Magnet: Koume is popular with boys and girls without even trying.
• Phenotype Stereotype: Anna Curtland, the girls' homeroom teacher and sponsor of the baseball team, complete with the occasional Gratuitous English. As far as the Eaglelander thing goes, she's a lot closer to a Type 1.
• Record Needle Scratch: All the time.
• Recurring Extra: "Natto, Natto, Natto"
• Returning the Handkerchief: Takahara
• The Roaring Twenties: The Taishou period stretches from 1912 to 1926.
• Sailor Fuku: Most of the girls except Koume, Shizuka, Tamaki and Noe -- and Koume wants a seifuku.
• Schoolgirl Lesbians: It's lightly implied Tomoe has a thing for Koume. She also has her own passionate fangirl, Kyouko.
  • Tomoe blushes while thinking of winning a date with Koume. She spaces out looking at her and gets all worried when Koume shows any interest in other girls (not to mention her reaction to Akiko and Koume "baseball marriage"). Romantic Two-Girl Friendship, at the very least.
  • And then her reaction to Koume's fiance.
• Sibling Yin-Yang: Shizuka and Tomoe, the Tsukubae sisters, are characterized in this fashion.
• Spoiler Opening: The team's final composition is shown in the opening.
• Stay in the Kitchen: That Akiko's fiance thought this was a major factor for her deciding to create a girls' baseball team.
  • Also the principal of his school refused the challenge for this reason.
• Token Lesbian: Tomoe Tsukubae, who joined the baseball team in order to be closer to the story's protagonist Koume Suzukawa.
• Tsundere: Tamaki Ishigaki. Also Shizuka.
• You Go, Girl!: Pretty much the premise of the show.
• Yuri Fangirl: Noriko is aware of Tomoe's crush on Koume and tries to convince Shizuka to let her be.

Noriko: "Oh, I long to shower the lily's calyx with my impassioned feelings..."