The head coach of Osaka Toin High School's baseball team launches a fervent opposition against the new 7-inning game rule introduced in the Japanese high school baseball championships. The coach expressed concerns this rule change might compromise the competitiveness and integrity of the sport. This comes amidst an ongoing debate about reducing the game duration in high school championships to protect young arms from injury.

In Japan, high school baseball is not only a sport but also a major part of the culture, attracting large TV audiences and intense fandom. Any rule changes are met with passionate reactions as they are seen to potentially affect the traditional values of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork that the sport embodies in Japanese society.

While in the US or EU, similarly reducing game duration in youth baseball due to safety concerns has seen debates, the cultural attachment to baseball in Japan makes rule changes a much more sensitive issue. Where practical and player safety concerns usually take precedent in the West, in Japan, tradition and cultural values must also be considered.