As baseball boasts the status of being "America's Pastime," perhaps the only place in the world with fans as passionate over the generations is the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. This splendid 1958 hardcover book is titled on the cover as "The Picture History of the (sic) Baseball in Japan," which is also spelled out in kanji. Alas, unless one can read Japanese characters, much of the 289 pages of content is indecipherable, though the pictures cover the earliest years of the Japan Baseball League, and records range through the 1956 season. Book shows use but, despite its age, is wonderfully preserved and in EX+ condition. Worth noting that the book opens from what would be considered in the US as "back-to-front," with the "first" section printed on photo-friendly coated stock and the remainder on regular printing paper. As such, the first portion appears white with the remainder displaying some age toning. Great historical tome from the other side of the Pacific.