In (American) English, there are a number of metaphors about baseball, including “hit a home run” and “touch base”. This is also the case in Japanese, the language of the country where baseball is one of the most popular sports. This article introduces unique Japanese baseball metaphors that you can “pitch” in a casual conversation! (However, don’t get overboard, as you may sound like a middle-aged baseball fanatic!)
ストライク (すとらいく, sutoraiku)
Original Meaning
a strike
Metaphorical Meaning
one’s taste of men/women; men/women one finds rather attractive
Examples
え、あの子がストライク？お前ストライクゾーンが広いな！
Wow, is that girl a “strike” for you? Your “strike zone” is very wide!
Related Word
Likewise, ボール (“ball”) refers to men/women out of your “strike zone”. To describe someone on the borderline, you may say “ぎりぎりストライク/ボール” (borderline strike/ball). Here, “ぎりぎり” is an adjective that means something is on the borderline (e.g., 締(し)め切(き)りギリギリ: very close to the deadline).
変化球 (へんかきゅう, henkakyū)
Original Meaning
a breaking ball/curveball
Metaphorical Meaning
something twisted, unorthodox, unusual, surprising
Examples
1. たまには変化球的なプレゼントを彼氏にあげても良いんじゃないかな。
Probably it’s good to give a present sometimes like a “breaking ball” (= unusual stuff) to your boyfriend.
2. 仕事の面接中に変化球の質問が来て、答えられなかった
During the job interview, I was asked a “breaking-ball” (unexpected, twisted) question and couldn’t answer it.
直球（ちょっきゅう, chokkyū）
Original Meaning
a fastball
Metaphorical Meaning
straightforward, blunt
* To put emphasis, ド is often added before 直球.
Examples
1. 「なんで離婚したの？」とド直球な質問をした
“Why did you divorce”, I asked a “fastball” (very blunt) question.
2. 直球な言葉で好きな人に思いを伝えるのが大事だ
It’s important to confess your feelings to your crush using “fastball” (straightforward) words
置(お)きに行(い)く (oki ni iku)
Original Meaning
to carefully pitch a slow ball so that you can surely get a strike (as if putting an egg on the strike zone). If you’re not familiar with baseball, imagine those who play it too safe in bowling and throw a ball as if putting it on the lane.
Metaphorical Meaning
to take a secure and passable route and avoid doing something challenging or risky; to play it safe
Examples
置きに行ったファッション
OK/clichéd/not-too-fancy-or-lame fashion
あの会社は最近似た商品ばかり作って置きに行っていると批判されている
That company has been recently criticised for “pitching a slow ball” (playing it too safe) by only making similar products.
打席に立つ (だせきにたつ, daseki ni tatsu)
Original Meaning
stand at a batter’s box/be at bat
Metaphorical Meaning
make an action/try something anyway without worrying too much about the consequence
(* Instead of 打席 (だせき), the katakana word バッターボックス (“batter box”) is also used.)
Examples
1. 彼女を作るには、まずはたくさん打席に立って色々経験する必要がある
To make a girlfriend, you first need to “stand at a batter’s box” many times (= make many actions) and experience various things.
2. 成功するためには、バッターボックスに立ち続けることが大切だ
To be successful, it is important to keep “standing at a batter’s box” (= “making actions”).
代打 (だいだ, daida)
Original Meaning
a pinch hitter
Metaphorical Meaning
a person who does something on behalf of someone who cannot make it
(* The katakana word ピンチヒッター from “pinch hitter” is also used)
Examples
1. 彼は出張中なので、今日は私がこの仕事を彼の代打として担当します
Because he is on his business trip, I am in charge of this work today as a “pinch hitter” for (on behalf of) him.
2. 合コンで彼がいけなくなったので、ピンチヒッターとして呼ばれた
Because he couldn’t go to the group blind-date, I was invited as a “pinch hitter” (instead).
See the post about 合コン: Japanese-style group blind date
キャッチボール (きゃっちぼーる, chatchi bōru)
Original Meaning
playing catch
Metaphorical Meaning
a mutual conversation/communication
(* It’s often used as “言葉/会話のキャッチボール”, literally meaning “playing catch of words/conversation”)
Examples
1. 親子間での言葉のキャッチボールはとても大切だ。
“Playing catch of words” (mutual communication) is very important between a child and parents.
2. ちゃんと相手の話を聞かないと、会話のキャッチボールは出来ない
Without listening to others, you cannot do “playing catch of a conversation” (have a mutual conversation)
ホームラン (ほーむらん, hōmuran)
Original Meaning
a home run
Metaphorical Meaning
big success
* In comparison to “home run”, ヒット (“hit”) is used to describe a small success.
Examples
1. ホームランを打つには、諦めずに努力し続けるしかない。
In order to “hit a homerun” (make a big success), you can do nothing but keep making efforts without giving up.
2. 一本のホームランではなく多くのヒットを打つことを狙っていこう。
Let’s try to hit many hits (small success), rather than a single home run (big success).
逆転ホームラン (ぎゃくてんほーむらん, gyakuten hōmuran)
Original Meaning
a come-from-behind home run
Metaphorical Meaning
big success after failure
* To put more emphasis, you can add 大 (だい, dai) meaning “large”, or 一発 (いっぱつ, ippatsu) meaning “one-shot” before the phrase.
Examples
1. 受験した全ての大学が不合格だった一年後に、東大に合格する逆転ホームランを打った
One year after having been rejected by all universities I had applied for, I “hit a come-from-behind home run” (a very big success) – I got an offer from The University of Tokyo.
2. 投資では一発逆転ホームランを狙わない方が良い
In investment, you should not aim for a “one-shot come-from-behind home run” (a big success after failure).
トップバッター (とっぷばったー, toppu battā)
Original Meaning
the first/lead-off batter (* トップバッター is a Japanese-English word literally meaning “top batter”)
Metaphorical Meaning
someone who does something first
Examples
1. 明日の発表でトップバッターになったから緊張する
Because I am “the lead-off batter” in tomorrow’s presentations (“the first person who gives a presentation”), I feel nervous.
2. 今日の番組のトップバッターはAKB48です！
The “the first batter” (the first performing group) on today’s TV show is AKB48!
外野（がいや, gaiya）
Original Meaning
outfield/outfielder
Metaphorical Meaning
people who are not involved or responsible
Examples
1. 外野は黙ってろ
Shut up, “outfielders” (those who are not involved in our things)
2. 外野からいろいろ言ってごめんね
Sorry for saying lots of things from “the outfield”
= Sorry for saying lots of things although I’m not in charge of/related to your things.
九回裏ツーアウト満塁 (きゅうかいうら つーあうと まんるい, kyuukaiura tsūauto manrui)
Original Meaning
bases loaded, two outs, in the bottom of the ninth (= last) inning
Metaphorical Meaning
the last big chance, a win-or-lose situation
* To put more emphasis on this expression, you can add フルカウント (full count: three balls and two strikes) after it.
Examples
これはまさに九回裏ツーアウト満塁の状況だ
This is exactly the situation when “bases are loaded, two outs, in the bottom of the ninth”, (the last win-or-lose situation)
(Trivia) A rumour has it that ファイナルファンタジー (“Final Fantasy”, a globally popular Japanese video game) would reflect the idea that this game was the “final dream” of the company, as the company was then struggling in business. As we know, the game had become a major success across the globe — the company hit the “come-from-behind home run” in the situation when “bases are loaded, two outs in the bottom of the ninth”.
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