Japan has been one of the most participating countries in sports. Japanese people start honing their skills in sports at a very young age. In Japan, children take part in club activities every day till Sunday. A tradition that gives their children a chance to discover their passions in sports. Because of this, It is not surprising that Japan has given us some of the greatest players in the world of baseball such as Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki.
(Image above : Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki happy)
Not only that, but Japanese people are also very passionate about cheering for their teams! Families, friends, colleagues, and alike will wear their team's merchandise everywhere in support of their favorite team. This merch has a wide variety of baseball gear, interiors, keychains, and sometimes anime collaborations! Today we are going to give you some background of the NPB teams and how to buy their merchandise through ZenMarket!
Hanshin Tigers
Have you ever been to Osaka? If you have, you'd know that the Hanshin Tigers have the most passionate fans in Japan. They have a long tradition of celebrating on the streets of Dotombori and jumping into the river when the team wins the league!
(Image above : Hanshin Tigers in collaboration with Urusei Yatsura the anime)
Hanshin Tigers is also famous for their Lucky 7 event which is an event on the 7th inning of every game where everyone blows balloons and flies them in the air. It's definitely a sight to see!
You can buy Hanshin Tigers merch from their online store and get exclusive items! Although they only ship within Japan, It is possible to purchase from them with ZenMarket. Just simply copy and paste the product link on the search bar on our ZenMarket account and input the details, such as size, color, or amount, or see the Tutorial down below.
Shop Hanshin Tigers Items on ZM Now!
Yokohama DeNA BAYSTARS
Yokohama is very popular amongst tourists that visit Japan. You can visit a lot of attractions such as Yokohama Chinatown, Zoorasia, Cup Noodle Museum, and many more. If you are in the area you are in luck, as this is also the home of Yokohama DeNa Baystars!
(Image above: Trevor Bauer with his new pink baseball glove, Jiggly Puff)
Yokohama DeNa Baystars is definitely one of the strongest baseball teams in the current season in Japan. Having Trevor Bauer as their star pitcher, they have won the hearts of the Japanese crowds. Trevor Bauer has been a fan favorite due to his cheerful and friendly personality. As he was also very popular in the US, his merchandise is something to buy!
You can buy Yokohama DeNa Baystars Merch from their online store and get exclusive items! Although they only ship within Japan, It is possible to purchase from them with ZenMarket. Just simply copy and paste the product link on the search bar on our ZenMarket account and input the details, such as size, color, or amount, or see the tutorial down below.
Shop DeNa merch on ZM Now!
SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka's pride, the SoftBank Hawks, is the home of the single-season-homerun record holder Sadaharu Oh and previous MLB player Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes. The Softbank Hawks is often regarded as one of the richest baseball teams in Japan being founded by the Softbank Group.
SoftBank Hawks Merchandise
SoftBank Hawks ranges from baseball caps, baseball gloves, apparel, and more. You can purchase their available items from their online store, however they also only ship within Japan. But do not fret, because you can do so with ZenMarket, by simply pasting the product link in the search bar on your ZenMarket account.
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles was only founded in 2004, roughly 18 years ago. They were formed after the disbandment of two other teams, Orix Bluewave and Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Tohoku Rakuten Eagles Merch
￥2000～
They are owned by the internet shopping company Rakuten. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles has an impressive stadium that is located in Miyagi prefecture. It even features a Ferris wheel! Of course, they also have the most impressive merchandise that you can purchase on their online store.
They only ship within Japan but ZenMarket can help you purchase them by simply pasting the product link in the search bar and inputting extra details such as the size, color, and amount. You can also check the tutorial located later in this blog.
Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines are based in Chiba City in Kanto Region. They were found 73 years ago and went by Mainichi Orions. They are owned by Lotte Holdings which you would be familiar with if you are into Japanese snacks. It is the home of the MLB player Hirokazu Sawamura who played for Boston Red Socks.
Chiba Lotte Marines Merch
Chiba Lotte Marines’ Online store has a variety of items including bags, baseball gloves, baseball caps and merchandise based on their players. They only ship within Japan but ZenMarket can help you purchase them by simply pasting the product link in the search bar and inputting extra details such as the size, color, and amount. You can also check the tutorial located later in this blog.
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Home of the best baseball player of the current generation, Shohei Ohtani, Hokkaido Nippo-Ham Fighters merchandise is something that might be of interest to baseball fans.
Hokkaido Nippon- Ham Fighters is based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido. They compete in the Pacific League and they play their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. They have been playing for 58 years and have won the Japan Series 3 times.
Nipponham Fighters Merch 
They are owned by Nippon Ham which is a major food-processing company in Japan. Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters’ Online Store has a lot of merchandise that baseball fans will enjoy. Like everyone else, their online store only ships domestically.
However, ZenMarket can help you purchase them by simply pasting the product link in the search bar and inputting extra details such as the size, color, and amount. You can also check the tutorial located later in this blog.
Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons is based in Nagoya and plays for the Central League. They have won the league 9 times and were champions in the 2007 Asia Series. They are owned by the company Chunichi Shinbun which is a big newspaper company in Japan.
The dragons became known to audiences in the U.S. because of the movie Mr. Baseball, starring Tom Selleck and Ken Takakura. The film is based around New York Yankee’s first baseman Jack Elliot who is later traded to the Chunichi Dragons. If you are interested in Chunichi Dragons Mech, make sure to check their online store and buy with ZenMarket.
ZenMarket can help you purchase from them by simply pasting the product link in the search bar and inputting extra details such as the size, color, and amount. You can also check the tutorial located later in this blog.
Shop Chunichi Dragons Merch on ZM Now!
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp is a team based in Hiroshima, Japan. They compete in the Central League and were founded 73 years ago. They have won the Japan Series 3 times. Hiroshima Toyo Carp has some of the most passionate fans. Their color, red, almost always overwhelms the stadiums on their away games!
Hiroshima Toyo Carp Merch
Carp was founded only 4 years after the atomic bombing and is often referred to as “the symbol of the post-war reconstruction of Hiroshima.” If you would like to check their merchandise, make sure to head over to their website and purchase merchandise through ZenMarket. Check out our tutorial later in this blog.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows is based in Tokyo along with Yomiuri Giants. They are owned by Yakult Corporation which you would be familiar with if you like healthy tummies. Previously they were called the Kokutetu Swallows when the team was owned by the newspaper Sankei Shimbun. In 1970, they were bought by Yakult.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Merch
Some of the players who used to play in Tokyo Yakult Swallows who also played in MLB are Tony Barnette, Norichika Aoiki, and Ryota Igarashi. Check out the Tokyo Yakult Swallows online store and of course, purchase them with ZenMarket with the Tutorial below.
Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants is one of the strongest teams in Japan with a direct rivalry against Hanshin Tigers. They are owned by Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, which is Japan’s largest media conglomerate that owns two newspapers. They are the oldest team in Japan and by far the most successful. They also are the most controversial team in Japan having multiple controversies that went on over the years.
Yomiuri Giants Merch
Some of the players that used to play for Yomiuri Giants were Ken Kadokura who played in KLB and Koji Uehara who played for the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. Check out their online store here and purchase them with ZenMarket.
Also Read: INTRO TO NPB: NIPPON PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
Orix Buffaloes
The Orix Buffaloes is a team based in Osaka. They were formed as a result of the Baseball realignment that happened in 2004. They are owned by Orix which is a financial services company in Osaka. It is the home of the legend Ichiro Suzuki who played for the team in the first 9 years of his baseball career.
Orix Buffaloes Merch
Some of the notable players of Orix buffaloes are Tuffy Rhodes and Joey Meneses. Go to the Orix Buffaloes online store to check their merchandise out and purchase them through ZenMarket using the tutorial below.
Saitama Seibu Lions
Saitama Seibu Lions is a team based in north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture. The team’s logo and mascot were based on a classic Japanese Anime and Manga series, Kimba the White Lion.
They have great success in the Japan series winning it 13 times! And in 2004, they had their very first Japanese infielder to play in MLB which is Osamu Tezuka. Check out their online store here and purchase your favorite items with ZenMarket.
Shop Saitama Seibu Lions Merch Now!
How to buy baseball goodies with ZenMarket?
Step 1 Go to the baseball team of your choice's Online Store
You can view the website in English by clicking the English option at the top of the page. Please note that this translation is automatically generated and is not 100% accurate. You can either choose to search the items by category ( カテゴリーから探す）, by the player ( 選手から探す) or by keywords (キーワードから探す）.
2. Product Search
Input the name of item of your liking in the search bar. We highly recommend inputting in Japanese keywords for more accuracy, Or you can also search by categories. If you need tips on how to find products without knowing Japanese, check this article.
3. Product Information and Details
When you select the product you like, you can find the sale price, product information, category, and other information.
Once you have found the product that you want, open ZenMarket in another tab/or browser.
4. Order from ZenMarket
Once you have opened our website, proceed to log in. If you don't already have an account, register for free here (it only takes a few seconds!). After that, copy the URL of the product and paste it into the search bar on the ZenMarket site!
After adding the link, a box will appear where you can enter the product details such as; different colors, sizes, color and model options. If the product you have chosen is new and/or pre-owned, please make sure to indicate it in the description box which product you want to buy. If no description is specified, the new product is purchased by default. Click "Add" and the product will be added to your cart!
After the product is added, you just have to wait. ZenMarket operators will check the price and availability of the product for you. The check period can last up to 24 hours or longer during peak periods. After the transaction is complete, a notification will be sent to your account. The only thing you need to do after that is to pay for the product by adding funds to your account!