Baseball and Design – Tracing the Hanshin Tigers through Design
In celebration of three major milestones – the 90th anniversary of the Hanshin Tigers, the 100th anniversary of Nishinomiya City, and the 120th anniversary of Hanshin Electric Railway – the Otani Memorial Art Museum highlights Osaka’s baseball darlings through a somewhat unlikely lens: that of design.
On from May 31 to July 27, ‘Baseball and Design’ explores the storied legacy of the team that was founded in 1935 as the Osaka Baseball Club and is now one of Japan’s oldest professional outfits. The exhibition traces the Tigers’ visual identity from its pre-war origins, showcasing artefacts from Genichi Hayakawa’s 1936 ‘Osaka Tigers Arrive’ poster and early uniforms and tickets to contemporary graphic and fashion designs to highlight the club’s evolution.
The exhibition also touches on the parallel history of the Hanshin Railway and Koshien Stadium, offering a broader view of regional development and cultural identity. With infographics and fan-centric memorabilia, the show invites visitors to reflect on how design has helped shape not only a team, but an enduring community legacy.