Although the rulebooks of Japanese and American baseball may appear the same, the underlying cultural differences between the two countries lead the games in different directions. It is interesting that baseball, originally an American game, has underlying qualities that reflect the Japanese way of life over the American way of life. For instance, the game of baseball is slow, natural, and traditional (Powers 180-181). These three qualities reflect the nature of Japanese society over that of American society. Thus, although baseball is originally an American sport, it is easy to see why it was widely accepted in Japan.

The different cultures provide for a differing mentality that can make it difficult for players to accept the other teams' style of play. In Japan, "Wa" is the spirit of group harmony and the philosophy is seen is baseball (Lidz). On the other hand, American baseball provides an opposition to this spirit with a more individualistic style of play. Therefore, Japanese players don't think much of playing in the major leagues because they are familiar with the Japanese system and don't like to take risks. The advent of free agency, similar to that in America, changes this (Verducci). On the other hand, many American players who choose to play in Japan are unhappy with their decision because they do not enjoy the underlying differences in the game that they experience.

As Japanese baseball players play in America and American baseball players play in Japan the cultures are diffused providing for new stylistic additions to each nation's game. However, the differing cultures are brought together as players play in the other country for reasons including to make more money or to gain recognition. In addition, when the players return to play in their original country, a piece of the foreign culture is brought back to the originating country's game.