Mizuno’s baseball-specific artificial turf has secured the top market share in Nippon Professional Baseball, with installations across seven NPB stadiums as of early 2026. The company’s MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF product leads the industry through its specialized processing that mimics natural grass whereas enhancing durability and player safety.
The verified installations include Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, Kyocera Dome Osaka, Rakuten Mobile Strongest Park Miyagi, Vantelin Dome Nagoya, Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Belluna Dome, and ZOZO Marine Stadium. This represents the highest adoption rate among artificial turf suppliers in Japanese professional baseball.
Mizuno PayPay Dome Fukuoka completed a full-field installation of MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF in February 2026 for the 2026 season. The turf features a special crimp-processed pile designed to withstand intense play while reducing foot strain on athletes. This installation marked the first use of Mizuno’s artificial turf at the Fukuoka venue.
Kyocera Dome Osaka underwent its second installation of MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF in March 2026, replacing the original turf first installed in 2018. The renewed surface maintains the product’s core benefits of shock absorption and consistent ball response, while helping manage the stadium’s high usage as a multi-purpose dome facility.
At Rakuten Mobile Strongest Park Miyagi, home of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF was installed in foul and warning zones following the field’s conversion to natural grass in 2016. The specialized pile processing allows the artificial sections to visually harmonize with the natural grass while providing reduced player fatigue and stable footing.
Vantelin Dome Nagoya received MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF for the 2022 season, marking the product’s first adoption by a Central League team and the fourth NPB stadium overall to use the technology. The installation addressed challenges from the dome’s frequent use for concerts and other events, where traditional turf would degrade during setup and removal processes.
The turf’s key technological feature is its special crimp processing of the pile (grass blades) to closely resemble natural grass shapes. This design improves shock absorption by approximately 15% compared to Mizuno’s standard long-pile artificial turf, while stabilizing ball bounce and roll characteristics. The structure as well helps reduce surface temperature buildup when combined with specific infill materials.
For outdoor applications like Tamahome Stadium Tsukugi – the secondary home of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ farm team – Mizuno combines MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF with Field Chip Greentea infill. This combination suppresses surface temperature increases by approximately 7°C compared to traditional black rubber chips, further reducing player fatigue during summer games.
Beyond player performance benefits, the turf’s rapid recovery from compression helps maintain consistent playing conditions despite the multi-use nature of dome stadiums. The visual design also minimizes glare, creating a more comfortable viewing experience for spectators.
Mizuno first introduced MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF to NPB stadiums in 2016. The product has since expanded through subsequent installations and replacements, achieving its current market leadership position through verified adoption across both Pacific and Central League venues.
The company maintains dedicated specifications for baseball applications, distinguishing its product from general-purpose artificial turf through baseball-specific performance criteria including traction, slide characteristics, and field consistency requirements unique to the sport.
As NPB teams continue evaluating playing surface options for player safety and field consistency, Mizuno’s baseball-specific turf represents a verified solution with established adoption across multiple ballparks and seasons of use under professional conditions.
The next scheduled installation activity involves the March 2026 completion at Kyocera Dome Osaka, with no further installations publicly announced beyond the currently confirmed seven stadiums as of April 2026.
For updates on Mizuno’s sports facility installations or technical specifications for MS CRAFT BASEBALL TURF, interested parties can consult the company’s official sports facilities service pages.
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