OSAKA -- The proposed merger between the Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave has not only shaken the baseball world but also heated up the rivalry between Osaka and Kobe for economic, social and cultural dominance of the Kansai region.
The owners of Orix and Kintetsu have said they want the merged team to alternate between Osaka Dome, the current home of the Buffaloes, and Yahoo BB Stadium in Kobe, home of Orix, for three years.
After that, however, the team would have to find a permanent home, and both Osaka and Kobe are determined to be the host.