I actually linked the famous musical number before and that was enough to snare Sixten, but the geriatric animeblogger club at Meenuvia needed prodding by Wonderduck before they started paying attention (also, Mr. Duck embedded the video instead of simply linking it).

It would not be a big spoiler to reveal that Koume's number is the only musical insert in the first 2 episodes, perhaps in the whole show. Nonetheless, it has something in common with the main idea of the series, so it's not a deceptive ad.

BTW, I used an electric commuter train just like the one Koume was riding momentarily. According to its data plate, it was made in 1932, and remained in service in Irkutsk until 1970s, long past the time when ER-1 et.al. took over the lines near the capital.

Where TYM really shines is the artwork. Where Bakemonogatari is crisp, hip and stylish, TYM looks more like a watercolor painting for the most part, with fluid animation and realisticly drawn characters (though Koume's perpetually rosy cheeks are a little out of place). It's really a nice, almost gentle, show, which is strange to say about a sports anime. Baseball being what it is, however, it fits quite nicely.

So he says, but when Koume and Akiko visit the training ground for the first time, they are so shocked out of their socks by the violence of the game.

Anyhow, the art of Taishou Yakyuu Musume is outstanding indeed. I also appreciate how J.C.Staff decided not to skip on animating secondary characters and body language movements. There's a ton of small turns and such.