2024.07.02
The World Youth Baseball Championship resumes after five years of COVID-19. Amateur Baseball NOW vol.27
The World Youth Baseball Championship (hosted by the World Youth Baseball Foundation, the Japan Baseball Association, and others, with support from the Mainichi Newspaper Company, etc.), which the Japan Baseball Association (JABA) has supported for many years, will be held in Fukuoka Prefecture from July 28 to August 5. After being canceled for four years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be the 30th time the tournament has been held, and the first time in five years.
The tournament was established in 1990 by the foundation’s Chairman Oh Sadaharu (president of the professional baseball team SoftBank Hawks), who holds the world record for 868 home runs, and the late Hank Aaron, who hit 755 home runs, the second-highest total in the history of the US Major League Baseball. The previous 29th tournament was held in Fukushima City in the summer of 2019. The following year, the first tournament for young baseball girls was scheduled to be held in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, but was canceled due to the effects of COVID-19. This year, the tournament will finally be resumed in Fukuoka, Chairman Oh’s “second hometown,” where he has lived for about 30 years since he became manager of SoftBank Hawks.
= Chairman Satoshi Seino (far left), of the Japan Baseball Federation, poses for a commemorative photo with Chairman Sadaharu Oh (center), of the World Youth Baseball Foundation, at a press conference for the World Youth Baseball Championship.
JABA Chairman Seino: “Baseball plays a role in world peace, I’m proud”
At a press conference held in Tokyo on June 26, Chairman Wang said, “I am truly happy that we can hold the event in Fukuoka Prefecture. Baseball is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to (Shohei) Ohtani’s hard work, but we would like to do our best to make baseball even more popular in the future.”
Approximately 100 boys and girls from 14 countries and regions around the world, including Japan and Vietnam, which is participating for the first time, will be invited to this tournament. Baseball classes and exchange events with local people are planned, as well as an international exchange match between a team from Taiwan and a local team from Fukuoka Prefecture.
JABA has supported the tournament as an important place to “spread baseball and develop children” since the second tournament in 1991, and has been one of its organizers. Chairman Satoshi Seino, who attended the press conference, spoke emotionally about his experience observing the 29th tournament, saying, “The children were a little shy and aloof at first, but by the last day they were crying and hugging each other. This is truly wonderful. I think this is important for world peace, and I’m proud that baseball is playing a part in that.”
= Poster announcing the World Children’s Baseball Tournament
Baseball classes, cultural exchanges and international matches
Of the 29 tournaments held to date, 24 have been held in Japan. The area is wide, stretching from Hokkaido in the north to Miyazaki in the south, and the tournament has continued with the support of various cities. This time, the venues will be nine cities and towns in Fukuoka Prefecture: Onojo City, Kitakyushu City, Okawa City, Buzen City, Chikushino City, Dazaifu City, Miyama City, Nakagawa City, and Fukuchi Town. The international exchange games will be based at Onojo General Park (Madoka Park) in Onojo City, but baseball classes and cultural exchanges will be held in other cities and towns, and there will also be homestays.
In Japan, cities all over the country are supporting amateur baseball with the keyword “baseball.” Chairman Seino explains, “Initiatives like this help more people get to know and understand our cities.”
At the press conference, Aaron’s wife, Billie, also shared a message: “Hank and I have looked forward to participating in the tournament every year. The smiles and passion of the children are truly moving. I hope you will make lots of friends through baseball this summer.” It was a heartfelt message. The usual summer festivals at this time of year are the Intercity Baseball Tournament for amateurs and high school baseball, but this year the hot summer is returning to the children as well.[Mainichi Shimbun Baseball Committee, Nakamura Yuka]
2024-07-01 22:00:52
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