On December 4th, new uniforms were donated to the junior high school softball club team “All Hachioji Kuwato Club” (represented by Kazuki Kawakami) by Iwasaki Rebar Co., Ltd. (President: Seiji Iwasaki) in Terada Town. The club was just launched in October of this year due to the shift of junior high school club activities to regional areas. Local businesses are also supporting the club, which started its activities with the aim of providing an environment where baseball can be played stably in the area.
As a support for club activity reform
An increasing number of junior high school clubs are unable to carry out club activities to their full potential due to the declining number of club members due to the declining birthrate and a lack of instructors. In particular, some schools have decided to abolish athletic clubs that require a large number of players, while others are integrating them using the base school system or moving to regional clubs, such as club teams.
The baseball team at Municipal Daigo Junior High School (principal Junichi Kamogari) in Myojin Town is no exception. Due to a shortage of club members and instructors, the principal and vice principal served as advisors, and outside instructors were invited to practice twice a week. Many schools in the city are in a similar situation, and it is said that the baseball teams at municipal junior high schools in the city will be cut in half by next spring. The club was born under these circumstances.
Nurture mind and body
The club is staffed by experienced baseball players and coaches who have coached youth baseball teams, and practices five days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays, on the grounds of Daigo Junior High School. The group accepts students from 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of junior high school, mainly from within the city, and currently has 27 members. Koumi Mori, a first-year student at Ishikawa Junior High School (Kuboyama-cho), said, “My school’s baseball club has disappeared, so I’m glad I found a place to continue playing baseball.I want to do my best here so I can continue playing baseball in high school.” Encourage.
Two months have passed since its inauguration, and Representative Kawakami says, “We will not only teach students to become better at baseball, but also to foster a spirit of cooperation and compassion.” On the other hand, manager Masataka Torami said, “I would like to take advantage of the privileged environment of having access to high-quality coaches and school facilities to train not only the technical side but also the baseball brain, and build a team that can participate in national tournaments.” .
Support in the community
President Iwasaki, who donated the uniform, is a graduate of Daigo Junior High School. He is also an alumnus of the baseball team, and also worked on the reinforcing steel work for the current school building. At the presentation ceremony, the players said, “We decided to become a sponsor because we could feel Principal Kamogari and Representative Kawakami’s passion for supporting everyone.We hope they will wear this uniform and work together to grow the team.” Principal Kamogari sent a message of encouragement to the students, saying, “I want them to be grateful for the support of the local people and work hard at practicing every day.”
For inquiries about joining or sponsoring the club, please visit the official website or SNS.
