Adults’ mission and responsibility to improve the environment for youth baseball
The indoor practice field “PLAY SPACE YOZEI”, which utilizes an elementary school that was closed in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture, was completed on October 31st and is attracting much attention. It’s a place where a baseball boy once sees, “I wish I were near my house …”. The creator’s thoughts may be the same as those of a youth baseball coach who wishes for a bright future for children.
A figure that smiles and moves the body. A figure practicing. I was planning while thinking of children enjoying baseball. Yukio Fukunaga, President and CEO of FRONT-A Co., Ltd., felt the mission and responsibility of creating an indoor driving range in his hometown.
“I wanted to create an opportunity for as many children as possible to stand in the batter’s box. I would be happy if I could send out a player who would stand at the Koshien at bat from my hometown.”
Mr. Fukunaga was born and raised in Satsumasendai City. He started playing softball when he was in elementary school and joined the baseball club in high school. Currently, my son, who is in the sixth grade of elementary school, has been playing softball for about three years, following his father’s back. It is fun for Mr. Fukunaga to move his body with his son and watch his growth. One day, the son opened his mouth a little sadly.
“There is no place to practice when it rains.”
In his son’s words, Mr. Fukunaga recalled about 20 years ago when he was a high school baseball player. Even at that time, I couldn’t practice when it rained, so I ran up the stairs of the school building and did strength training in the corridors and classrooms. “I thought the situation hadn’t changed since then.” Even if I wanted to practice, I had no place to go. Adults have to change the situation. Mr. Fukunaga decided to renovate the gymnasium of an elementary school that was closed locally and create an indoor practice area. We designed a facility where you can practice hitting at 5 locations at the same time.
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