Ryota Igarashi and Hisashi Iwakuma participate in an event for inexperienced baseball players and beginners
The trigger was “play”. The thoughts of the two major leaguers were the same. Former Mets Ryota Igarashi and former Mariners Hisashi Iwakuma, who were active in Japan and the United States, participated in the baseball class “PLAY BALL Weekend in Japan” hosted by “MLB Japan” held in Tokyo on the 12th. To expand the base of baseball, we conveyed the joy of using grabs and balls to inexperienced people and beginners.
Mr. Igarashi and Mr. Iwakuma, who had a brilliant career, told the children that it was fun, not technology. At the Jingu Gaien Softball Stadium, we taught about 60 people from preschoolers to the upper grades of elementary school about base running and ground ball catching. It is not a technical instruction to run or throw faster, but a content to learn the movement of baseball by extending play. Mr. Igarashi revealed his intention, “It’s more of a play than a baseball game, so I’d be happy if you could get to know baseball from the play.”
When the two in their early 40s were children, it was common to get together with friends and play baseball in a nearby park or plaza. However, there are no more places to play catch, especially in the metropolitan area. In the last 10 years, the number of youth baseball teams has decreased by about 3,000, and mergers and abolitions are endless. Mr. Iwakuma recalled, “I was playing baseball with my friends and brothers in the neighborhood,” and Mr. Igarashi said, “The environment was different from what it is now.”
Even if the times change, the fun of baseball should not change. The reason I participated in this event was that I wanted to create an opportunity to play baseball. Mr. Igarashi said, “It doesn’t matter what the trigger is, such as playing baseball-related play and saying,’If you think it’s interesting, it’s baseball.’ I hope children can have time to move their bodies.” rice field.
It seems that the thoughts of the two were conveyed to the children who participated. At the event venue, there were voices such as “I want to do more” and “I want to do it again”. One of the parents said that he applied for the event because he was a fan of Mr. Iwakuma, and smiled, “Is my child interested in baseball?”
As the number of places where you can play baseball is decreasing, I want to increase the chances as much as possible. Mr. Igarashi pointed to the Jingu Baseball Stadium, which he could see from the event venue, and hoped that he could play baseball next door someday.
(Kodai Kawamura)
