Celebrating a Century of Baseball Excellence: Chiayi University’s “KANO” Team Makes History at Hanshin Koshien

[The Epoch Times, March 22, 2024](The Epoch Times reporter Li Xieying reported in Chiayi, Taiwan) The Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry School, the predecessor of Chiayi University, represented Taiwan for the first time in 1931 with the Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Baseball Team “KANO”, which swept Japan’s Koshien and won the runner-up, shocking Japanese sports. This year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hanshin Koshien Stadium. When Kadai President Lin Hanqian went to Japan to attend an international academic conference, he made a special trip to the Koshien History Museum to pay a visit, hoping to deepen Taiwan-Japan “KANO” baseball cooperation and exchanges and promote the two sides in baseball. Cooperation matters such as event promotion and mutual visits.

On that day, Jiada University President Lin Hanqian and teacher Zhan Mingxun from the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources attended the meeting. The Hanshin Koshien Stadium was attended by representatives from the acting stadium director Yuyama, deputy stadium director Yoshikawa Tatsuhiko, Miss Honoka Takamoto and Miss Zhang Fangzi from the Koshien History Museum. In addition to visiting the Koshien History Museum (a special exhibition venue to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Koshien) and the Koshien Permanent Stadium (an exhibition venue to coincide with the start of football games), Hanshin Koshien Stadium was introduced as the home court of the spring and summer high school baseball championships and was established in The home stadium of the Nippon Professional Baseball Hanshin Tigers in 1935 is regarded as the “Holy Land of Baseball” in Japan. In the past, five Taiwanese schools participated in the High School Baseball National Conference held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.

President Lin Hanqian of Jiada University and teacher Zhan Mingxun of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources went to Hanshin Koshien Stadium to congratulate the 100th anniversary of its establishment and the success of the “Taiwan Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Special Exhibition”. (Provided by Chiayi University) Miss Honoka Takamoto gave the tour guide to President Lin Hanqian and teacher Zhan Mingxun. (Provided by Chiayi University)

During the meeting, the two parties also reached two verbal agreements on deepening Taiwan-Japan “KANO” baseball cooperation and exchanges, including: (1) reaching a publicity cooperation, and both parties are willing to provide information on future activities related to Koshien in Japan or the “KANO” baseball team in Kaida Assist in publicity; (2) Increase mutual visits between the two parties. The Japanese Koshien History Museum will visit Jiada this year to gain a deeper understanding of the precious history of Jiada’s “KANO” Baseball Memorial Park and the “KANO” Baseball Special Exhibition (permanent exhibition). Cultural relics, as well as the current development status of the KANO baseball team.

“Taiwan Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Special Exhibition” exhibits cultural relics and historical materials related to “KANO”. (Provided by Chiayi University)

The Koshien History Museum next to Hanshin Koshien Baseball Stadium records the history of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, college baseball games and the Hanshin Tigers, and passes on the charm of baseball through exhibitions and videos. In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, the Koshien History Museum cooperated with Jiada and the Chiayi City Government to organize the “Taiwan Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Special Exhibition”. Jiada provided “Asahi Brand (quasi-winner shield) replica”, Important commemorative cultural relics of “KANO” such as the “1931 Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry vs. Kanagawa Commerce and Industry Game Ball” and the “Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Trophy” are on display. In addition to tracing the history of “Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry” and introducing Taiwanese and Japanese baseball, everything is closely related to Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry. Rare historical materials, the “KANO” movie that swept Taiwan and Japan in 2014 also has a lot of exhibits, attracting many Taiwanese and Japanese people who love baseball to watch it.

“Taiwan Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Special Exhibition” exhibits cultural relics and historical materials related to “KANO”. (Provided by Chiayi University)

The Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Baseball Team entered Koshien in 1931 as a representative of Taiwan. Under the training of Japanese coach Kondo Hyōtaro, the team impressed Japanese fans with its fighting spirit of “never giving up a ball” and finally won the runner-up, laying the foundation for Taiwanese baseball. Let Chiayi City become famous as the “Hometown of Baseball”. In January this year, the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame Association voted to elect the 11th Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024. Japanese coach Kondo Hyōtaro and alumnus Chen Gengyuan from the Beinan ethnic group in Taiwan (former shortstop of the Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Baseball Team) were both elected. Kondo Hyōtaro He was also the first foreigner to be selected, which became a legend. It is hoped that with the cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and Japan baseball, the Ka-Da baseball team can continue to move forward upholding the KANO spirit and create another brilliant “KANO” achievement.

Hanshin Koshien Stadium is the home of the spring and summer high school baseball championships and the home of the Nippon Professional Baseball Hanshin Tigers. It is regarded as the “Baseball Holy Land” in Japan. (Provided by Chiayi University)

Editor in charge: Yuzhen

2024-03-22 12:59:22
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