Alex Ramirez, who served as the tournament chairman for the “Kura Sushi Tournament”
A former NPB manager also feels a sense of crisis over the decline in the baseball population. The semi-finals and finals of the final tournament were held on the 7th at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo for the “6th Kura Sushi Tournament 2025 19th National After-School Baseball Tournament Pop Athlete Cup Senichi Hoshino Flag Competition” (Kura Sushi Tournament Pop Athlete Cup 2025, sponsored by the NPO National After-School Baseball Promotion Association), in which 1,750 after-school baseball teams from all over the country compete for the top spot.
In the final match, the Tohoku Daiichi representative Tokiwa Softball Sports Boys’ Team (Fukushima) defeated the Nagoya Dodgers (Aichi) 4-3. He won his first victory in his second appearance in five years. Tournament president and former DeNA coach Alex Ramirez also appeared at the award ceremony. Medals were awarded to the athletes who fought hard.
Ramirez, who has a strong sense of service, took a commemorative photo with each of the teams that made it to the semi-finals after the awards ceremony. He took pictures with his parents and other officials with a smile, sometimes including performances from his active days such as “Gets!”, and he continued to casually respond to the constant requests for autographs. I want to contribute to increasing the popularity of baseball even if just a little bit. It was a sight that clearly reflected that feeling.
“As has been said in various media, the number of baseball players is drastically decreasing. Baseball’s popularity itself is also decreasing. I myself grew up playing the sport of baseball. Baseball is a wonderful sport. As a social initiative, it is important to get people to like baseball more. We need to create an environment where baseball can be played more. I think we need to increase opportunities to come into contact with baseball.”
He also holds the “Lami-chan CUP” and “gives back to baseball”
Starting in 2021, Ramirez himself will be holding the “Rami-chan CUP” in Yokohama City, where players in fourth grade or younger can participate. This year, the fifth time, it was held from September to November. 17 teams and 293 people participated, mainly from Yokohama. “I’ve been treated well by baseball players, and now I’m able to participate in tournaments.I want to give back to baseball.I want to continue doing things like this,” he said with emphasis.
Regarding this tournament, he said, “It’s a really big tournament, and I think it serves as a goal and motivation for the boys and girls playing baseball.” “I am extremely honored to be able to be involved in a tournament that everyone has set their sights on,” he continued.
The tournament was held at Jingu Stadium, the home of Japan’s first baseball team, Yakult. Seeing the dynamism of these promising children, he said, “Some of the children who played here at Jingu Stadium today may be playing in the NPB in a few years. I’m happy to see such players play. I’m really looking forward to seeing such players emerge.”
I hope for further development in the baseball world. “Of course we will continue to support youth baseball and other activities.” First of all, what is needed is an enrichment of youth baseball. We are determined to spare no effort in achieving this goal.
(Go Otsuji)
I want to increase the speed of the ball, I want to hit the ball farther… “First-Pitch,” a sibling site for “Full-Count,” tells baseball boys and girls, their coaches, and their parents about the coaching methods they want to know about, as well as the “current state” of the field. We will provide useful information every day as a gateway to learning the fun of baseball and as a clue to solving your questions.
