Ghana launches plans to host the Koshien Tournament!

A presentation ceremony for baseball equipment collected in Japan and a coaching seminar were held in the capital city of Accra.

On May 13, the Japan African Baseball and Softball Promotion Foundation (J-ABS, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Shinya Tomonari) held a press conference with the Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation (GBSF) at the Media Center in Accra, the capital city, to announce the launch of the "Africa 55 Koshien Project," which aims to hold a national tournament in Ghana similar to the Koshien tournament.

As part of the project, on the 14th, a "Human Resource Development Baseball Seminar" was held for 20 baseball and softball coaches, teaching them Japanese-style baseball coaching methods that foster a spirit of "discipline," "respect," and "justice." Tomonari, the representative who served as the lecturer, spoke about the sportsmanship seen in how Hideki Matsui, J-ABS Executive Dream Partner, responded when he was intentionally walked five times in a row at the Koshien tournament, and how he continued to cherish his equipment even after becoming a Major League Baseball player.

On the 16th, a ceremony was held to present baseball equipment from J-ABS to GBSF. The baseball equipment was collected by J-ABS from all over Japan through JICA's (Japan International Cooperation Agency) "Smiles for the World Program," and included 1,013 baseballs, 97 bats, 329 gloves, 211 helmets, 15 pieces of catcher's gear, and 4 sets of bases.

At the presentation ceremony, Kunihiro Isozaki, representative of the Fukushima Baseball Project, participated online and said, "Ghana and Fukushima have a deep connection through Dr. Hideyo Noguchi. We received a lot of support from overseas after the Great East Japan Earthquake, so as a way of giving back, we called for donations to Fukushima Prefecture with the hope of developing baseball in Ghana."

Ghana is the country where Representative Tomonari began his cooperation with African baseball, as he was stationed there for three years starting in 1996 and served as the representative of the Ghana national baseball team.

J-ABS is seeking "Dream Partners" (individuals and corporations) to help us advance the "Africa 55 Koshien Project."