JICA adopts J-ABS's "Baseballership™ Education Method"
Keio University baseball team members dispatched to Ghana, Africa, to be used for human resource development
Research collaboration between Keio University and the University of Ghana to demonstrate the "social value of baseball"

Keio University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a memorandum of understanding on July 25th at JICA's Takebashi Headquarters to discuss cooperation in dispatching volunteers overseas. Starting in 2024, approximately 10 members of the university's baseball team will be dispatched annually during the summer holidays as JICA short-term volunteers to the Republic of Ghana in West Africa for three years. Furthermore, it was announced that their activities in Ghana will utilize the "Baseballership™ Education Method" developed by the Africa Baseball & Softball Promotion Foundation (J-ABS, Representative Director: Shinya Tomonari), a general incorporated foundation that promotes human resource development in Africa that fosters sportsmanship based on the traditions of Japanese baseball, such as "discipline," "respect," and "justice."

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Based on the 28 years of experience of its representative director, Tomonari, in coaching Japanese-style baseball in Africa, J-ABS has developed a human resource development method that fosters sportsmanship through baseball, known as the "Baseballership Education Method." To date, 10 seminars have been held in six African countries, with a total of 350 baseball and softball coaches participating. The content has been highly praised in each country for allowing participants to learn about the sportsmanship of Japanese baseball, which won the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Keio University and JICA have recognized this track record and have decided to adopt this method for JICA volunteer activities.

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Starting in 2024, members of the university's baseball team will be dispatched to Ghana, forming teams with Ghanaian coaches who have learned the "Baseball Leadership Education Method" through J-ABS seminars and other programs. They will work with young people in three regions of Ghana to improve their baseball skills and develop non-cognitive abilities (life skills).

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Furthermore, Keio University will collaborate with the University of Ghana on research to conduct a long-term study measuring the effects of "baseball spirit education" on its beneficiaries. This is expected to collect concrete evidence that baseball contributes to human resource development, and to demonstrate the social value and significance of baseball not only in Japan but also to the world.

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Hideki Matsui, Executive Dream Partner at J-ABS, has provided the following comment regarding this project:

"My name is Hideki Matsui. I am cooperating with J-ABS's human resource development baseball activities in Africa. Having played in Major League Baseball, I truly appreciate the strengths of Japanese baseball. I believe that having current university baseball players who grew up playing Japanese baseball work in Africa as JICA volunteers is valuable for both Africa and the students. I look forward to their success on the ground."

Furthermore, measuring the effectiveness of baseball in character development is significant in demonstrating the social value of baseball, so I would like to pay close attention to the research results.

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■What is Baseballership™ Education?

"Baseballership™" is an educational method developed by J-ABS that fosters values such as discipline, respect, and justice in young people through baseball and softball instruction. It is a term coined by J-ABS, combining the English words "Baseball" and "Sportsmanship."

This method is conducted in a seminar format, utilizing a textbook titled "55 Pillars of Baseball Playership Education" (available in English and French) and 224 PowerPoint slides. There are two types of courses: a basic course lasting 14 hours (2 days) and a practical course consisting of 5 hours of group work.

From May 2022 to May 2023, the seminars were held in six countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Benin, with a total of approximately 300 participants. Participant surveys showed that, on average, over 90% of participants in each country were 100% or more satisfied with the seminar content.

This is the main component of the "Africa 55 Koshien Project" developed by J-ABS.

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■ Research collaboration between Keio University and the University of Ghana

Keio University's SFC Research Institute Baseball Lab and the University of Ghana (Professor Bella, Sports Directorate) have signed a research cooperation agreement to dispatch members of the Keio University baseball team to Ghana to conduct long-term effectiveness measurements of baseball instruction utilizing baseball spirit education, and to study the effects on the beneficiary players and Ghanaian coaches. This will allow them to research the effects of "baseball" on character development, including its impact on academic performance, college enrollment rates, personality development, employment rates, income, and overall well-being.

[Inquiries regarding cooperation in effectiveness measurement research]

Takaaki Kato, Representative of the Baseball Lab at Keio University SFC Research Institute

e-mail: baseball@sfc.keio.ac.jp