It is August 26th, and the excitement of the Koshien finals the day before have not yet died down. A press conference was held at the Nakazawa-Saeki Memorial Baseball Museum, in preparation for the 10th BFA 18U Asian Championships, beginning on September 1st in Thailand. The 18 selected players were not just members that took part in this summer's Koshien tournament. They were Japan's strongest members aged 18 and under.
The interview was attended by Junji Takahashi (Vice-Chairman of the Japan High School Baseball Federation), Coach Hiroshi Takahashi (Coach of Naruto Uzushio), and representing the players, Junichiro Kishi (Meitoku Gijuku), Mitsunari Takahashi (Maebashi Ikuei), and Kazuma Okamoto (Chiben Academy). Kishi said, "I am proud to be chosen for the national team, and I want to play with all I have", and each of them expressed their opinions.
Takahashi condensed the kind of baseball he aspires to in the following words: "I aspire to win by playing small baseball focused on fielding, just like Japanese baseball". This was a determination to push forward the traditional style of Japanese high school baseball, even when baseball players from all of Asia would be meeting together. He said this not with a smile, but with an expression of someone facing a final showdown.
This Asian Baseball Championships, which was played under the category of "Triple-A" until the previous competition, has been held regularly once every two years since 1994. The Asian nations have held the venues in rotation. It was held in Japan in 2011, in which Shuhei Takahashi (currently playing for Chunichi Dragons) became MVP.
However, this tournament the division was rename as "18U". This means that it no longer had the meaning of a friendly competition that the players who played actively in Koshien would be assembled to take on. This would be a competition that would lead to the national team players would play on the Japanese national teams in the university and amateur divisions, and even bear the rising sun in the World Baseball Classic in the future.
This "resolve to bear the rising sun" was particularly communicated once again in the team formation ceremony held after the conference. After the players had all introduced themselves, Naoto Wakimoto (Takasaki University of Health and Welfare High School) strongly spoke about "The Rising Sun is a heavier burden to bear while playing than Koshien is".
Coach Takahashi then inspired the players with a different expression than he had during the press conference.
"We will now wear the Japanese uniform and play in an international tournament. This comes with pride, confidence, and great responsibility. Just like you all sought for Koshien in your own teams back in June, I want you to face this with the strong and passionate feeling that 'The real battle starts now'."
This was a greeting that once again sought the players' attitude toward representing Japan.
This was not simply in baseball alone. The international tournament would force them to play in a different environment from home, such as poor ground conditions, use of wooden bats, and rough play from the opposing teams.
"Despite this, we have a duty to show the other countries the manners you have fostered at Koshien, and the greatness of Japanese high school baseball that you have been taught by each of your coaches. And this is all the more reason you have to win."
This will become a battle to seek to be the example of Asia, in name and in truth. This was an expression of "Samurai Japan 18U's" convictions, unlike the attitude towards previous Asian competitions. The memorable first step has been taken.
10th BFA 18U Asian Championships: 18U National Team Roster
10th BFA 18U Asian Championships
