The children were sometimes deadly serious and sometimes playful but I was happy to see they looked like they were having fun. In January 2015 it was a dream come true in Auckland, New Zealand. A baseball clinic was being put on by Japanese baseball.
Looking back, it started in March 2014. The former captain of the Japanese representatives and former player for the Yakult Swallows, Shinya Miyamoto, had come for a visit. Since about 11 years ago when we had been chosen as Japanese baseball representatives to the Athens Olympics we have remained friendly. It's already been over ten years! We talk to each other not just about our active playing days and baseball strategies but I also consult him on various things like the players' association.
As soon as I thought of the Auckland Baseball Clinic, Shinya's name came to mind. In his playing days he'd received the Golden Glove prize several times and it goes without saying that he was known as Japan's top player in defensive technique. How wonderful it would be to get instruction from such a player. Once I told Shinya about my idea, he cleared his schedule and prepared to come despite being busy with speaking engagements.
Actually, many Japanese living in New Zealand worked with me to hold the baseball clinic. These were people I'd newly met without using any connections since I'd rushed to the country last year. It was a circle that I'd built up slowly but surely. All the people who were so kind to me there were a resource I couldn't have done without. It was thanks to all those people who were nearby that I was able to promote baseball in this way.
I exchanged opinions with all these volunteers and started a new organization, the Baseball Supporters Club. Through this club I'm going to invite players and others from the world of baseball from Japan and hold baseball clinics at a pace of once a year. As the first “teacher,” Shinya should be remembered well.
After about 6 months of steady preparation, Shinya arrived in Auckland without any problems and we held the baseball clinic. On that day it was not just Japanese but also local children so about 50 kids were chasing balls around. Including their guardians and spectators, I counted a total group of about 100 participants. Shinya patiently played catch and showed how to field a grounder and also demonstrated good swing arc with tee batting and taught catching method.
Then, the thing everyone enjoyed the most was Shinya's fielding. Of course the children cheered loudly and so did the baseball fans in the gallery. Last of all, he explained the importance of equipment and that ended our very successful baseball clinic after about 3 hours.
I don't know how long my time here in New Zealand will last, but I feel sure I've left part of Japanese baseball here as a legacy. Of course I've just started though. I get excited thinking about the next thing and the thing after that!
