2025.05.30
JICA and the Yomiuri Giants are collaborating to promote Japanese-style baseball and the healthy development of youth. In addition to activities that have conveyed the fun and appeal of baseball, a message from the Yomiuri Giants will be introduced.
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) marked its 60th anniversary in 2025 since the first dispatch of its volunteers in 1965. Currently, there are 180 categories in 9 fields. Since 1970, JICA has dispatched 753 baseball volunteers (as of March 31, 2025) to all over the world. Baseball volunteers do not only teach skills. What is important is the spirit of “Japanese-style baseball,” including “respect,” “cooperativeness,” and “a spirit of challenge.” What is developed on the field is not only the ability to throw and hit the ball, but also the strength of the mind.
Baseball coaching for children by volunteer (Colombia)
In 2015, JICA and the Yomiuri Giants (a professional baseball team) signed an agreement and began international cooperation through baseball in earnest. In 2022, a new agreement was signed and added activities including social awareness activities through coaching female athletes and baseball clinic.
Since 2015, the activities in collaboration with the Giants have expanded to 18 times in 13 countries around the world. In Central and South America, Asia, and Africa, there are no borders to the smiles brought through baseball.
Group photo of the Nicaragua Women's National Team and the Giants Women's Team (Nicaragua)
In Nicaragua, the Giants Women's Team visited in January 2024 to promote women's baseball, which was launched by baseball volunteer in 2016, and to deepen exchanges. The collaboration between JICA and the Giants goes beyond the mere promotion of baseball. It is also contributing to society through sports, such as coaching female athletes, including those from impoverished communities, promoting understanding of diversity, and promoting gender equality.
In December 2024, the Giants were also dispatched to Zimbabwe for the second time in Africa, following Tanzania in 2017. Faced with local challenges - lack of equipment, absence of coaching staff, and inadequately maintained grounds - the baseball volunteers and the Giants conveyed not only baseball skills, but also the fun and appeal of baseball, and tailored their activities to suit the situation.
A demonstration of batting (Brazil)
Group photo with participants of the baseball clinics (Zimbabwe)
Mr. Hidetoshi Tsuburaya, a scout for the Giants, has participated in these activities three times (Bangladesh in 2022, Brazil in 2023, and Zimbabwe in 2024). He was once a professional baseball player himself. Mr. Tsuburaya commented on his impressions of participating in the activities and international cooperation through baseball.
Interaction with local people (Zimbabwe)
Coaching scene of baseball (Zimbabwe)
I feel very grateful for all the activities I have been involved in so far. The experiences I have had on each of the different continents have been an irreplaceable asset and have enlarged my own vessel. I feel comfortable in the air, scenery, and culture of each place, and in the interactions beyond nationality.
I realize how great the power of sports is when I visit each country. Also, baseball is a major sport in Japan, but in other countries, I am reminded that it is still a minor sport. However, even in countries where baseball is not well known, when someone throws a ball, someone catches it. The atmosphere on the field is very peaceful, and the players look very bright amidst a mixture of various elements such as cooperation, respect, and discipline with their peers.
It may take a long time for international cooperation through baseball to show results, and it may be very indirect, but I would be happy if we could continue this wonderful cooperation and convey the excellence of baseball to many different countries.
Sport have the power to attract people strongly. This is because sport bring fun, enthusiasm, and excitement, and sometimes sport can be a reason for living. JICA will continue to promote projects in the field of “Sports and Development” to realize a peaceful world where all people can enjoy sports.
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