On January 17th, 10 new players from the professional baseball team, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, visited the Minami Sanriku 311 Memorial.
＜ From the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles official website: 2023 new recruits visit the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Minamisanriku Town) ＞
＜ From Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Official YouTube Channel 【Minamisanriku Town】New team players visit disaster-stricken areas ＞
As part of the training for new players which is conducted every year before the team camp, the group toured the Minami Sanriku San San Shopping Street, Reconstruction Memorial Park, the former disaster prevention office building and other attractions, focusing on the memorial, and was guided by Mayor Sato Hitoshi and staff from the embassy.
During the learning program , the players were impressed by questions such as, "Are the discussions and preparations that we have on a regular basis really applicable to the real thing?" and they all agreed that "this has something to do with baseball being a team sport and our own efforts going forward."
In addition, atthe Everyone's Square , the mayor introduced an episode in which Minamisanriku Town received a lot of support during the 11 years of reconstruction. Tatsuya Taira, a native of Okinawa Prefecture, had heard for the first time the story of how a postbox from the Utatsu district of Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture, was returned to Minamisanriku Town through kindness and support. Looking at the banner with a smile, he said, "I was surprised to learn that there was such a connection. I'm happy that my hometown is helping someone."
In 2013, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles were crowned Japan's top team. Mao Ito, a native of Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, said she was deeply impressed by the players' efforts at that time, and was encouraged by them not only winning but also visiting disaster-stricken areas and working closely with the victims. "I think that now I am in that position. I want to not only become stronger, but also learn from their example and become stronger myself," she said with deep emotion.
Each victory of the team brings great inspiration and courage to the Tohoku region. We look forward to the success of the players, and at the same time, we are also determined to move forward together with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Thank you very much for visiting us.