Indonesia's 'field of dreams': Youth tournament to pitch baseball to nation

Former Japan pro player spearheads project to spread sport in Southeast Asia

20240822N asia koshien

Former baseball player Shogo Shibata, third from right, hopes to increase fans of the sport in Southeast Asia through the Asia Koshien 2024 baseball tournament. (Photo by Junichiro Sato)

KAZUNORI KITAGAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- A former Yomiuri Giants player is working to popularize baseball in Southeast Asia, with plans to hold a tournament in Jakarta modeled after Japan's "Summer Koshien" high school championship.

"I want to spread the charm of Koshien, part of Japan's traditional baseball culture, across borders and expand the baseball market," Shogo Shibata said while announcing the tournament on Tuesday. Shibata played in Koshien and now runs a consulting company in Singapore.

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