“Is it okay to play baseball?” What teams in the disaster area keep asking March 25th, 17:22

``Ordinary everyday life can collapse in an instant...''

The coach of Japan Airlines High School Ishikawa, who experienced the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, asked himself this question as he approached Senbatsu.

There was something he wanted to tell his players.

Put everyone's feelings into a hat

``Smile, Gratitude, Giving Back''

are words that express the feelings of all 67 club members.

Japan Airlines High School Ishikawa, located in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which experienced a seismic intensity of 7 in the Noto Peninsula earthquake, attended the match wearing a hat with a message written on it. When coach Takashi Nakamura (39) revealed his own experience for the first time, the hearts of the players, who had been wavering, became solidified.

Experiencing the earthquake 29 years ago

Coach Nakamura, who leads the team, is from Nishi Ward, Kobe City.

When he was in the fourth grade of elementary school, he was sleeping at his home when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred.

I remember clearly what it was like at that time.

Director Takashi Nakamura

: ``I woke up to a loud rumbling. Immediately after, there was a huge shaking, and the TV on the bed fell, and all the glasses, plates, and cups on the shelf fell and broke. My father

... I yelled, ``Get out now!'' and I ran away, barefoot.When I woke up, both my feet were covered in blood, probably from stepping on broken glass.''

In Kobe City's Nishi Ward, nearly 3,700 buildings were completely or partially destroyed.

An evacuation center was opened at the elementary school I attended, and over 150 temporary housing units were subsequently built in the schoolyard.

The elementary school that Director Nakamura attended was closed for about a month.

Director Nakamura

: ``My father told me, ``We're still in a better place,'' and he took me to Sannomiya, which had been hit hard.I remember being shocked to see a large building lying on the road.''

Through these experiences, I learned that ``normal daily life can collapse and change completely in an instant.''

On New Year’s Day this year…

New Year's Day marks almost 29 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred.

When Coach Nakamura learned of the earthquake in his hometown of Kobe, he was busy checking on the safety of 92 club members, including graduating third-year students. Although many of them went back to their parents' homes for winter break, I continued to contact them all.

However, it was difficult to contact the two people from the Noto Peninsula.

“Just stay alive! '

I was in a mixed state of mind, a mixture of prayer and anxiety, and I couldn't sleep.

It wasn't until the next day that I was finally able to contact all the members.

Due to the earthquake, the school suffered significant damage, with some areas having a 50cm step difference, and the bullpen was also elevated.

Under these circumstances, it was decided that the base of the baseball club would be moved to an affiliated school in Yamanashi Prefecture, and Manager Nakamura visited the dormitory to remove his belongings.

It was only 10 days after the earthquake.

The luggage in the room was scattered and there was nowhere to step.

“I have no words…”

It was all I could manage to squeeze out.

Cheers from Wajima's "big brother"

Furthermore, seeing the townscape of the area that had completely changed made me feel even more conflicted.

``It's not about baseball. Is it okay to play baseball in this situation?”

Director Nakamura

: ``While many people are living in evacuation centers, is it really right for us to be the only ones to move to an environment where we can play baseball? Rather than that, we should not do what we can for Wajima through volunteer work.'' Is that so? That feeling never went away.”

At that time, the person who pushed me forward was my friend Ryoichi Tomimizu, whom I have known for nearly 20 years and who is the baseball team coach at my local Wajima High School and whom I love like an older brother.

After graduating from university, he came to Noto with whom he had no connection, and he hit it off with Manager Nakamura, sometimes spending the night talking baseball.

The “big brother” sent me a cheer that I had never expected.

“Please play baseball for us too.”

Wajima High School Baseball Team Manager Ryoichi Tomimizu

: ``My home was destroyed, and baseball wasn't my thing at the time.However, they had an environment where they could devote themselves fully, so I hope they never lose sight of what they want to do and what they can do.'' From the players' point of view, it's unreasonable to have their dreams taken away by an earthquake, and I told them that there are some people who might be encouraged by seeing them work hard.''

Director Nakamura said, ``I suddenly felt at ease,'' as he began to move.

The experience of the earthquake revealed

The players were also worried.

After the earthquake, some players were instructed to stay at home, but some of the players suddenly decided to gather at our affiliated school in Yamanashi.

Captain Kazue Homoda

: ``I was very happy to come to Yamanashi and play baseball.However, the situation at school and Wajima is really bad, and there are many people who are suffering, and we are the only ones who are suffering.'' I was wondering if it was okay for me to come to Yamanashi and play baseball, and I was nervous."

Coach Nakamura saw a player who was unable to sort out the situation and continued to live his life in confusion.

For the first time, he shared his experience with the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake to the players.

A few days after we met in Yamanashi, we had a meeting after practice.

Coach Nakamura

: ``I wanted to be more persuasive by saying that I had a similar experience.The children of Wajima and I were the same when I was a child at that time, but I wanted to convey to the players that I had a similar experience.'' Because we have an affiliated school, we are able to practice.If we didn't have an affiliated school, we would have felt anxious in our hometown.We are grateful that we are able to play baseball thanks to the various supports we receive, and we are grateful for the support we receive now. I didn't want them to take this for granted.I

want them to grow up to be able to take a step forward and offer a helping hand if someone is in trouble.I want them to remember that ``everyday life can crumble in an instant.'' ”

I appealed to the players, and about a week later it was decided that I would be participating in the Senbatsu tournament.

After that, Director Nakamura continued to emphasize the importance of gratitude and helping others almost every day.

The players, who had been feeling shaky, gradually regained their composure and their understanding deepened.

Captain Kazue Houda: ``

None of us knew that the coach had been affected by the disaster at Hanshin Awaji.It made me realize how blessed we are in our current environment.I now understand the importance of taking things for granted.''

The players began holding meetings with themes such as ``What can we do for Ishikawa and Wajima?''

As he held many meetings, he heard the stories of local athletes who had suffered damage and spent his days receiving support, and he said, ``We should face the Senbatsu with the feelings of those who have helped us on our backs.'' Opinions are starting to come out.

The players decided to send a message to their hometown through their play and the brim of their hats.

``Smile, gratitude, and giving back.''

And ``Let's do our best Ishikawa.''

It was the thoughts of all 67 players, including those who were not on the bench.

Captain Kazue Hoda

: ``The coach's talk made me seriously think about the current situation in Ishikawa.The way they treated us made us feel like demons, but now that I think about it, I wish they would have faced reality.''

I wonder if I was able to repay Wajima...

Japan Airlines High School Ishikawa approached the school with strong determination. The players in the Alps seats also wore hats with messages for Ishikawa and cheered them on.

The team will compete against Joso Gakuin in Ibaraki. The bottom of the 9th inning was 0-1.

I created chances for first and third base, but unfortunately I couldn't reach them.

The players received a big round of applause from the Alps seats.

After the game, Coach Nakamura answered with tears in his eyes.

Coach Nakamura

: ``I was able to work as hard as I could because I was given an environment that allowed me to play baseball and an environment that allowed me to focus positively.That's why I want to play as many games as possible for the people who helped me in Noto and Yamanashi.'' I wanted to show them.I'm

sure there were some tough times for the players, but the warm hands of many people reached out to me, and I now have a deeper sense of gratitude.For the sake of many people. I am able to work harder and I feel like I am growing mentally, and I hope that I will continue to grow even more in the future.”

Coach Nakamura would like to visit Wajima with the players and volunteer in order to express his gratitude for the support and support they have received thus far.

Koshien Coverage Team Reporter

Kanta Usami

His first post

after joining the team in 2019 was the Kofu team.I

was envious of the players who were able to grow under the warmhearted coach Nakamura.