Rookie players who joined the professional baseball team Rakuten visited the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa, who had the experience of being affected by the disaster when he was in the sixth grade of elementary school, said, "My mission is to win. I vowed to be active.
Seven new players who joined Rakuten, including pitcher Hayakawa, visited the Yuriage district of Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, where more than 700 people were killed in the tsunami caused by the earthquake 10 years ago.
At the Earthquake Reconstruction Tradition Center, which conveys memories and lessons learned from the earthquake, the principal of Yuriage Elementary and Junior High School, Shin Yamori, who was a teacher at the local junior high school at the time, explained the damage caused by the tsunami that exceeded 8 meters. received.
Then, Principal Hachimori encouraged me, "In 2013, many people were encouraged by the team's first league victory and the number one in Japan. I want you to win again with your help."
After this, the players handed flowers to the memorial monument one by one at the earthquake memorial park.
Pitcher Hayakawa, who was ranked first in the draft, was in the sixth grade at the time of the earthquake and had the experience of spending the night at the gymnasium of an elementary school, which was a refuge when his home on the coast of Chiba Prefecture was flooded to the floor.
After the tour, pitcher Hayakawa said, "I think there is a part where I can understand the feelings of the people of Tohoku because I was also affected by the disaster. I think it is my mission to win again, so one professional baseball player I want to give energy and courage as a player. "