Tohto University Baseball, which has produced many professional baseball players, announced that it will hold the opening game of the league match next spring in Oita Prefecture, which will be the first regional event, in order to expand the competitive population.

Tohto University Baseball, known as the "Tohto of Ability", is divided into 1st to 4th divisions and is competing in league games, including Yakult's director Shingo Takatsu and Orix's Masataka Yoshida, who was the main player of the Japanese national team. We are producing professional baseball players.



The Tohto University Baseball Federation, which manages the league, and Oita Prefecture will hold a meeting in Tokyo, and the opening game of the league game next spring will be held for the first time in the region in order to increase the competitive population by getting to know the charm of university baseball. Announced that it will be held in Oita prefecture.



The first part of Tohto used to use Jingu Stadium, but the opening game will be held on April 2nd next year at Betsudaikosan Stadium in Oita City.



The federation says that Oita Prefecture is a land where baseball is popular and is also focusing on sports for the disabled, so it is possible to deepen the efforts of the symbiotic society through baseball that the federation is aiming for.



In addition, the 6 universities in the 1st division are also considering practicing with the baseball club of a high school in Oita prefecture and providing technical guidance at the opening game.



Sorachi Furue, a captain of Kokugakuin University and a graduate of Oita Commercial High School, said, "I think this is an opportunity for many people to know about the Tohto League. I am from Oita prefecture, so I am happy and I want to do my best to achieve good results."

What is Tohto University Baseball?

According to the Tohto University Baseball Federation, the predecessor Five University Baseball Federation was established in 1958, and the league match began.



I started to use Jingu Stadium because of that.



Then, in 1945, it became the Tohto University Baseball League, and this season, 21 universities joined and the league match was divided into 1st to 4th divisions.



Until the influence of the new coronavirus comes out, when the league match is over, the lowest level of each department and the top university of the lower part will play a qualification match, and it is known as "the eastern capital of ability" because the competition for ranking is fierce. increase.



Hiroki Kuroda (Senshu Univ.), Who has produced many players in professional baseball and played in Hiroshima and the major leagues and achieved 200 wins in Japan and the United States, and Kenjiro Nomura from Oita who achieved 2000 hits. There are famous players such as (Komazawa Univ.).



In addition, many leaders such as Yakult's Shingo Takatsu (Asia Univ.) And Lotte's Tadahito Iguchi (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.), Who led the team to the top in Japan, have been produced this season.



In addition, among active players, Masataka Yoshida (Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) Of Orix who contributed to winning the gold medal of the Japanese national team at the Tokyo Olympics, Yasuaki Yamasaki (Asai Univ.) Of DeNA, and Hirokazu Sawamura of the Red Sox (Large League) Chuo Univ.) Is from the Tohto League.

Baseball competition population is declining

Due to the declining population and the rise of other sports, the baseball competition population is declining year by year.



Changes in the competitive population of elementary school, junior high school, and high school.



The number of high school baseball team members.



According to the Japan High School Baseball Federation, the number of high school baseball team members was 134,282 this year, which is 3,772 less than last year, peaking at 173,12 in 2014, seven years ago. It has been decreasing for 7 consecutive years.



Next is the junior high school baseball club.



According to the Nippon Junior High School Physical Culture Association, the number of junior high school baseball team members in the first year of Reiwa was 164,173, which is more than 40% less than the number of 307,053 in 2009, 10 years ago.



And the number of elementary school students enrolled in the Sports Boy Scouts.



According to the Japan Sports Association, the number of members of the Japanese-style baseball team in Reiwa 2 was 113,355, a significant decrease from 174,493 in 2010, 10 years ago.



With the competitive population declining in this way, the expansion of the skirt is an issue.