An event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the introduction of baseball from the United States to Japan was held in New York on the 25th, and Consul General Mori of Japan threw the first pitch during a game against the Mets of the Major League Baseball.
Consul General Mori was invited to the first pitch ceremony three months ago, but he was unable to throw due to a defect on the team's part, and received applause from the audience at the "redo" opening ceremony.
In the major leagues, various events are being held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the introduction of baseball from the United States to Japan. Consul General Mikio Mori of the Consulate General of Japan gave the first pitch.
Consul General Mori was also invited to the first pitching ceremony for the Mets game in May this year, but due to a defect on the team side, the first pitching ceremony was abruptly canceled, and while the players were practicing, Consul General Mori was left near the mound. Appearance became a hot topic.
Afterwards, the Mets issued a statement of apology and decided to set up a place for the first pitch ceremony again. .
The catcher was played by Rihito Yoshii, who was active in the Mets during his playing days. Consul General Mori threw the ball from a relaxed form, bounced three times and landed on Yoshii's mitt, and the two were applauded by the audience. I responded with a smile and raised my hand.
Consul General Mori said, “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to throw a good ball, but I was able to finish the game without incident, and I would like to thank everyone. I want to strengthen the friendly relationship with the team and the exchange between Japan and the United States through baseball," he said with a smile.
Also, at the opening ceremony in May, he revealed that he interacted with pitcher Scherzer of the Mets, who continued to practice pitching on the mound, before the game, saying, "He was a very cheerful person, and he said he loved Japan, so I felt comfortable. I was able to talk. He said that we would throw together today, so he gave me a signature on my hat, so I threw it with the feeling that it was the first pitch."
American English teacher introduced baseball to Japan
It is said that Horace Wilson, an American who came to Japan as an English teacher, introduced baseball to Japan in 1872.
According to Wilson's descendants, when Wilson was assigned as an English teacher to Tokyo's No. 1 Junior High School, now the University of Tokyo, he came to Japan with a bat and a ball and wanted to teach baseball to the students. .
Abigail Sanborn, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Japan in 2003 in recognition of his achievements, is a descendant of Wilson, and lives in Wilson's birthplace in eastern Maine. I didn't know that I had introduced baseball, and I was very surprised.I am very happy and proud."
He added, "I heard that Wilson was an enthusiastic and active teacher, so I think he probably wanted his students to have fun while learning about American pastimes. It's amazing what happened in schoolwork." So I think baseball was one way for Wilson to get to know his students better."