The TOMODACHI US-Japan Baseball Exchange program

The TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Youth Baseball Exchange Program was held in Ishinomaki City at the Kanan Chuo Koen Baseball Field in late July 2013.  

This year, 16 baseball players from Punahou School in Hawaii were invited to Japan to play baseball with 32 Japanese baseball players from Ishinomaki. 

Ambassador John V. Roos, Ishinomaki City Mayor Kameyama and MLB managing director Jim Small gave speeches in honor of this special program. Despite stormy weather forecasts, the weather cooperated and the students were able to partake in two games of baseball – one being Japan vs. U.S., the other a mix of Japanese and Hawaiians split into two teams. The language barrier did not seem to faze the students, with all players speaking the universal language of baseball and sportsmanship.

The TOMODACHI Initiative would like to give a big thanks to Duane Kurisu for making this program possible. 

• For more information, please read the program description.