Coach Shinjo, who shook the hearts of baseball boys, visited the stadium of the summer Koshien tournament to cheer for his alma mater, and moved seats after the crowd was concerned about safety accidents (Min Chang-ki's Japanese baseball)

Aug 18, 2024

Coach Shinjo Nippon Ham visited Koshien Stadium on the 17th, where the summer Koshien tournament is underway. Coach Shinjo watched his alma mater, West Japan Short-Term University Association High School, until the seventh inning and moved to Osaka Kyocera Dome, where the Nippon Ham game was held. Photo Capture = Sports Nippon

Nishinomiya Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture, where the high school baseball championship and summer Koshien championship were held every August. Photo capture = Japanese High School Baseball Federation website

Kyoto International High School, a Korean international school in Kyoto, Japan, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the national high school baseball championship and the summer Koshien tournament. Kyoto International High School won 4-0 in the third round match against Western Japan's Short-Term University Association High School (Fukuoka) at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, near Osaka on the 17th. It reached the quarterfinals for the first time in three years following 2021 when it advanced to the semifinals. After the team's victory, Kyoto International High School players sang a Korean school song that begins with 'Yamado land across the East Sea is a holy old dream seat' The majority of Kyoto International High School players are known to be Japanese students.

However, there was a small disturbance before the two teams' match. When Nippon-Ham Fighters' manager, 52, appeared at Koshien Stadium, the inside and outside of the ground shook. On this day, Nippon Ham was scheduled to play an away game against the Orix Buffaloes at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka. Shinjo watched the high school baseball game that began at 10:51 a.m. before the 2 p.m. game.

There is a reason why he visited Koshien Stadium, which is called the sacred place of Japanese baseball. The affiliated high school of the West Japan Short-Term University is the alma mater of director Shinjo, who is native to Fukuoka. For the seventh time in three years, he made it to the finals of the summer Koshien tournament. I was able to visit the stadium because Nippon Ham was on an expedition to Osaka.

Shinjo graduated from the West Japan Short-Term University Association High School and joined the Hanshin Tigers in 1990 with five new names. Until 2000, he played for Hanshin's 'Anbang'Koshien Stadium and then advanced to the Major League. He returned to Japan after three years with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. He retired after playing for three years in the Nippon Ham uniform instead of his original team, Hanshin.

Shintaro Nishimura, Shinjo's high school classmate, is leading the baseball team of his alma mater. Nishimura thanked Shinjo in a media interview after the game. I felt the difference in strength (from the other team), but I tried to do my best in response to the support. I don't know how to repay my creed. I hope there will be a player like Shinjo on our team."

The opening ceremony of this summer's Koshien tournament. Photo capture = Japanese High School Baseball Federation website

Shinjo was originally scheduled to watch from a seat near the central press seat of Koshien Stadium, but he moved to the royal suite on the top floor when the crowd gathered and feared a safety accident. Shinjo, wearing a white T-shirt and black sunglasses, waved to the players and cheered.

One player said in a media interview that `I wanted to do well in front of Shinjo,' while the other said"all were looking at Shinjo." I also want to become a player like Shinjo in the future."

Shinjo failed to make it to the finals of the summer Koshien tournament, a dream stage for baseball boys. In the summer of 1989, he was defeated 4-6 in the final round of the Fukuoka preliminary round, swallowing his disappointment. Shinjo made a great effort to record a cycling hit in the game.

The West Japan Short-Term University Association reached the finals of the Koshien tournament in the summer of 1990 when coach Shinjo joined Hanshin and lifted the trophy in 1992.

Shinjo could not watch the alma mater game until the end due to his schedule at Nippon Ham. West Japan's short-term university high school left in the seventh inning, trailing 0-3. Kyoto International High School added one run in the ninth inning to win 4-0. The West Japan Short-Term University High School lost the game, but had a special time thanks to the senior's support.

Meanwhile, Nippon Ham lost 0-3 to the Orix on the day. After winning two consecutive games against Chiba Lotte, it lost two consecutive games to Orix. Orix's left-hander ace Miya

Shinjo has been leading the team for three years as the head coach of Nippon Ham in 2022. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

Hiroya Ki pitched seven innings of three hits and no runs. Nippon-Ham remained in second place behind the leading SoftBank Hawks. The loss eliminated the third-place Chiba Lotte Marines.

huelva@sportschosun.com