World Champion Madonna Japan honored at Reception in Tokyo

Homerun King Sadaharu Oh and Manager Koji Yamamoto of “Samurai Japan” join celebration of “Madonna Japan”

Some 200 supporters of Japan’s Women’s National Baseball Team, Madonna Japan, attended a reception held in Tokyo on December 7 to celebrate the winning of three consecutive IBAF world championship.

IBAF First Vice President Kazuhiro Tawa, before proposing toast, introduced
President Riccardo Fraccari’ message for this occasion: “IBAF is committed to the development of baseball for girls and women around the world, and for this reason, the IBAF created a Women’s Commission to study, promote and grow women’s baseball. One of IBAF’s main priorities is to increase the number of women players, coaches and game officials as a way to also raise the technical level and grant more opportunities for more and more females to become involved in sport at all levels, including positions of leadership within the NFs and International Federation.”

Commissioner Ryozo Kato of Nippon Professional Baseball, Sadaharu Oh, in his capacity as Baseball Ambassador appointed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manager Koji Yamamoto of “Samurai Japan” who will seek a third straight title in the World Baseball Classic were among the guest speakers and the Japan Softball Association was represented by Vice President Masanori Ozaki.

(Photo by The Hochi Shimbun)