2014-02-25

NPB Commissioner Promotes Closer Ties with Amateur Baseball

In an unprecedented move in relationship between professional and amateur baseball in Japan,, Katsuhiko Kumazaki (72) who took the office of Commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball in January paid a visit with the Japan Student Baseball Association JSBA) on February 25, 2014 in Tokyo immediately following their board of directors’ meeting. JSBA President Eiji Hatta (64), Hideitsu Ohashi (71), President of All-Japan University Baseball Federation and Takayasu Okushima (74), President of Japan High School Baseball Federation welcomed the Commissioner’s initiative and agreed to encourage cooperative relations between professional and amateur baseball in Japan. Commissioner Kumazaki told reporters that “Professional baseball cannot exist without high school, university and industrial league baseball. We look to deepen mutual understanding so as to create positive growth circle.”