Yomiuri Giants young players have been appointed as “Yomiuri Giants Inagi City PR supporters”! !

• Position: Outfielder
• Uniform number: 51
• Date of birth: November 24, 2004
• Height: 171cm
• Birthplace: Kagawa Prefecture
• 2022 Draft No. 1

• Position: Pitcher
• Uniform number: 47
• Date of birth: February 11, 1997
• Height: 185cm
• Birthplace: Toyama Prefecture
• 2023 Draft 2nd place

• Position: Pitcher
• Uniform number: 15
• Date of birth: April 21, 2004
• Birthplace: Hyogo Prefecture

• Position: catcher
• Uniform number: 5
• Date of birth: January 13, 2002
• Birthplace: Chiba Prefecture

How do you feel about being appointed as Inagi City's PR Supporter?
I don't know much about Inagi City yet, so I'd like to learn more by talking a lot with Mr. Morita.
What are your impressions of the area around the Yomiuri Giants Stadium where you usually practice, and Inagi City?
It gives the impression of being a quiet, comfortable place to live.
What is your image of Morita? What is the relationship between the two of you?
To be honest, when he first joined the team I found it a little difficult to talk to him because of the age difference, but Morita-san spoke to me casually, and we even had the opportunity to go out to eat meals together at camp, so he's become an easy-to-talk-to senior who's like an older brother to me.
What does Morita call you?
My name is Shogo.
At the new Giants stadium scheduled to open next March, what does Asano himself want to do, and what are his expectations as a Giants player?
I want to become a player who is supported by more fans and who people want to see in person at the stadium. I want to work hard both as a team and as an individual so that more people will come to the stadium.
What are your goals for this season and what do you want the citizens to see?
I would be happy if everyone would treat me as a member of Inagi City, as a friend, as a family member. I know that because I'm a professional baseball player, it may be a little difficult to talk to them, and there may be a sense of distance between us, but I want to do my best to break down that barrier and become a familiar presence to everyone.
What are your aspirations as an Inagi City PR Supporter, and what would you like to convey to the city's residents?
Once the off-season begins and Morita's schedule lines up, I'd like to do activities that will help increase the number of people playing baseball, such as holding baseball classes and visiting elementary schools.

What is your image of women's teams and women's baseball?
I have a childhood friend named Nene Masago on the women's team, and sometimes when we have the same timing for self-practice, we do things like tee-batting together. I hope that people can enjoy baseball together, regardless of gender, and that the number of people playing baseball will increase.
As an Inagi City PR Supporter, what would you like to do in the future?
I would like to interact with the local citizens. Rather than restricting people to a certain distance, I think Inagi City would become more lively if we could create opportunities for interaction where even small children can come up to people and adults can talk to them.
For children who are already on baseball teams, you will become a familiar presence and an object of admiration. Please give a message to those children.
It's not "try your best" but "let's work hard together". Seeing the children working hard at little league baseball makes us want to work hard too, and seeing us working hard makes the children in little league baseball want to be like us and work hard too. I want us to work hard together, competing with each other.

How do you feel about being appointed as Inagi City's PR Supporter?
I want to promote Inagi City. I myself still don't know much about Inagi City, but I think I'll be relying on the city a lot in the future, so I want to find out the good things about it and let people outside the city know about it.
What is your impression of the area around Yomiuri Giants Stadium and Inagi City?
It seems very quiet. I was born in Toyama Prefecture and grew up in a quiet place, so it's a similar environment to that. I can concentrate on baseball and the air is fresh, so I'm able to live comfortably.
Inagi City's specialty is pears, but have you ever tried an Inagi pear?
I haven't tried it yet. I love pears, so I'd like to eat more of them in the future.

As an Inagi City PR Supporter, what would you like to do in the future?
I hope I can go to an elementary school. I would like to participate with Shogo in places where many people gather, as long as time allows. I want to be a familiar player, not a special one.
For children who are already on baseball teams, you will become a familiar presence and an object of admiration. Please give a message to those children.
The number of baseball players is declining, but I think it's important for us to do activities and games that will increase the number of baseball players through baseball. We'll do our best, so let's work together to liven up the baseball world!

What are your memories of Inagi City?
(Ito)
People I met in Inagi City spoke to me and I felt like they were supporting me.
(Onuma)
I often go out to eat with my teammates in the city, and I spend my time searching for good restaurants.
When did you start playing baseball and what was the trigger?
(Ito)
Since I was in the first grade of elementary school. My older brother played baseball, and I thought it looked fun.
(Onuma)
I started when I was in the second grade of elementary school. I was also influenced by my older brother, who invited me to start playing when we went to watch him practice.

What prompted you to join the Yomiuri Giants women's team?
(Ito)
It all started when Manager Miyamoto asked me if I wanted to try out for the Giants' selection. If I could show my skills in the selection, I could join the Yomiuri Giants, so I accepted.
My image of the Yomiuri Giants is that they already have four amazing players in their first class, and I heard they plan to add more players, so I thought they would be a great team. It's a dream stage for female players. I had the image of being able to play with high-level players, and I was able to join the team I admired.
(Onuma)
It all started with a tryout. When I decided to quit my previous team, I wanted to try out for a higher level team, so I took a tryout with the Yomiuri Giants.
What did you actually feel when you joined the Yomiuri Giants?
(Ito)
I joined the Yomiuri Giants after graduating from high school, and I thought it was amazing that, unlike high school club activities, each player identifies their own issues and works to improve all by themselves.
(Onuma)
As the oldest professional baseball team in Japan, I feel that we have been given a wonderful environment for practice and games. I am also grateful that so many fans come to our games.

For children who want to become baseball players or other sports players, what are some good things they can do during their elementary and junior high school years?
(Ito)
I have played many different sports. I think that it is important to learn how to use your body by doing different things, so try moving, and if you don't understand, move again with a new goal in mind.
(Onuma)
I myself have been doing various sports, including swimming, since kindergarten. I love baseball, of course, but I also like other sports. If you are interested in something, I think it is important to just try it.