No.145 Inspected Yomiuri Giants spring training camp

This year, I was invited to the Yomiuri Giants' spring training camp for the first time. The purpose of the on-site inspection is to realize the TOKYO GIANTS TOWN concept and gather information for holding events after the new GIANTS stadium is completed.
　
On February 1st, when we departed, we completed a meeting to coordinate proposals to be submitted to the regular city council meeting in the morning before departing for Miyazaki Airport, so we arrived at the Miyazaki Kanko Hotel in the evening. Players from the Orix Buffaloes camp, not the Yomiuri Giants, were staying there.
　
On the second day in Miyazaki, we headed to Hinata Miyazaki Prefectural Sports Park in Miyazaki City and observed the practice of the first and second teams. Unfortunately, practice at the baseball stadium was canceled due to rainy weather, so we toured the indoor practice ranges scattered throughout the park.
　
While hearing from Yomiuri Giants President Tsukasa Imamura about the condition of the players this season, we observed them getting used to playing catch and practicing pitching in the bullpen. I greeted first team director Shinnosuke Abe and second team manager Masumi Kuwata, and also met Yoshinobu Takahashi and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who were conducting interviews. We asked them to come visit Inagi City after the new GIANTS stadium was completed, and they kindly agreed.
　
Next, we headed to Hinata Sunmarine Stadium Miyazaki, where we received an explanation from the deputy director of the Miyazaki City Tourism Association Office about tourism cooperation with the Yomiuri Giants and stadium management, and toured the facility. Unfortunately, there was no practice at the stadium that day due to the bad weather, but many tourists visited and enjoyed the mock shops and the stadium gourmet food from the food trucks.
　
In order to welcome the Yomiuri Giants camp, the Yomiuri Giants Miyazaki Cooperation Association was organized with the tourism association serving as the secretariat, and about 40 local companies and chambers of commerce joined, and in addition to business income, they received subsidies from the prefecture and city. We learned about the system of setting up welcome flags and information signs inside the venue. We would like to use this as a reference for how to collaborate with the Yomiuri Giants after the new GIANTS stadium is completed in Inagi City, and for projects to attract customers.
　
After that, we moved to Miyakonojo City, the campsite of the Yomiuri Giants' third army. Another purpose of this visit was to visit Miyakonojo City at the invitation of Mayor Ikeda, who is active with the National Association of Mayors. After meeting at Miyakonojo City Hall, we were given a tour of the city.
　
They stayed at Hotel Terrace, which was built as part of a central city redevelopment project, and toured the area's brand-new childcare support facilities, library, and more.
　
Miyakonojo City is a production center for Miyazaki beef, and is a wealthy municipality that competes every year for the highest amount of hometown tax payments in Japan, so I'm envious of the amount of facilities it has.
　
On the third day in Miyazaki, they headed to Takajo Sports Park in Miyakonojo City, toured the indoor sports field and baseball field, met with third-team coach Norihiro Komada, and watched practice.
　
Pitcher Tomoki Tamura, who currently belongs to the third army, is a young man from Inagi City who was scouted by Sakata Minami High School and from there became a training player for the Yomiuri Giants. I bought a towel with pitcher Tomoki Tamura's name on it at a shop in front of the stadium, and I was able to meet him as well, and he agreed to take a photo with me as a souvenir. He is said to be throwing a fastball of nearly 160km/h, and is a player with a promising future. I want you to do your best and aim for the top team. Let's all support each other!
　
Afterwards, we moved to Miyakonojo Municipal Stadium, the venue for the Miyazaki National Athletic Meet, and toured the facility.
　
During this visit, we learned that both Miyazaki City and Miyakonojo City have a large number of sports facilities, and that the entire Miyazaki Prefecture is inviting professional sports teams to camp there.
　
Not only professional baseball teams, but also J League soccer teams are camping in Miyazaki Prefecture, and this time teams such as FC Tokyo, Tokushima Vortis, and Fagiano Okayama were camping.
　
The Yomiuri Giants have started working on developing their third army. I hope that this steady effort will bear fruit and that we will be able to ``take back'' the league championship in the near future.
　
Based on the results of this inspection, we would like to work together with the Yomiuri Giants to create excitement as a city in preparation for the opening of the new GIANTS Stadium in March next year.
　
Everyone, please look forward to it!