In September 2024, Gareth Jones, CEO of Baseball Queensland, led an enterprise visit to Japan from 8–18 September, aiming to build partnerships with educational institutions and professional baseball organisations, while promoting sports exchanges between Japan and Queensland. The visit began in Osaka, where Jones and Mr. Danny Maruyama, Baseball Queensland’s Special Advisor for Partnerships with Japan, met with leaders of Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School, a top-performing girls’ baseball school. Discussions celebrated the school’s recent success in the Girls Koshien Tournament, with plans finalised for Kobe Koryo’s girls’ baseball team to visit Southeast Queensland in February 2025 to compete against Queensland’s Women’s, Development, and Youth Women’s teams. A tour of the school’s state-of-the-art baseball facilities showcased their commitment to player-led training and innovative approaches to skill development.
In Tokyo, the delegation met with representatives from Tokyo North Council, including Mayor Kanako Yamada, to discuss potential collaborations that could encourage participation in physical activity among Japan’s ageing population. Tokyo North Council expressed interest in promoting Queensland events such as the Pan Pacific Masters Games to Japanese teams. This partnership has the potential to expand mutual sports and cultural exchanges, further solidifying ties between Queensland and Japan.
The Nippon Professional Baseball Organisation (NPB) welcomed Jones to discuss opportunities related to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, with a focus on establishing Queensland as a potential spring training destination. Japan’s proximity to Queensland offers NPB teams a logistical advantage over traditional training locations in Hawaii and Arizona. With further collaboration, Baseball Queensland could establish Queensland as an attractive preseason base, providing NPB teams with the chance for high-level games to boost both local tourism and sports engagement.
In Fuchu, Baseball Queensland connected with Mr. Daisuke Minagawa and Mr. Aida, who lead a women’s baseball development initiative. This collaboration, supported by Baseball Australia, aims to offer players from Queensland opportunities to play competitively in Japan, fostering professional growth and cultural exchange. Future plans include promoting Japanese language skills and cultural exchange programs to enhance player engagement.
Overall, this visit established valuable new connections and reinforced existing ones, setting the stage for meaningful collaborations in 2025. Jones expresses gratitude to Mr. Maruyama and the Board of Baseball Queensland for their support, and he looks forward to welcoming the Kobe Koryo Gakuen teams to Queensland and working with NPB and Tokyo North Council on projects that will benefit Queensland’s baseball landscape.