[80 years since the end of the war]A war questioned players from the same generation who were born in Shikoku, the venue for the fresh ball banquet.
Japan has concluded the war and this year marks its 80th anniversary. Every March, professional baseball starts pennant races as a matter of course. It all comes down to peace. There is no war happening in Japan at the moment, but there are still people in the world who are still living their lives robbed of their daily lives, feeling anxious about whether they will be able to meet tomorrow. This summer, 80 years since the end of the war, a 26-year-old reporter asked three players of similar age: pitcher Sawada Keisuke, pitcher Hiroshima Takataichi, and Giants' infielder Utsunomiya Aoi about the war.
Professional baseball
Fresh All Star 2025 flag decorated around the Marugame of the Rexam Ball Park
Even if damages in various places are not included
On July 20th, the Fresh All Star 2025 was held in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, where next-generation star candidates will take part.
A business trip about 700km from Tokyo. He approached the theme of a different approach to the All-Star team: “War that asks people from Shikoku.” When it comes to the Pacific War, the first ones that suffered severe damage include Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the Great Tokyo Air Raid, and the Battle of Okinawa. Some people may be wondering about the combination of Shikoku and war.
However, I learned on-site the fact that no one could stop the damage caused by the war in Japan, even if it had not been given a big name, so I would like to introduce it to you.
On July 20th, when the Fresh All Star was held, Lotte Sawada was putting his energy on his home base at ZOZO Marine
“If I could do it, I'd be able to play baseball… I'd be grateful now.”
–The case of Lotte Sawada, born in Matsuyama City
On July 18th, before practice for the Lotte-Orix match (ZOZO Marine). We heard about the war from pitcher Lotte Sawada Keisuke (31), who is from Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.
“My maternal grandpa and grandma had experience in war.”
At the time, they were both children, but he recalls, “What people often told me was that when the siren sounds, we all have to put our futon on our heads and get to the point where we can run away. I've done that many times. You've taught me a lot.”
Sawada is currently 31 years old. We asked if “war” comes to mind when he spends his days as a baseball player.
He thought, “Are you a baseball player?” and then he spoke with a solemn expression, “But if war occurs again, we won't be able to play either. I don't think that's what happens anymore. If we do, we won't be able to do baseball. I'm really grateful that we have this environment right now.”
The reporter got the impression that Sawada had not separated the war as an event that had nothing to do with his life.
On July 20th, Hiroshima's high school pitcher was the fourth pitcher for the Fresh All Star
When the atomic bomb was dropped, my grandmother, who lives in Hiroshima, said, “Working hard on the present”
-Hiroshima High School, born in Niihama City
On July 20th, I arrived at Rexam Ball Park Marugame from Tokyo on a total of about seven hours by Shinkansen. A river flows around the stadium and green leaves are lined with trees. A pleasant breeze blew, and the weather was clear and it was a perfect day for baseball.
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