Latest News

On May 8, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA) and Civic Force hosted a disaster preparedness event coinciding with the Catchball Classic*. 

Local little leaguers visited exhibition booths set up by local businesses and organizations learned about CPR and disaster preparedness through quizzes and hands-on exercises. A scavenger hunt was organized to improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities. Prizes were given away including baseball items for a raffle game.

In a game organized by Nippon Steel Engineering, participants aimed to hit a ball at numbered boards. Those boards had information on must-have items during emergencies and the participants learned about what they needed during disasters.

ARROWS - Airborne Rescue and Relief Operations With Search, a joint rescue team, demonstrated rescue operations and taught participants how to work with ropes.

Volunteers from Kitakyushu Soft Baseball Association and Civic Force offered CPR and AED training. Participants were nervous but learned about practical life saving skills.

The Toyota Dealership Group’s booth demonstrated an electric vehicle that can power a water server for both hot and cold water during emergencies.

Kitakyushu City hosted a quiz game to improve disaster preparedness and deepen knowledge on disasters. Portable toilets were also exhibited at their booth.

Kao, a chemical and cosmetic company, demonstrated an “anywhere laundry kit” and the participants got to experience washing clothing with little water.

Participants exclaimed, “I did it all!” and “It was fun!” after visiting every booth. They received disaster risk and reduction guidebooks and cup noodles donated by Nisshin Seifun Group. At the end of the event, the little leaguers participated in a raffle game to win baseball items. The event was successful and the participants learned about disaster risk reduction through baseball.