＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
<Added June 11, 2020> The Japan High School Baseball Federation (JHBA) Decides to Hold Replacement Games for This Spring’s Senbatsu Tournament
“One inter-school game per school will be held at Koshien Stadium in August without spectators,” and a “remote opening ceremony” is also being considered.
While this isn’t the best option, I believe it was a good decision in terms of not shattering the dreams of third-year high school baseball players.
On May 20, the Japan High School Baseball Federation (JHSBF) decided to cancel the Summer National High School Baseball Tournament, which had been scheduled for August at Koshien Stadium.
This was reportedly a “difficult decision” due to the impact of the spread of COVID-19 pneumonia.
The reasons cited for the cancellation include the difficulty of holding regional tournaments.
Specifically, the association cited the inability to completely eliminate the risk of infection, the expected risk of player injuries due to insufficient practice due to prolonged school closures and suspension of club activities, and the possibility of players being injured amid a movement to shorten summer vacation, which would disrupt academic studies if regional tournaments were held.
Furthermore, with regard to the summer Koshien tournament, the risk of infection is unavoidable, considering that players and related personnel will be traveling long distances from all over the country and staying in groups.
1. Specific Reasons for Cancellation
First, regarding the regional tournaments leading up to Koshien,
(1) it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of infection in the regional tournaments, which will be held at approximately 250 baseball stadiums from late June to early August, with approximately 3,800 schools participating from across the country.
(2) With the prolonged suspension of school closures and club activities, an increase in injuries among players who have not been able to practice enough is expected.
(3) Given the trend toward shortening summer vacation and increasing the number of school days and class days to ensure sufficient class time, holding regional tournaments could interfere with academic studies.
(4) It is unlikely that sufficient officials and umpires will be able to be secured, and it is expected that medical staff, who are involved in treatment and infection prevention, will be required to be present at the stadiums full-time.
(5) Due to restrictions on the use of public facilities, the number of baseball stadiums that can be used may be limited.
(6) Furthermore, the National High School Baseball Federation has stated that the risk of infection and spread is unavoidable when considering that the national tournament to be held at Koshien Stadium will last for more than two weeks, and that players and related personnel from the representative schools will have to travel long distances from all over the country and stay overnight in groups.
2. The Japan High School Baseball Federation should take risks
Looking at the specific reasons for the cancellations listed above, am I the only one who gets the strong impression that they’ve “give up on trying to figure out how to hold the tournament,” “are deliberately looking for reasons why it can’t be held, even citing unlikely risks,” “just want to avoid being held responsible if the tournament were held and infections occur,” and “rushed the decision to cancel before the state of emergency was lifted.”
It appears that there is a lack of “putting the players’ feelings first.” The “cancellation decision” cruelly shatters the dreams of high school baseball players who have been practicing hard and working hard to reach Koshien this summer, and it is extremely irresponsible to blame it on “COVID-19.”
Rather than being overly fearful of COVID-19, we need to change our mindset to “coexisting with COVID-19.” Otherwise, the tournament will never be held (nor next year).
3. The Japan High School Baseball Federation is simply overly fearful of COVID-19, without making any ingenuity or effort.
It is obvious that “it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of infection in regional tournaments,” just as it is obvious that “it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of accidents.”
“An increase in injuries due to insufficient practice is expected” is not a COVID-19 specific issue, but something that could happen at any time.
You say “holding regional tournaments could interfere with academic studies,” but students can easily make up for their studies after the tournament is over.
You also say “we will not be able to secure enough officials and referees” and it feels like you’ve given up from the start, without making any effort or ingenuity.
Saying that “we may not be able to ask medical staff to be stationed at the stadiums full-time” feels like they’re giving up from the start, without any effort or ingenuity.
Saying that “the number of stadiums available for use may be limited” also feels like they’re giving up from the start, without any effort or ingenuity.
“The risk of infection and spread cannot be avoided” is a given, just like “the risk of contracting seasonal influenza cannot be completely eliminated.”
Regardless of the reason, there is no sense of enthusiasm to “somehow hold the games.” Playing games without spectators is also a possibility, and thorough infection prevention measures at accommodations and dispersing accommodation facilities should also be considered.
If anyone associated with the Japan High School Baseball Federation is reading this blog, I would ask them to reconsider. “Never be afraid to correct mistakes.” Even past “official decisions” that turn out to be wrong should be corrected.
Please do not make the foolish mistake of “Once you’ve had enough of hot food, you’ll want to try raw food.” by being overly afraid of the coronavirus.