Two organisations, Queensland and Kochi connected by softball

Kochi Prefecture has hosted a training camp for the Australian softball team “Softball Queensland” in August 2019. Softball Queensland is a select team of the State of Queensland directed by Mr Fabian Barlow, a former head coach of Australia women’s national softball team. A total of 18 people, including 14 junior players selected from the state, has visited Kochi prefecture, which is known as “Softball Prefecture” and played games.

During the training camp, Mr Tomoaki Okamoto, a board member of the Japan Softball Association and the head coach of Japan men’s national softball team, has given technical training for batting to Australian junior athletes. They have listened to his coaching seriously.

On their day off, the team has visited Kochi Marunouchi Senior High School to interact with Japanese students and enjoyed Japanese culture, such as the Shamisen (Japanese musical instruments) and the Shodo (Japanese calligraphy).

In addition, Softball Queensland Incorporated and Kochi Softball Association have concluded sports exchange agreement in order to contribute to mutual development continuously through sports exchanges. Thus, the friendship between Kochi and Australia across the Pacific Ocean will go on.

【Our Progress of Sports Exchange with Australia】

Please refer to the following page for further information.
http://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/soshiki/141801/pre-training_camp_all.html

Sports Division, Department of Culture, Community and Sports, Kochi Prefectural Government
TEL: 088-821-4929
E-mail: 141801@ken.pref.kochi.lg.jp