Cheering Onsite for Tokyo in National High School Baseball Final

Governor Koike traveled to Nishinomiya, western Japan, and cheered onsite for the Tokyo team in the final of the 107th National High School Baseball Championship at the Koshien Stadium on August 23.

The trip was arranged after the Third Senior High School of Nihon University from the western Tokyo pool advanced to the final of the extremely popular annual summer tournament。

Okinawa Shogaku High School from the subtropical region of Okinawa beat the Tokyo high school 3-1 in the final for its first ever summer championship title. 

After the game, Governor Koike offered a video message on social media. (Instagram post)

To the Third Senior High School of Nihon University,
Congratulations on Finishing Runners-Up at Koshien

A Message from Governor Koike

“It was great to see for the first time in a long while those young baseball players going all out at Koshien,” she said. “At the bottom of the final ninth inning, I thought the Third Senior High School of Nihon University had a chance to make a comeback. But they stopped short, I’m sorry to say.”

“Nonetheless they played really well. At the same time, Okinawa Shogaku had a great lineup of pitchers. Congratulations on their victory,” the governor said. “Although they finished runners-up, I wish Tokyo players all the best going forward.”