January, 2025 issue of sports town Yokohama! Efforts of Yokohama Sports Partners-The Yokohama DeNA Baystars won the town together-

　Did you know that there are 13 top sports teams in Yokohama, 7 sports such as baseball, soccer, and basketball? It is unique to Yokohama that such a large number of top teams and large-scale facilities are gathered. This time, we will introduce Yokohama Sports Partners, a collaboration between Yokohama City and the top team, and one of them, the initiatives with Yokohama DeNA Baystars, who won the championship for the first time in 26 years.
　In addition, in public information Yokohama January issue (outside site), we introduce the excitement of the town of Yokohama by Yokohama DeNA Baystars championship parade.

　Yokohama DeNA Baystars, one of the Yokohama Sports Partners, won the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 11-2 at SMBC Japan Series 2024 on Sunday, November 3, 2024, and won the third victory in 26 years since 1998.

　In Yokohama, which is delighted, on November 30, the "Yokohama DeNA Baystars Japan's Best Championship Parade 2024" was held to celebrate the whole city. The championship parade started with Yokohama Hammerhead, followed by three open cars and three open buses, which attracted about 300,000 fans, including about 1.5 km from Nihon Odori Avenue to Yokohama-stadium through Akarengasoko and Yokohama-zeikan-mae.　

　In Yokohama City, as a parade-linked project, with the cooperation of more than 50 facilities, lighting up the city of Yokohama in Baystars blue, special production of the large Ferris wheel "Cosmo Clock 21", and blue in cooperation with "Yokohama Sparkling Twilight" Many people enjoyed the beautiful night view of Yokohama by launching fireworks.

　In addition, about 200 stores participated in the championship commemorative campaign held at commercial facilities and sightseeing spots, and visitors enjoyed shopping and eating. Through such migration measures, Baystars's best heat was linked to the bustle of the city and contributed to the revitalization of the city's economy.

I was very happy to hear that 300,000 fans gathered. At the time of this parade, we asked the people around us for greetings and explanations in advance, but everyone was very happy to support this parade, and the best in Japan was so pleased. I felt again that it was something that could be celebrated throughout the city.

There were times when I couldn't easily win, and I didn't realize that I won, but on the day of the parade, I saw that people who couldn't see the future gathered, and I became the best in Japan again I felt the greatness of being.

Normally, the season will be off around October, so the relationship with the fans will end and there will be no opportunities for communication, but even in December this year, exchanges with the fans will still continue I'm happy. At this parade, we have received many happy voices, such as finding a new "sushi player" and wearing goods. I hope that many people will come to the stadium next season to watch this game.

During the season, we opened the stadium in the morning and implemented a project that anyone could enjoy, such as a catch ball. It was very popular to be able to taste the same place as professional baseball players. In addition to watching baseball, we are also working to make Baystars and Hamasta feel closer to using such stadiums.

　
It's a pleasure to be able to win the memorable milestone year. Yokohama City, where the stadium is located, is a big city where 3.8 million citizens live. It has a Chinatown just from the stadium and Minato Mirai, and is packed with charm. The good access to the stadium is also one of 12 teams. I hope that you can take advantage of these benefits and enjoy the town of Baystars and Yokohama together.

The fans of Yokohama always warmly support me even when I can't win. In the past, it was an atmosphere where I took off my uniform and returned home after the game, but recently I'm glad to feel the deepening of Baystars love because I'm returning home on a train in uniform.

We are engaged in various activities for children with the goal of getting them to know Baystars, as well as to like baseball and sports. Since February last year, we have been conducting career education in cooperation with Yokohama City to encourage elementary school students to learn about the workYokohama Stadium and the thoughts of staff involved in professional baseball team management.　

I've been receiving requests for career education for a long time, but it was difficult to respond to the needs of all schools, so if you are online, you can respond to many requests, so we are conducting career education online and inviting them to the open competition in March. From a different perspective than so-called professional baseball players, they have learned about "sports work" and have received a lot of feedback.

I myself started playing baseball in the third grade of elementary school and was a baseball boy, so I always had a life with baseball, and I experienced a lot of happy and frustrated things through baseball. At one point, I wish I could give back to baseball that gave me so many thoughts, and I wanted to spread baseball to more people.

When it comes to baseball-related jobs, I think players, coaches, and managers can come up with immediate ideas, but when I told them that there were other jobs, the children were very surprised. I would like to convey that I am involved in sports from a wide range of angles.

The project started with the idea of the Yokohama DeNA Baystars Players Association as a “Wish for the Stars” project, and visited eight schools again this year. Seeing the children being happy, the players said, "I'm fine" and "I'm glad I went there." Players usually receive ale and cheers at the stadium, but it is not easy for children to get a lot of ale directly, so it is a good experience for players.

This year I was able to create the excitement of Japan's best, but I would like to aim for the league championship next year without being content with this. Even if you were not interested in Baystars, I think you were able to recognize that you have become the best in Baystars in Japan, so please come and visit the stadium once next season. At Baystars, we are always trying to do new and fashionable things like Yokohama!

I want those who have been fans for a long time to feel new joy, and I want them to enjoy watching baseball even if they are not interested in baseball or lose.

　New initiatives are also being taken at Hamasta, the home of Yokohama DeNA Baystars, Yokohama Stadium. The stadium is visited by many fans. Gourmet while watching the game is one of the pleasures, but a lot of garbage is generated. Therefore, Hamasta has launched the “Eco Hama Stadium Project,” which works with spectators to separate garbage, reduce food loss, and recycle garbage with the aim of becoming an “Earth Friendly Hamasta”.
　Originally, Hamasta was working hard to separate garbage, but there was a problem that burning garbage was not properly separated, and leftovers and leftovers were discarded together. So the audience and staff came together to conduct further garbage collection by category.

STYLE100-Let's make earth-friendly Hamasta together! ～

　It is a sustainable initiative that both children and adults can easily work on while enjoying watching baseball. In the 2025 season, why don't you participate in earth-friendly activities at Hamasta?

　Yokohama has many top sports teams based in Yokohama, including baseball, soccer, futsal, basketball, ice hockey, softball, and rugby, and is also blessed with opportunities to watch games. And in Yokohama City, we cooperate and collaborate with the top teams of 13 of these 7 sports as "Yokohama Sports Partners" to promote various initiatives that lead to sports promotion and regional revitalization in the city.

※Y.S.C.C. has two teams, soccer and futsal.

　According to the "Yokohama Citizens' Sports Awareness Survey" conducted by Yokohama City (R5), 71.3% of the citizens felt "lack of exercise." Yokohama Sports Partners conveys the joy and charm of sports through visiting classes and various events at elementary schools in the city so that they can get acquainted with sports from a young age. I would like to introduce some of these initiatives.

　The “YOKOHAMA Sports Recreation Festival” is held every year from September to November in connection with the Sports Day in October. In 2024, the team held sports classes for elementary school students at Shin-Yokohama Park and other places on October 13 and 14. The team staff taught baseball, soccer, basketball, rugby, ice hockey, etc., and the children's happy smiles overflowed with valuable experiences.

　We distribute the Yokohama Sports Times, a leaflet that lists the best players and children's dreams, introductions of athletes' meals, interviews with team staff, etc. to Municipal Elementary Schools and all elementary school studenｔ in the elementary schools of special needs schools.
　In addition, we also publish messages from players related to Yokohama to children in the elementary school physical education sub-reader Taiiku, which is newly published every year for elementary school studenｔ, the first, third and fifth graders in Municipal Elementary Schools.
　Support messages from players to children, such as photos full of dynamism of the players, working hard on what they like, working with dreams and goals, and remembering gratitude to the people around them, etc. Posted to deliver the appeal that makes you feel closer to sports and make your team closer.

　
　 In addition, the junior high school also cooperates with school lunch, providing menus rich in nutrients necessary for athletes as "promotion menus" for teams and athletes, and introducing them on menus and Instagram. It is a teaching material for students to learn the nutrients necessary for building and exercising during the growing season, and the importance of food.
　In this way, we take advantage of the unique strengths of Yokohama, where many top sports teams gather, and cooperate with the team to support the health promotion of citizens and the growth of children.

　In order to create a town where citizens can enjoy sports and a town full of liveliness with sports, we asked the person in charge of the Sports Promotion Division of the Lively Sports and Culture Bureau about the thoughts of sports promotion in Yokohama City.

"The fact that many top sports teams are based in Yokohama is one of the attractions of Yokohama, and I think it will be an opportunity for citizens to feel attached to the town. Until now, we have been working in cooperation with the team, such as conducting sports classes by team staff, disseminating information on teams and players, and supporting public relations for citizen invitations conducted by the team. Going forward, we will continue to promote initiatives so that citizens can feel closer to the local team and have attachment. "

　Even if it is said to be "sports", some people may think that exercising is not good, but it is also "sports" to easily move the body, such as walking or stretching. And there are many stadiums and arenas in Yokohama where you can watch the hot battles of the top sports teams.
　This year, please try to experience the charm of Yokohama, a sports town.