Sendai Ikuei Coach Praised for Kind Words at Koshien
Listen to the story
The Japanese high school baseball team Sendai Ikuei has become popular for good reasons at this year's Koshien tournament.
Koshien is one of the most famous school sports events in Japan. Many people watch it every year.
After a recent game, the team's coach gave an interview. He spoke about the other team with clear respect, praising them instead of only talking about his own team's win.
His words became very popular online. Many viewers said they liked how carefully he chose his words. One comment said, 'I want to keep listening to him.'
The team is also known for another first. It now has its first female team member, Yotsuha Hoshi, who works as a team manager.
A manager supports the players by handling equipment and other jobs, but does not play in games.
Yotsuha's father, Takanori Hoshi, used to play for the Yomiuri Giants, a well-known professional baseball team.
During a recent match, Yotsuha was seen on the bench, celebrating happily when Sendai Ikuei reached the final 16 teams in the tournament.
On the field, the team's cleanup hitter, Tayama, played an important role. He scored a valuable run that helped keep the team competitive.
Fans online have shown strong support for both the coach's respectful attitude and the team's achievements, showing that good sportsmanship still gets attention alongside strong play.
Vocabulary8 words
- Koshien
- a very famous Japanese school baseball tournament
- respect
- polite and kind treatment of someone
- manager
- a helper for a sports team who does not play
- Yomiuri Giants
- a well-known professional baseball team in Japan
- bench
- the place where team members sit during a game
- final 16
- the last 16 teams still in a competition
- cleanup hitter
- an important batter who hits fourth in the lineup
- sportsmanship
- fair and kind behavior in sports
Quiz
Answer key
1. He spoke with respect about the opponent 2. She is the manager 3. He scored an important run
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Japanese high school baseball team Sendai Ikuei has become popular for good reasons at this year's _____ tournament.
After a recent game, the team's coach gave an _____.
He spoke about the other team with clear _____.
His words became very popular _____.
The team now has its first female team _____, Yotsuha Hoshi.
A manager supports the players but does not _____ in games.
Yotsuha's father used to play for the _____, a well-known professional team.
Yotsuha was seen on the _____, celebrating happily.
The team reached the _____ teams in the tournament.
The team's _____ hitter, Tayama, scored a valuable run.