“Kanagawa High School Baseball Tournament First Round: DeNA’s Nakagawa Hayate, a Koko Alumni, Cheers for Coach Noro’s Final Summer as ‘The Most Respected Person'”
Yokohama DeNA’s Saya Nakagawa (archive photo)
Many alumni gathered at Yokohama Stadium to support the last summer tournament of Koko Gakuen’s head coach Noro. Yokohama DeNA BayStars’ Saya Nakagawa was one of them.
“(Coach Noro) is the person I respect most among all the adults I’ve ever met,” said Nakagawa. Among the many lessons learned, he emphasized non-baseball values like “staying humble” as leaving the deepest impression.
“The coach made me who I am today. I came to cheer for him today, wanting to etch his final heroic appearance in my memory,” Nakagawa stated. “Though powerhouse schools like Yokohama (who won the Spring Tournament) make this year’s competition tough, I hope they play without regrets,” he added, sending encouragement to his mentor and junior players.
Yokohama Stadium
Yokohama Stadium, opened in 1978, is a prominent baseball stadium in Yokohama, Japan, and serves as the home field for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Known for its distinctive dome-shaped roof, it has hosted numerous major baseball games and concerts. The stadium was also one of the venues for the 2020 Summer Olympics, further cementing its significance in Japanese sports culture.
Koko Gakuen
Koko Gakuen is a historic Japanese educational institution founded in the early 20th century, known for its role in promoting technical and vocational education. Originally established to support industrial and engineering training, it has contributed to Japan’s modernization and workforce development. Today, it remains a respected institution, blending traditional values with contemporary education.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars
The Yokohama DeNA BayStars are a professional baseball team based in Yokohama, Japan, competing in Nippon Professional Baseball’s (NPB) Central League. Originally founded in 1950 as the Taiyo Whales, the team underwent several name changes before becoming the BayStars in 1993, reflecting its connection to Yokohama’s port culture. Owned by DeNA since 2012, the team plays its home games at Yokohama Stadium and has won two Japan Series championships (1960, 1998).
