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In preparation for our booth at the Saitama Seibu Lions Fan Festival on November 23rd, Returning to Japan after a long time. Prices are high in Canada, so I try to limit my shopping to essentials only. I came back from Japan with a snort, thinking, "I'm going to buy this and that!" Where is the Japan I know? Restaurants and clothing stores have all increased their prices...and they're quite price increases... I feel like Urashima Taro... (ﾟДﾟ) Uniqlo, GU, Nishimatsuya, Shimamura...were they really this expensive??? I didn't feel like spending 2,990 yen shopping at GU...I didn't feel like buying anything... It seems that the wave of rising prices wasn't limited to Canada (´；ω；`) Uuuu Even when I go to the drugstore, everything is priced up, and even when I go to the supermarket to buy groceries Price increase...( ﾟДﾟ) Not all of them are the Japanese prices we know lol Of course, it's cheaper than Canada!! But this is Japan!! I had a feeling it should be around this price, but it was about 200 yen more expensive. It's no wonder consumption is falling. I now hesitate to buy things that I used to buy casually. For foreign tourists, Japan is cheap, fast, high quality, polite and hospitable. Perhaps I would feel the same way if I wasn't born and raised in Japan. But I was born and raised in Japan. This is what Japan is like, right? I have this feeling that everything seems so expensive... But!! Japan is still full of cheap, high-quality products and services!! So, for foreigners, cheap and high quality Japanese products are still popular. I thought, "Let's expand into Canada!" Immediately send 10,000 products to Canada🚢 What did they do? What did they export? I'll leave that for another time. Prices are rising in Japan and I found a product that I wish was in Canada! Shipment has been completed to the physical store scheduled to open in February next year! I hope that as many Canadians as possible will be happy with this ❤

The contract expires on November 1, 2024. 4512 MAIN STREET, VANCOUVER, BC, V5V3R5 I've been so busy signing my first tenant contract that I haven't been able to write a column. What else should I do? I'll leave that for now and move on to the main topic of glove manufacturing in Nigeria. Let's talk about the preparations to make this happen. I was excited to make gloves in Nigeria and save as many children as possible from baseball who have to give up baseball for economic reasons all over Africa and the world. But, I have never made a glove in my life. I don't even have any experience playing baseball (laughs). A total novice with no connections to glove manufacturers or factories, I simply searched the internet and made inquiries to about 40 companies, both large and small!! Well, the answer I get is, "Africa?! Huh?! I don't really get it." "I'm not happy about technology going overseas..." "Is this an OEM? The minimum order quantity is 10,000 pieces. Is that okay?" Uuuuuuhh... They won't listen to me, and if they did, the lot size would be huge... Moreover, I don't want to do OEM work, I want to set up a glove manufacturing base in Nigeria and manufacture in Nigeria. So, I want to find someone who will take on an apprentice, but Well, you'll be turned away at the door. Behind the scenes, Amir and his then-employer had already come to an agreement. We had agreed that if we could find a glove-making master, we would work together! But... we couldn't find a master... There seems to be a bad image of Africans, that they are scary, likely to cause accidents, smelly...I've encountered so many prejudices that it makes me sad just writing this. The illusion that there is no discrimination in Japan is a lie. It definitely exists. Discrimination exists all over the world. However, I can't give up now, so I'm taking the first step I promised the kids at Makoko. Even if I stumble or fall, I won't die. I just have to get up, persevere, and attack!! In the midst of all this, we received a call from a workshop in Sakai, Osaka, which had been in business for nearly 50 years. "I'm already 70 years old. In the past, I made and provided gloves to players like Yutaka Enatsu, and even now I provide gloves to Makoto Aduwa of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Would you like to try it as my last apprentice?" ? ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ? ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ? ! ? ! ! ! ? ? It's hereeeeeeeeeeee ( *´艸｀) It was worth the perseverance and crawling!! Mr. Ikuno, the representative of Ikuno Studio, agreed to this request!! Quick, contact Amir!! By this time, I had already set up a Canadian branch and was living in Vancouver. While communicating with Japan online, Ikuno asked a question. "Will Amir be the only one to be accepted? I haven't met him yet, so I don't know... but glove manufacturing requires a lot of strength and delicacy. Looking at the photo alone, he seems to have more power than the Japanese physique. His physique is suited to making catcher's mitts, but not to making pitcher's gloves, which are the most delicate. I feel like it would be better to have someone else, a Japanese or Asian person, just to be sure." and. Power and delicacy. These two elements are necessary for glove manufacturing. Hmmmm, should we send someone from the Japanese headquarters? Is there anyone who would be willing to be stationed in Nigeria in the first place? lol In the first place, the Japanese headquarters is also full of tasks, and no one is in an environment where they can be seconded. I thought about training myself, but that's not realistic. We have our headquarters in Japan, and we've just launched in Canada, so it's just the right timing... One step forward, half a step back... ( ﾟДﾟ) Hmmm... Conveniently, someone with lots of baseball experience, preferably Japanese, who can speak English, and who can be stationed in Nigeria... It's not easy to find such a person, so while browsing social media and looking at friends, I started looking for someone who would undergo training and be stationed in Nigeria. Then, all of a sudden, Messenger appeared!! His partner was a senior colleague who had been involved in the baseball world for many years and had also worked as a manufacturer, providing equipment to professional baseball players. "Long time no see! How are you? Where in Canada are you living now? Vancouver?" I replied that I live in Vancouver, "Hey, I have a former Koshien baseball player who's in Vancouver on a working holiday visa. He might be lonely, so could you keep an eye on him?" Basically, she enjoys taking care of people, so I asked her to create a group on Messenger, we started chatting, and she immediately invited me to a home party over the weekend. He lives in an area about an hour's drive from my house, and since he's on a working holiday visa, I figured he wouldn't have much financial leeway, so I headed to the meeting place with him. Nice to meet you! Then he took me to my house in his car. The more I hear about it, the more I realize what a glorious baseball achievement he has had!!! ⚾❤ He won the national championship in junior high school, and at Sapporo Daiichi High School, where he was a regular from his first year in the spring, Participated in the Koshien Tournament twice and the Jingu Tournament twice!! That's amazing!! He's at a level where he could become a professional baseball player, lol. However, due to the harsh environment, coaching, and burnout, he quit baseball after high school. He switched to American football in college, but tore his ligaments twice...He started looking for a job, but with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, there were no vacancies in the position he wanted, so he came to Canada on a working holiday visa. I casually asked him, "You still love baseball, don't you?" "No... I felt like I had given up on baseball in high school, so now, if anything, I don't like it and I really want to distance myself from it." and. Well, the 23-year-old was searching for his next dream and chose to do a working holiday to improve his language skills and gain work experience abroad for his personal growth. He is a good young man with a strong core. He grew up in an athletic environment, so he is very polite and knows how to greet people. He has a lot of experience playing baseball, and is currently studying English. To be honest, I had secretly, and truly secretly, harboured the sweet thought that it would be great if he could train and be stationed in Nigeria, but now that he hates baseball and wants to get away from it, I decided that it wasn't the right thing to talk about, so I zip my mouth. We talked about trivial things, and as the sun started to set, I couldn't see him off because I was at a home party, so I asked him to stay at my house (lol). Yes, the person introduced to me by my senior was "Manato"❤⚾❤ He later became the youngest director of the Nigerian branch and was in charge of Nigerian glove manufacturing together with Amir. Next time, I would like to write about the change in Manato's feelings, who had said that he hated baseball and honestly wanted to leave! Stay tuned!!! ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Today, I'd like to talk about something a little different. We are currently conducting a crowdfunding campaign to unveil Made in Nigeria gloves for the first time in Japan. https://readyfor.jp/projects/re-evolution-africa2?fbclid=IwY2xjawGN95xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHU5V0VWkHJvsEeQtEIwXsycatr0IgxOdE314KNWefMchlZTG1qaixIYh4Q_aem_LgH0fwCMWQSY0SLUEHzFxw Why didn't you include any items in the return for your support this time? Naturally, we have also received negative feedback, such as, "This is digital begging that appeals to emotion!?", "There's no return...", and "Who the hell is Amir anyway?" We knew that this would happen at some point, so we decided to go ahead with it this time. So - why do you know this and still do it??? I'm an idiot lol but let's leave that aside lol Poverty is widespread throughout the world, but it is difficult to feel in Japan. In fact, I've only been in Vancouver, Canada for two years, but I feel that the security situation is deteriorating day by day, with homeless people flooding Hastings Street and a recent random murder incident. Is the idea that Canada is the most livable and desirable country in the world already an urban legend? The same can be said about our neighbor, America. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers, who are on the brink of winning the World Series, and their home base in Los Angeles. The gap between rich and poor continues to widen, and homeless people are roaming around the stadium... I think that deep down, everyone is thinking things like, "I wish something could be done about the homeless problem...", "Rents are rising even though the security situation is getting worse...", or "I don't want my children to go near these places, I want to ensure their safety as much as possible." However, few people take any action, or at least few do. The country, the government...it somehow seems like someone else's problem. The same goes for war. Russia and Ukraine are no big deal. As time passes, interest fades, and before you know it, it becomes someone else's problem. In the end, it's a society where it's all someone else's problem. Although the people in African slums and the homeless are from different countries, I believe they are the same in terms of their condition: without a home to live in, without food to eat, committing crimes, and struggling to survive in the present. The big difference between homeless people in developed countries and homeless people (slum dwellers) in developing countries is, Developed countries try, fail, and become homeless. In developing countries, people are born homeless. I think this is a qualitative difference. However, the essential issue is to escape homelessness, and to find a way to become independent and get back on your feet. As a result, I think a reduction in the homeless population will lead to a more stable public safety situation. So, I thought to myself, all kinds of platforms and systems are being digitized with the evolution of IT technology, and with the development of AI, they are evolving at a dizzying speed. However, I felt that donations and support have always been left behind as analog. Foundations, NGOs, general incorporated associations. The activities of many organizations are analog, steady, and down-to-earth. In developed countries, the number of shelters is increasing and environmental improvements are being made, and even in Africa, like our partner Rochas Foundation, which provides boarding schools with food, clothing, shelter, and education, Although shelter development is progressing, the number of homeless people is not decreasing. Why isn't it moving forward? Well, it is moving forward, but there is no sense of speed. Why? It's because there isn't enough funding. The world's population has exceeded 8 billion and is growing. If each person donates 1 yen, that would amount to 8 billion yen. It's a simple calculation, but even if 30% of the world's people were homeless, 1 yen per person would amount to 5.6 billion yen. If each person donates 10 yen, that would be 56 billion yen. A few years ago, our company received venture capital funding. These are the words the executive in charge said at the time. "Know the weight of 1 yen. If you make someone feel like they don't want to spend even 1 yen, you won't get any more. If they feel like it's okay to spend 1 yen, then depending on your communication you can spend as much as you want. Do you feel like it's okay to spend this 1 yen, or do you make them feel like they don't want to spend a single yen at all? Know the weight of 1 yen." Fortunately, our company was willing to contribute 1 yen, and we were able to make the investment. Back to the topic at hand: homeless people around the world. I think there are a lot of people out there who want to save someone, who want the number of people to decrease. But I think there are a lot of people who don’t do anything. It's not that I don't execute it, but I don't know how to execute it! There's no trigger! Some people may have that opinion. The reason there are no returns for this crowdfunding campaign is because I wondered: does goodwill really exist in the world? If it does, what would make someone worth giving more than 1 yen for? We are conducting this event in the hope that it will provide an opportunity for people to learn about such things. I don't even know if crowdfunding is the right platform for it. I don't know if the text theme, sentences, or photos will change the emotions. This crowdfunding campaign is proving to be a huge struggle. A challenge from Amir, a Burkinabe man I have never met or known. Of course, it's none of my business. So, do you know the homeless people you see or meet around town? Unfortunately, I don't know any of the homeless people on Hastings Street in Vancouver. But in my heart, I want to give as many people as possible the opportunity and support to get back on their feet. What's the right answer? What works? Although I still have no grasp of the current situation, I believe that change in our "other people's problem" society is necessary worldwide. I myself feel a sense of crisis that "tomorrow I could be homeless." Prices in Canada are continuing to soar. Prices in developed countries are rising at an extraordinary rate. If you are left behind, you could be homeless tomorrow. The desire to change and the opportunity to change, from someone else's problem to being a stakeholder. I want to create a circle of goodwill based on empathy. It was with this vague feeling in mind that we launched this crowdfunding campaign. In today's society, the gap between rich and poor is only widening. I want to think of a system that allows money to circulate appropriately between those who have and those who don't. Otherwise, if things continue as they are, polarization will continue to grow and society will become self-centered, lonely, and boring...I do not want to throw my children into such a world and future. The homeless problem is a frustrating one, as we feel the weight of every yen. What is the best thing to do? The struggle continues today.

Well, I grew up without studying properly since elementary school and only played soccer, so this Nigerian baseball business... it took a tremendous amount of time and energy... Well, I couldn't come up with any ideas (laughs). However, during my journey to find examples of failures in promoting baseball in Africa, one word popped out at me: Suddenly, the world opened up before my eyes. I was just like Moses! Burkina Faso is known as one of the poorest countries in Africa. I went to Hokkaido to interview someone who has been promoting and supporting baseball in Burkina Faso for decades. It's huge! Hokkaido is too big! I drove four hours from the airport to meet him. As expected, he has been active for decades, so he told me about many failures. He is a very generous person. As we talked and sorted out what we had, it became clear that the keyword "money" was a common issue for everyone, including the activist groups and local people. I wondered if there were any other issues besides money when it comes to baseball practice, so I asked the question. What is the problem with baseball practice? The answer is "The equipment... bats, balls, and gloves are all second-hand donations. It's rare to find a glove that can actually catch a ball... Most of the time, the only gloves donated are those that are too damaged to catch the ball, so we can't practice properly..." Indeed, the gloves of the Nigerian children playing baseball were worn out. There were few children who could play catch properly, and many of them did not even have gloves. It occurred to me that the problem was not that they lacked the technique to catch the ball, but that the glove itself was the problem... (´；ω；`) Uuuu And then, "Why not make gloves in Nigeria!!!" That's easy to say, but it takes a lot of money and planning to do it. My heart is dancing, but I can't say "That's great! Let's do it!" right then and there... First of all, how many people in Nigeria, where the average monthly salary is 20,000 yen, can afford to buy expensive gloves? (ﾟДﾟ) Probably none... I thought this calmly at the time, and wasn't really enthusiastic about the idea. After the interview, we headed home. I drove my car absentmindedly, enjoying the tranquil scenery of nature. While stopping to rest at a roadside station along the way, I noticed that I had a message on my cell phone. The person who contacted me was the director of a Shizuoka Prefecture-based NGO that provides support to children who want to continue playing baseball but are forced to give up for financial reasons. "Thanks to your sponsorship again this year, dozens of children were able to continue playing baseball ~♪(^_-)-☆♪" In addition to promoting baseball in Africa, our company has also sponsored support for children in Japan who have had to give up baseball for economic reasons. So, finally, it happened! The dots connected and an idea struck me!! 1. Save even one child from having to give up baseball for financial reasons! 2. Create new industries and jobs in Nigeria through baseball! The intersection of these two pieces is the "Globe"!! ⚾ Not only in Japan, but all over the world, the price of gloves continues to rise, and for youth baseball gloves, The average price is 35,000 yen, and for high school baseball it is 70,000 yen, which is very expensive... (´；ω；`) Uuuu So many kids quit baseball because they can't afford it. But some of them might have become professional baseball players if they had continued. It's kind of sad that a child's dreams are being taken away for adult reasons... but then again, gloves are so expensive, so I can understand the adult reasons... I also have three sons, and the two oldest play baseball. My oldest son was leading until the final two in the Koshien qualifying tournament, when he couldn't get the last out and lost in a walk-off... It was disappointing, but what's more, if you go to a strong school, you have to live in a boarding school, and on top of the boarding fees, there's equipment fees, travel expenses... it costs about 200,000 yen a month... (-.-)y-゜゜゜ My second son also went to a strong school, so he went to a boarding school... I've experienced the pain of this expense, so I understand why adults would make them give up... It's an investment with no guarantee that they'll be able to become a professional baseball player in the future, after all. Back to the point, I understand the feelings of adults and children like this, so I bought these damn expensive gloves. If we could provide it at a very reasonable price and with high quality, we could provide it to children all over the world who want to continue playing baseball! This means that we need to keep our costs down to a level that can be offered to children in Nigeria who want to play baseball. So, what was the Nigerian baseball business going to do? That problem has now been put to rest!! in???? How do I make gloves? Do I make them? Who makes them? It's all image-driven, and there's no concreteness to it (laughs). Well, that's fine! We've decided what to do, so now we just need to make it more concrete. For now, I thought it would be ok to send the items to the major manufacturers for confirmation! Okay, okay… It wasn’t going to go so smoothly, and from here on, The journey of Made in Nigeria glove manufacturing has begun! Will they be able to navigate the ocean full of obstacles and be hit by a giant tsunami? Will the Margerick Nigeria be able to reach the goal safely? Please look forward to the next one!! ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Finally, back to the main topic. Various organizations, including JICA, NGOs, general incorporated associations, and universities, are promoting baseball in Africa. I think this is a wonderful thing!! MLB is also mainly based in Uganda, and although it is gradually expanding, baseball and baseball may seem the same, but they are very different. Even when it comes to instruction, in baseball the swing is to swing down from above and hit, whereas in baseball the swing is to raise up with an upper swing. If a baseball gets hit by a dead ball, it will take off its hat and apologize, and it will glare at it. Very different cultures. Recently, thanks to the Shohei Ohtani effect, Japanese-style baseball culture has begun to be adopted in MLB, and more and more players are now removing their hats to apologize if they are hit by a dead ball. So, which one should we adopt? Is it baseball? Is it baseball? The answer is "Hybrid" "The mental education of Japanese baseball + the physical strength of American baseball + localization in Africa" This is the basic line. I especially want to place importance on localization. There's baseball, there's baseball, there's softball, there's baseball 5... On the contrary, there's too much, it's confusing, and it seems like the kids are playing without really understanding it. There are people who are promoting baseball from Japan to African countries, but they have many questions. I make appointments with people who are stationed in the world and travel around the world. I spent about a year searching for examples of failure. Well, it goes without saying, but to those who are working so hard, the promotion of baseball in Africa isn't going well, right? Why? It's a rude and disrespectful question... I've been turned away at the door many times before the meeting with "How rude!? What are you!?" (# ﾟДﾟ)... sob. But… if you think about it objectively and look at the statistics, it becomes obvious… ( ﾟДﾟ) Baseball5 was introduced as a trigger, and the number of players has increased so far. However, the number of people who belong to club teams and continue to play has decreased for more than 10 years... It's fun if you play it casually, but it's a different story if you play it seriously. If I were to play seriously, I would choose soccer or basketball... If I had to choose, I'd choose cricket... Baseball is not on the list. There are some rare people who will calmly listen to you while conveying the facts, without any discussion of whether things are going well or not, and without any emotional arguments. These people all say the same thing: "It costs money." So the project isn't progressing as expected. I tried to unravel this "costly" thing in my own way. [Project owner: Japanese organization] Costs for project progress. We raised funds from sponsors and crowdfunding, but Africa is far away. Especially baseball. There are few people who sympathize with us, so it is difficult to raise funds. The benefits of sponsorship are goodwill for everyone except companies considering expanding into Africa. It is difficult to gather sponsors. As a result, we are limited to what we can do with our limited funds and resources. Furthermore, funds are decreasing, so there is less we can do. [African children who are project members] In the first place, you should work instead of playing baseball! It'll just make you hungry!? (# ﾟДﾟ) They are likely to face opposition from their parents. For poor families, sports are not productive and only make them hungry. They can't earn money right away. So parents are focused on making money right in front of them. What's more, they need equipment... and it's expensive because it's imported... They manage to play with donated equipment, but it's hard to play well because it's all worn out. But they don't have the money to replace it with new equipment. There is also strong opposition from parents. As a result, they can't continue. [Shima's personal opinion] Project owners need a source of funding, sufficient investment, lobbying to expand the circle of sympathy, and an ecosystem to solicit support from sympathy and circulate the funds raised to the children who are project members. Most baseball promotion organizations are not private companies, but NGOs or general incorporated associations, and are organizations that raise donations rather than making money. Therefore, their source of funding is donations, and if they don't collect donations, they can't do anything. We are a joint-stock company. Earning money is our source of funding. In addition, we raise support through crowdfunding and other means and use them as an option. In other words. They need money and empathy. Children in Africa need a better environment and a vision for the future that their parents will buy into. Somehow, I was able to draw it fluffy. Baseball promotion is not progressing, and the reason for the slowdown is "money." Another challenge facing Africans is money. However, saying "I can't do this because I don't have the money" is just an excuse. If you keep making excuses, nothing will get started and nothing will move forward. So, we decided to think about "money" in a way that is unique to us and a corporation. "Nigeria + Baseball + Money" = ○○??? Phew... It's not that easy to come up with something... ( ﾟДﾟ) (lol) Well, if it were that easy to come up with something, the barrier to entry would be low and it would be copied in no time (laughs). We need more ideas that will lead to solving fundamental problems and create new industries and new jobs. By changing the angle and approach, I tried to approach those who had turned me away again (laughs). I'm very persistent (laughs). Because I want to keep my promise to my children, and I want to be persistent and get a solution to the fundamental problem, even if it means I'm just annoying and disliked (laughs). However, when I change the angle and perspective, many people listen to my story, and many different issues come up. Of course, the main theme of "money" remains the same, but Rather than not having money, they create money and give it back to children. From negative to positive. Let's switch to a positive topic about money. I stared at the assignment I was given. My two pet cats joined me in front of the computer. I thought about it for several months. So, I used my brain to come up with an idea!! it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look forward to the next one! (laughs) ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Yes… it’s the third time. The third time in less than a year. There was a robbery at the baseball glove manufacturing workshop at our Nigerian branch... This time, the wires of a band machine, a machine used to smooth the fingers of gloves, were stolen... ( ﾟДﾟ) This is the third time in less than a year... I'm almost heartbroken... Create new industries and jobs in Nigeria!! And with the profits we make, we will provide a brighter future for children!! With great enthusiasm, our expatriates and local staff are working hard to manufacture and supply the baseball gloves that we receive orders for. It's not possible to sew everything by hand... It's cowhide, so the leather is hard, and the machines used to make it are expensive, so the capital investment alone is over 30 million yen... If you have no money and no food, then steal and sell it to make money. That is the reality of Nigeria and Africa. The person who stole it may think that it's okay, but it's really troubling... If the machines don't work, we can't manufacture baseball gloves... I really want something to be done... No, I have no choice but to do it lol First, strengthening security. Well, I think it really breaks my heart... But why wiring and not something more obvious and expensive like a sewing machine? Across Africa, iron fetches very high prices. And, this is just a guess, but when I talked to other people who are stationed in Africa, The answer that is always given is, "It was a crime committed by a family member." It makes sense because sewing machines and large machinery are very expensive, and if they are stolen, the business will be shut down...so wiring and electrical wires, which can be replaced at the last minute, are prone to being stolen, especially by family members...(´；ω；`)ｳｩｩ Well, I wonder why he would steal from someone who wants to improve the Nigerian economy... We don't know if the person is a family member or not until the police investigate. Expatriates from other countries based in Africa often have money stolen from their wallets, or drivers swindle their gas money, or somehow get their money stolen from them... Africa has little sense of guilt about stealing...and Nigeria has the largest GDP in Africa...If Africa's new leaders are like this, there is no way that Africa as a whole will improve. That's why!! Although there are many difficulties ahead, we will expand our mental education through "baseball"!!! This is not the time to be discouraged (laughs). All I can do is refresh my mind and move forward!! Yes! We will provide many baseball gloves to make up for the ones stolen and will not replace them!! Please, don't come and rob me again--(-_-)/~~~Peeee! Peeee(-_-)/~~~Peeee! ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

A few days after I returned to Japan, I received a message on WhatsApp from Dayo (former President Obasanjo's youngest son, secretary, and president of Obasanjo Farms). How are you doing after that? Did you return to Japan safely? Is your business up and running? Thank you for your concern, "Please forget about the small talk. I love soccer so much that I ended up asking a strange question... so please forget about it." What Dayo asked me for advice was that he is an avid European soccer fan, and in particular, he is a big fan of players who played for Feyenoord and other teams. A passionate fan of "Shinji Ono"!! ❤⚽❤ I don't think that's possible, but if you could get a signature from Ono Shinji, please send it to me. "It's my dream!" he said with shining eyes, I remember clearly. A dream for Dayo-san, who has helped me so much✨⚽✨ There's no way we can't make it come true!! That said, although Ono Shinji and I are close in age, we have no common interests... Oh, by the way, just a little chit-chat, but my family has a long history of Olympians, with my mother competing in the Sapporo Olympics (a speed race on a single-person sled called luge), and my middle brother being the first high school student to compete in the Olympics in baseball. Being a contrarian, I have never played baseball lol After that, my brother joined the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as the second draft pick, then transferred to the Seibu Lines, ending his 19 years in professional baseball. After that, he served as the Seibu Lines first-team batting coach for about 10 years. (During his active career, he was the batting champion once and was nicknamed Red Godzilla.) At that time, baseball was so popular that it was considered a national sport, and it was common for people around me to play baseball. I was born in 1980 (Showa 55), and was collectively known as the "Matsuzaka generation." I always had this feeling in my mind that if I had played baseball, my life would have been different. I sometimes think that So why didn't you play baseball? -My dad hits the ball with the same strength as his eldest son, who is six years younger than me, when I'm in the last year of kindergarten, and since I can't catch it, it just hits me somewhere on my body and hurts, so it's not fun. ・The kids I don't like in kindergarten are choosing baseball. -I'm a contrarian, so I wanted to do something other than baseball, which my two older brothers were playing. Well, for this reason I thought. The ball is small, so it hits you and hurts. So let's choose a ball that you don't have to catch and that is big!! So I chose "soccer." He continued playing soccer through high school, attending Seibudai High School in Saitama Prefecture. The school is a prestigious institution, with around 400 members in the soccer club alone, and which even competes in national tournaments. So he was really good at soccer? No, lol. I was so bad at studying that I had no other options for further education, so I was forced to join Seibudai High School on a sports recommendation, and I was just a member of the soccer club lol. There were about 400 members in the club... Practice was tough, and before games there were mysterious shouts of "Spirit! Spirit! Spirit! Spirit! Spirit!" and I was forced to live in a hierarchical society similar to that of the military lol. Now I see it as a good experience, and I am grateful that I have many friends who shared the same experiences with me, and that I still have many connections with them even after entering society. Now, back to the main topic. Searching for a common ground with Shinji Ono. I found one right away. At the time, Ono Shinji was a member of Consadole Sapporo, and had taken up front-office duties after Kawai Ryuji, nicknamed Mr. Consadole, had retired the previous year. Since this is a column, I will call him Ryuji Kawai. He is my senior at Seibudai High School, two years older than me, and the vice captain. My younger brother was in the same class as him. We are from the same Saitama prefecture, and we have played against each other since elementary school. He is a senior who has competed with me to qualify for the national tournament, and someone I look up to. As I wrote earlier, the soccer club is a military, hierarchical society. There was no way I could casually talk to the vice captain, who was two years older than me, and it had been 25 years since I graduated, so I probably wouldn't even remember me... but I sent him a message on Instagram. Yes. I couldn't remember it at all lol Of course, there are about 400 members in the club, and there is no way that the seniors who are so dedicated to soccer that they don't have time to pay attention to the juniors two years younger than them would remember them (laughs). However, I wanted to keep my promise, and at the same time I wanted to hear why the promotion of baseball in Africa was not going well, so I had plans to go to Hokkaido for another reason, and I managed to get an appointment!! I was excited to meet him for the first time in 25 years, so we headed to the sushi restaurant for which he had made a reservation (don't make your senior make the reservation lol). After greeting each other and shaking hands firmly, we asked each other questions such as "Are you really a junior?" (lol) and "What's your cheer?" (lol), and finally got to the main topic. Dayo, the youngest son of the former president of Nigeria, is a huge fan of Shinji Ono and wants his autograph! Is there anything we can do about it? (lol) Hmm, we're close so we can talk, but if he doesn't want to talk then we can't. Is that okay? By the way, do you want Ryuji Kawai's autograph? (lol) Yes, sorry, I don't need it (too rude to my senior) So, we ate delicious sushi and drank beer, talked about the nostalgic Seibudai High School soccer club, and when the bar closed, we went to a second bar and drank until late at night. About a week later, I received a call from my senior. Shinji is good! She said, "I'll send you an autograph so please tell me your address!" It's hereeeeeeeeeeee ( *´艸｀) I don't have any luck with planes, but I do have some good connections and luck!! I did it!! I can keep my promise to Dayo!! ❤ I contacted Dayo right away and kept the promise I made. You can get Shinji Ono's autograph! I'll send it to you when I get it!! Dayo was so cute when he was acting like a kid on the phone❤ The autograph arrived quickly, and although I had imagined it would be on a colored paper, it was actually on a uniform!! What's more, since I had sent a photo of Dayo, it was also a large one!! Thank you very much for your concern (´；ω；`)uuuu I immediately contacted them to thank them and arranged for it to be sent by EMS. Yes… I screwed up here… The contents of the mail read, "Shinji Ono received a message from Dayo (former President Obasanjo's youngest son, secretary and president of Obasanjo Farms). How are you doing after that? Did you return to Japan safely? Is your business up and running? Thank you for your concern, "Please forget about the small talk. I love soccer so much that I ended up asking a strange question... so please forget about it." What Dayo asked me for advice was that he is an avid European soccer fan, and in particular, he is a big fan of players who played for Feyenoord and other teams. A passionate fan of "Shinji Ono"!! ❤⚽❤ I don't think that's possible, but if you could get a signature from Ono Shinji, please send it to me. "It's my dream!" he said with shining eyes, I remember clearly. A dream for Dayo-san, who has helped me so much✨⚽✨ There's no way we can't make it come true!! That said, although Ono Shinji and I are close in age, we have no common interests... Oh, just a little chit-chat, but my family has a long history of Olympians, with my mother competing in the Sapporo Olympics (luge, a speed race on a single-person sled), and my middle brother being the first high school student to compete in the Olympics in baseball. Being a contrarian, I have never played baseball lol After that, my brother joined the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as the second draft pick, then transferred to the Seibu Lines, ending his 19 years in professional baseball. After that, he served as the Seibu Lines first-team batting coach for about 10 years. (During his active career, he was the batting champion once and was nicknamed Red Godzilla.) At that time, baseball was so popular that it was considered a national sport, and it was common for people around me to play baseball. I was born in 1980 (Showa 55), and was collectively known as the "Matsuzaka generation." Somewhere in my mind, I always had the feeling that if I had played baseball, my life would have been different. I sometimes think that So why didn't you play baseball? -My dad hits the ball with the same strength as his eldest son, who is six years younger than me, when I'm in the last year of kindergarten, and since I can't catch it, it just hits me somewhere on my body and hurts, so it's not fun. ・The kids I don't like in kindergarten are choosing baseball. -I'm a contrarian, so I wanted to do something other than baseball, which my two older brothers were playing. Well, for this reason I thought. The ball is small, so it hits you and hurts. So let's choose a ball that you don't have to catch and that is big!! So I chose "soccer." He continued playing soccer through high school, attending Seibudai High School in Saitama Prefecture. The school is a prestigious institution, with around 400 members in the soccer club alone, and which even competes in national tournaments. So he was really good at soccer? No, lol. I was so bad at studying that I had no other options for further education, so I was forced to join Seibudai High School on a sports recommendation, and I was just a member of the soccer club lol. There were about 400 members in the club... Practice was tough, and before games there were mysterious shouts of "Spirit! Spirit! Spirit! Spirit! Spirit!" and I was forced to live in a hierarchical society similar to that of the military lol. Now I see it as a good experience, and I am grateful that I have many friends who shared the same experiences with me, and that I still have many connections with them even after entering society. Now, back to the main topic. Searching for a common ground with Shinji Ono. I found one right away. At the time, Ono Shinji was a member of Consadole Sapporo, and had taken up front-office duties after Kawai Ryuji, nicknamed Mr. Consadole, had retired the previous year. Since this is a column, I will call him Ryuji Kawai. He is my senior at Seibudai High School, two years older than me, and the vice captain. My younger brother was in the same class as him. We are from the same prefecture of Saitama, and we have played against each other since elementary school. He is a senior who has competed with me to qualify for the national tournament, and someone I look up to. As I wrote earlier, the soccer club is a military, hierarchical society. There was no way I could casually talk to the vice captain, who was two years older than me, and it had been 25 years since I graduated, so I probably wouldn't even remember me... but I sent him a message on Instagram. Yes. I couldn't remember it at all lol Of course, there are about 400 members in the club, and there is no way that the seniors who are so dedicated to soccer that they don't have time to pay attention to the juniors two years younger than them would remember them (laughs). However, I wanted to keep my promise, and at the same time I wanted to hear why the promotion of baseball in Africa was not going well, so I had plans to go to Hokkaido for another reason, and I managed to get an appointment!! I was excited to meet him for the first time in 25 years, so we headed to the sushi restaurant for which he had made a reservation (don't make your senior make the reservation lol). After greeting each other and shaking hands firmly, we asked each other questions such as "Are you really a junior?" (lol) and "What's your cheer?" (lol), and finally got to the main topic. Dayo, the youngest son of the former president of Nigeria, is a huge fan of Shinji Ono and wants his autograph! Is there anything we can do about it? (lol) Hmm, we're close so we can talk, but if he doesn't want to talk then we can't. Is that okay? By the way, do you want Ryuji Kawai's autograph? (lol) Yes, sorry, I don't need it (too rude to my senior) So, we ate delicious sushi and drank beer, talked about the nostalgic Seibudai High School soccer club, and when the bar closed, we went to a second bar and drank until late at night. About a week later, I received a call from my senior. Shinji is good! She said, "I'll send you an autograph so please tell me your address!" It's hereeeeeeeeeeee ( *´艸｀) I don't have any luck with planes, but I do have some good connections and luck!! I did it!! I can keep my promise to Dayo!! ❤ I contacted Dayo right away and kept the promise I made. You can get Shinji Ono's autograph! I'll send it to you when I get it!! Dayo was so cute when he was acting like a kid on the phone❤ The autograph arrived quickly, and although I had imagined it would be on a colored paper, it was actually on a uniform!! What's more, since I had sent a photo of Dayo, it was also a large one!! Thank you very much for your concern (´；ω；`)uuuu I immediately contacted them to thank them and arranged for it to be sent by EMS. Yes… I screwed up here… The contents of the mail "Uniform signed by Shinji Ono" I honestly wrote it down... What's wrong with that is... Nigeria is a soccer powerhouse, and soccer is the most popular sport in all of Africa. European soccer is especially popular, and Shinji Ono is one of the star players. If it says that the contents are a uniform signed by Shinji Ono, it's not uncommon for the delivery person to steal it... Even if it's a package belonging to the family of a former president... there's only a risk that it will be resold at a high price... Oh no... ( ﾟДﾟ) As expected, even though it was sent by air, it took a month...two months...to confirm that the package had arrived at the post office in Nigeria, but the package hasn't moved from the airport post office...(´；ω；`)Uuuu Three months had passed and it still hadn't moved, so I had no choice but to ask Dayo to contact the airport quarantine officer or customs official to find out why my luggage hadn't moved from the airport. Here's the conclusion. If you want this package, give me money. It's not about customs duties, but the contents are listed so I know it's valuable, so if you want it just pay me and I'll send it to you by mail... Phew... it was my mistake, you see... I'm sorry... (´；ω；`)uuuu About a week later, I got a call from Dayo. A message of gratitude to Shinji Ono with photos and videos. Oh! It arrived safely! And I'm wearing it! ❤⚽❤ After much negotiation, he managed to get the signed jersey back without handing over any money! (I wonder if that's true... What's even scarier than money is having your existence erased...) Well, there's no point in being suspicious, so I sent the photos and a thank-you video to Shinji Ono through my senior, and I was able to keep another promise✨ Then, the next day, I received a message from former President Obasanjo. "Thank you, Yasu, for making my son's dream come true. It was a chat, a consultation, and a request. Yasu says it was a promise, but it wasn't a promise. But Yasu did everything he could for my son and made his dream come true. Thank you. Now it's my turn to repay Yasu. As a family, we will do everything we can!! Family, let's work together to provide a bright future for the children of Nigeria!" And (sob sob)... Thank you for your kind words✨ I had no ulterior motives, I just wanted to make Dayo's dream come true. As a result, more people are willing to help and support us, and we form a circle. This will contribute to creating a brighter future for our children. Through baseball, we aim to educate the players mentally and produce future professional baseball players. I hope that through this project, the circle of goodwill will spread and a brighter future will be created for children. I felt as if I saw a faint glimmer of hope, even if it was just a vague thought. Now, next up is an interview trip to find out the reason why baseball development in Africa is declining. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

I was so exhausted and jet-lagged that I couldn't do anything for three days... It feels dazed and fluffy. Ahhh, my chance to meet the big three has come true! Everyone was a proper gentleman, not rotten at all. Wait a sec! I asked a lawyer to register my Nigerian branch! What are you going to do? Baseball, right?! LOL Registering a branch office just based on the keyword "baseball"... That's not just crazy, it's reckless lol Even I think it's so haphazard that it makes me tremble... ( ﾟДﾟ) After returning to Japan, I contacted the vice president in charge of the head office in Japan and explained what had happened and my haphazard plan to set up a branch in Nigeria. Strangely enough, even though I've been partners with the vice president for over 15 years, we've never used negative words like "no," "it's impossible," or "we should stop." Yes. I think that's fine! I want to support what Shima-san wants to do, so let's just go ahead with it!! And ✨( *´艸｀)✨ Truly, I believe that if it weren't for our vice president, my company would be out on the streets right now. Once again, the best and strongest partner!! However, baseball is a minor sport not only in Nigeria but throughout Africa. South Africa is the strongest in Africa, and Uganda is the second-largest in the MLB. There is a Dodgers academy in the country, and they have produced professional baseball players, so there are some players, but in other African countries, it is not just a minor sport... What is that? I don't know. That's the situation. However, baseball promotion has been taking place for many years, led by JICA, and there are support groups, such as NGOs and general incorporated associations, to promote baseball in Africa, although not many in Japan. But to be honest...I don't think it's going well... In Nigeria, baseball promotion has been going on for decades, resulting in the development of approximately 600 Creation of new players. And the player population is on the decline. As a business foundation ①There is a market ② Steady growth 3) High barriers to entry I believe these are the three basic principles, but in Nigerian baseball... ①There is no market ② Declining trend 3) High barriers to entry *There are no tourist visas, and you can only enter the country with a work visa, making market research difficult. Yes… It’s a grand and bold project to create new industries and jobs from nothing… ( ﾟДﾟ) It’s too heavy a task… I have no idea how much funding is needed… It's unclear whether there will be a return. Well, normally you wouldn't do that, right? lol However, I was born with a tendency to choose the thorny path rather than the easy one when I am forced to choose between two options, and yes, this time I chose the thorny path. It's absolutely impossible, it won't work, anyone can see that right?! (laughs) Well, we were told a lot of things... You're right, the efforts of our predecessors have not borne fruit... Far from growth, there has been a decline... I fully understand what you're saying, but I promised that together we will create a bright future for the children of Makoko!! Promises should never be broken. So, instead of saying you can't do it, just find a way to do it!! So, here's what I came up with. First of all, it is the efforts and challenges of our predecessors. Why? Decline, not growth? What actions will lead to growth, and what will cause decline? The quickest way to find out is to talk to people who have been there and are doing it!!! So, I made appointments and interviewed various people who have promoted baseball in Africa in the past and those who are still promoting it now, and went on a journey to find not success stories and success stories, but failure stories and failure stories. Why is the promotion of baseball in Africa declining? What are the factors? I'd like to write about these next time. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

It was evening. We went to the address specified by Rochas, and under strict security, we finally got to see the Rochas house for the first time. It was huge lol. The house was too big lol. There were about 20 security guards on standby at all times. There is an ominous atmosphere... Rochas appeared from the entrance with a big smile and said, "Family! Welcome to visit!" Come on in! (^^♪ A live soccer game was being shown on the big TV. I greeted the lady I was meeting for the first time, was shown to a sofa, and we began chatting. But then Rochas said, "Champagne boy! Let's get started!" Yes, today too, the champagne boys will be bursting at the start! Empty bottles lined up on the table as people drank away vigorously lol I think I drank more champagne than I ever have in my life (laughs). Nigeria is one of the world's largest consumers of champagne. There is a strong image of poverty, but it's just that the gap between rich and poor is huge, and the wealthy have champagne fights every night (laughs). It's very nice to be able to see successful people up close ✨It serves as reference and gives me something to aspire to! It was already past 8 p.m. Oh! Maybe it's here! I wonder who is going to come... I'm feeling nervous, anxious, and a little tipsy and dizzy ( *´艸｀) When the front door opens, a man appears with a well-trained, toned body and a carefree smile. As we were shown to the dining table, Rochas said, "Let me introduce you first!" His name is Peter Obi, and he's the leading candidate for the next president! Well, it's true that I have absolutely no luck with airplanes, but I do have extremely strong connections and luck with people. Finally, I have all the 3 pieces I've been looking for!! ❤ "Former President Obasanjo", "Rochas" and the last piece, "Peter Obi"!! It's hereeeeeeeeeeeeee ( *´艸｀)!! As we begin to eat, we first say a prayer, put our hands together in the Japanese style, and then eat!! It's still spicy... The Pepe sauce is destroying my stomach, I'm choking, it's so spicy my throat hurts, I'm coughing, I can't stop sweating, and I'm busy lol Champagne boy! Peter wants to talk, is that okay? asked Rochas. Of course! I'd love to talk to you too!! Peter is a Japan lover, has been there many times, and said there are things from Japan he would like to introduce to Nigeria. "Improvement" "Repair" "Maintenance" This culture does not exist in Nigeria. Once a house is built, it remains built. It is used until it breaks down. The same goes for roads. Once I make it, I'll keep using it until it breaks. But Japan is different. We review the materials and composition of the building, "improve" them, "repair" them every year, and "maintain" them, creating a safe and secure environment that will last for years, even decades. What a wonderful culture!! I would like to import these three cultures into Nigeria. What is natural to me is not natural in Nigeria. Due to a power shortage, there are traffic lights, but they are not lit, which is why there are many accidents. And they don't follow the rules. They throw their trash on the roadside. They pour cooking oil straight down the drain... As a result, the ocean is full of sludge... Although Nigeria has the gift of population, there is unfortunately no spiritual education in the country, so people keep the inside of their own homes clean but do not know about the outside. So once you make it, you leave it. No one cares if it breaks. What a shame...Even though roads have been built where there were no roads before, houses have been built where there were no houses before, and efforts have been made to improve the environment, there is no culture of "improvement," "repair," or "maintenance." Peter said that if he becomes president, he would like to provide education on these three points as well as on spiritual matters. A suggestion from me too. We would like to introduce baseball into physical education and sports classes as a means of mental education, and to support and spread mental and physical health. Immediately, there was a wave of empathy and emotion! To be honest, I don't know much about baseball, but it sounds amazing and I definitely want to try it! Starting with Makoko, I believe in the potential of "baseball" and understand the importance of involving those in power. Yes, I have the connections and luck with people!! ❤ Three people I learned about in Makoko who are powerful and not corrupt. All the pieces are in place! Now all that's left is to put it into action! Then, Rochas spoke seriously... Japanese people take a long time to say "Let's do it!" or "Let's do it!"...market research. New hires, capital preparation... How many Japanese have entered Nigeria so far... (';') There are only 39 Japanese expatriates in Nigeria. There are tens of thousands of Chinese and Koreans, but the Japanese are slow to take action... That's why I can't trust the champagne boy's words, "Let's do it!" and "Let's do it!" That's right...there are only 39 Japanese people in Nigeria...precedent speaks for itself... But I promised my kids!! "Create a brighter future for the children of Africa in Nigeria!!" I asked Rochas. What can I do to make you trust me and support me? Rochas replied. Please register a company in Nigeria and have one or more Japanese representatives stationed in my office. ※It's like a hostage lol I had no hesitation. I hadn't decided what I was going to do, but I intuitively felt that it would not be wise to hesitate at this point. Okay. Then I will contact the lawyer right now and proceed with the Nigerian company registration. So you will trust me?! Peter, who intervened, said, "The champagne boy is funny! Is he really Japanese? Or maybe he's Chinese?" lol Yes, I have narrow eyes and even Chinese people mistake me for a Chinese person, he said, laughing. Call a lawyer immediately. Our quick decision and action paid off, and tonight we're having a party!! The Champagne Boy has become a real family member!!! ❤ The Rochas family starts dancing their traditional dance❤❤❤ The children were also introduced and the champagne boys became real family!! The mood was very welcoming. Well, let's move on, champagne (laughs). I don't know how many bottles I've opened lol Well, so the Nigerian branch has started with some momentum, but what will it do? Without anything decided yet, we started with just the keyword "baseball" (laughs). We got so drunk that we finally broke up at 2am. When we returned to Japan, We promised to keep in touch and then headed home. I prepared myself for an early morning flight to Japan at the inn, then headed to the airport, still basking in the afterglow and fighting sleepiness. Well, I don't have much luck with flying, so I was harassed and robbed by airport staff, but on the way back, "What did you come to Nigeria for?" I answered that question with confidence!! "I'm here to ask former President Obasanjo, Rochas and Peter Obi for backup!!" I even showed off some cool photos!! (lol) The airport staff were also surprised and flocked to them lol "Look at this guy! He's amazing!! Is he the one who can meet the starter three!? What about you!? That's amazing!!!" And a wave of joy lol Unlike the flight there, the airport staff politely guided me to the waiting room. So, I misunderstood your position (laughs). After a clear and obvious reversal, I headed to the plane in high spirits. Although it was a short stay, I felt relieved and tired after a hectic business trip. I usually can't sleep, but I fell asleep on the plane zzz After arriving in Ethiopia for a transit, I took a break and soaked in the afterglow. Suddenly I started to get anxious... Well, I decided to open a branch in Nigeria on impulse, but there is no theme other than "baseball"... What will I do? lol I'm an idiot (lol). I've always lived my life on passion and energy, so I often act on impulse lol. That's the same this time lol. There are only about 600 baseball players, so there's no market... Hmmm... I can't sleep lol, I have to think about it on the plane... Well, I've only been to Nigeria twice, so I don't know anything about business opportunities there, and even after googling online, I can't come up with any ideas... well, it's not that easy to come up with ideas lol I arrived at Narita Airport feeling frustrated and anxious. A 38-hour flight was really tiring, and I couldn't think of anything to do, so I headed home feeling frustrated. I was so exhausted that I just collapsed zzz Will the Nigerian branch actually be completed? Will a baseball business be born? Stay tuned!!! ⚾ ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾