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Well, I arrived at the airport and relaxed in the government lounge, feeling a bit confused about my position. As I was waiting and chatting with Rochas, a woman appeared. Rochas gave me a displeased look that I had never seen before; she was also a former politician. She was really mean to me, trying to interfere with my election, illegally rezoning my land, and so on... So I divided her family's house in half through legal rezoning (# ﾟДﾟ) picture!? They're fighting lol. And even though it's legal, they're doing some pretty crazy things lol. They are at odds with each other... They don't even look at each other... There's an awkward atmosphere... (*_*; Then the airport secretary came and asked if I wanted to have a coffee as it would take some time to prepare for the flight. The coffee I was served was Nestle drip coffee. My image of Africa is cacao and coffee beans. I was disappointed because I was expecting delicious coffee. However, in Africa, coffee beans are for export. Drip coffee is expensive and is a kind of hospitality. Wait for 30 minutes. The airport secretary came again and it seemed a bit hectic... Is this a case of total bad luck when it comes to flying? Yes...it's full throttle... The plane I was supposed to be on had a tire burst and burst into flames when landing the previous day's final flight. Therefore, the aircraft could not be repaired in time and a different plane had to be used. However, it was already fully booked and only one seat was available... (*_*; It is natural that Rochas, who is extremely busy, takes priority there!! I was shown to the next flight and waited for four hours. No matter how long I waited, there was no announcement. While I was waiting and chatting with the military and police personnel in charge of security, the airport secretary came!! I can't believe my face...maybe I won't be able to get on the plane??? As expected...sorry, we can't make a seat available on today's flight...please come to the airport again tomorrow for an early morning flight. Well, there's nothing you can do about it if it doesn't fly. I contacted Rochas and had them book accommodation again, extending my stay by one day. Since I had some free time, I decided to take a look around Imo State, walk around the town, and go to see the sea. ...the beach is here... full of trash, broken glass, filth and danger... Children playing soccer on the beach⚽ I realized that soccer is really a major sport and is very popular. I wonder if baseball can become like this too... I mutter to myself... Suddenly, a voice said, "Go!? (ﾟДﾟ)"!!! That's true... Glass shards are falling everywhere... Of course you're going to cut your feet... Worried, I went closer and discovered the child's big toe was missing... When I asked him what was wrong with his thumb, he told me that he had stepped on a rusty nail while playing soccer. They didn't have the money to go to the hospital, so they left it alone and it rotted, so they had to amputate it. Why do we play soccer even if it means getting into that kind of situation? I had a question so I asked. You can make a lot of money playing soccer! If you become a professional soccer player in Europe, you can escape poverty! Ahh... Everyone is so desperate to make money that they even end up injuring themselves and losing their toes... I asked him, "You probably don't know this, but there's a sport called "baseball" that pays just as much, if not more, than soccer. Do you know that?" There's no way to know lol Even after explaining it, people still don't understand the difference between it and "cricket"... ( ﾟДﾟ) Rather than explain it, let's try it!! So, he brought some stones and sticks and gave a lecture. Everyone seems to be having a great time! While showing him a YouTube video, he explained, "People can make a lot of money from sports like this!" Her sparkling pure eyes are dazzling! All at once, about 40 people gathered and the baseball tournament began! I played baseball with the curious kids, and when I was tired, I gulped down a beer sold at a beach house or a slum. We treated the kids to juice, and in the evening we headed back to the lodge. I finished my dinner and went to bed thinking that tomorrow I have to fly back to Abuja and talk about business with Rochas zzz The next morning, we departed at 5:30am on the first flight. A loud siren blares from early in the morning!!! I'll say it again because it's important. "I really don't have any luck with flying." It's the second day since I missed my flight... Yes, there are no vacancies today either. Back to the inn... We then toured the city and played with the kids before moving on to the third day. Yes...there are no seats available today either...on to the fourth day... It's finally here!!! What was supposed to be a two-day, one-night trip ended up being a five-day, four-night trip in Imo State!! Finally to Abuja 🛫 It was long...too long...Imo State lol I've become quite familiar with Imo State now. Finally, I returned to Abuja and went to Rochas' office in the evening. "That was tough!" said Rochas, laughing loudly. We chatted about how it had been too tough and decided to have dinner at my house tonight! There's someone I'd like to introduce to you. ???Who is that??? Well, there's no point in thinking about it, so I quickly changed into formal attire and headed to the Rochas residence. I don't have any luck with airplanes, but I have an incredibly strong connection with people, and that was on full display here! Well, who will be introduced next time?! Stay tuned!! ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Finally, it's time to visit the school run by the Rochas Foundation! (^^♪! The group was greeted by over 700 students, who started off with a welcoming folk dance, then moved on to dancing and singing. A warm welcome from the children, who were smiling from start to finish ❤❤❤ These kids from Rochas are here for some reason. They all have dark secrets, some of them having lost their parents in conflict, some being street children on the brink of death, some engaged in illegal child labor... I felt like I had caught a glimpse of what was behind that smile. Unfortunately, in Africa, weakness is a sin...the weak are destined to be exploited, robbed and killed... Then the students began performing skits based on their own experiences. A girl's village is attacked by terrorists, her parents are killed right before her eyes, and she is rescued just in time. The protagonist herself is a victim. I was, if I may say so myself, captivated by the skit that was performed with tears in its eyes. She brilliantly portrayed her real-life experiences and explained how she got to where she is today. No, I don't think it was acted out...because it's a real experience. I felt the same here. It's always the same...always, the victims are "children." I asked Rochas. Why are children always the victims? Why can't I change?! (# ﾟДﾟ) Rochas calmly answered my passionate question. I am also a former politician, having served as Governor of Imo State. Sometimes you can't change even if you want to. Previously, Imo State was riddled with terrorists, schools were closed, there were no roads, and it was filled with many slums and street children. To be honest, I'm in a better place now. I can't change it by myself. I'm trying to improve, but I'm not strong enough. That's why we created a foundation and continue to make improvements with the help of goodwill from all over the world. And you know what's the biggest thing that needs to change? He is an adult, a politician, and the "President." Things were good under former President Obasanjo. The economy was booming, the country was buzzing with excitement and prosperity, and now the country's GDP has surpassed that of South Africa, making it the number one power in Africa. However, things are different now. Hyperinflation is on the rise, and the country is overflowing with people who want to rent a house but cannot. What's more, the population is exploding. The population is 218 million, 99.6% of which are poor... the remaining 0.4% are super-rich. This composition needs to change, and it has to change. Nigeria, which has the gift of population, must harness this manpower, this resource. To achieve this, the president must demonstrate strong justice and leadership. That's why I ran for president too. Unfortunately, I lost in the final three-way race... I wasn't strong enough... It's frustrating, but in this country, buying votes and giving bribes is commonplace... It is true that the election was rigged, but the Supreme Court jurors were also bought...the trial will not lead to a good outcome. I can say for sure that I'm glad I ran in the presidential election. I've given up in a good way. I want to leave the world of politics and think carefully about the future of my children and act accordingly. So I'm going to focus on running the foundation. I hope that at the very least, the 25,000 children in front of us will have a bright future. That's right, the benefit of running in the presidential election is meeting people who make you think, "If this person becomes president, this country can change!" Well, let's talk again when I get back to Abuja. Rochas bowed his head, his eyes sad. Before we knew it, the sun was setting outside and the four-hour welcome party had begun. "Now, are you hungry?" asked Rochas. Since we've come all this way, the kids are going to have dinner now. Let's eat together! Rochas carefully prepares and hands out food to each student. He looks each person in the eye, checks their physical condition and mood, and speaks to them. In Nigeria, beef is very expensive and is rarely eaten. Today is the welcome party, so we're serving a sumptuous beef dish!! ❤ This is great for me as I am a huge meat lover!! ❤ While talking with the children and eating in a friendly atmosphere, "Look! I drew this picture!" "Look at mine too!!" and innocent children. The things depicted there were "Naruto," "Attack on Titan," and "One Piece." Japanese anime! Huh?! How do you know about Japanese anime?! "Our dream is to go to Japan and work in Japan! That's why we're reading anime and studying Japanese!" As was the case in Makoko, Japan is a brand, a country of eternal wealth, a golden Zipangu. Even these children, who have dark secrets in their backgrounds, have aspirations to be in Japan. Yes, I want to create an environment where as many people as possible can leave this country and go to the country of their choice, eat as much as they want, and work! It was deeply engraved in my heart. To Rochas, I want to promote baseball in Nigeria and give children more options for a brighter future. However, to do that, I need capital and assets. We don't want them to invest in us. We want to make money in Nigeria and create jobs on our own. So we asked them if they could accompany us. Rochas smiled broadly and said, "Of course! That's why former President Obasanjo recommended you to me, right?" I'll tell you more about it when I get back to Abuja. For now, I want you to prioritize talking to your children. After finishing their meal, the children go back to their rooms, spend some free time, and go to bed at 9 p.m. Since coming to Imo, I've noticed something. In Abuja, Rochas called me "Brother." Since coming to Imo, they have started calling each other "family." The way they are referred to has changed. I asked as I returned to my room with Andy, who was acting as my security guard. Isn't it a positive thing that we're calling each other brother and family differently? Andy replied. Of course! Family is the highest honor and respect. Rochas sees people's auras. Yasu was recognized by him. Andy gave me a carefree smile and patted me on the shoulder. Then, a voice came from Andy's walkie-talkie. The opponent is Rochas. Andy said Rochas, who doesn't usually drink, was also able to keep the students asleep. "Would you like to talk over a few drinks?" he asked. Of course, I couldn't refuse, so I headed to Rochas' room and had a champagne fight! He loves alcohol so much that when people ask him if he wants to drink more or go for more, he gets carried away and drinks eight bottles of champagne... Feeling tipsy, Rochas also became sleepy and went to bed. In the morning, the family changed the name to "Champagne Boy" lol Now, let's head back to Abuja today and talk business. Yes, urged by Rochas, we headed to the airport again, to the sound of loud military, police, vehicles, military, and police sirens. I was shown to the government lounge and received such a warm welcome that it made me mistake my status for something else. Waiting for the plane. Yes...as I've written before, I have absolutely no luck with flying... It happened again this time...such bad luck... I'll talk about the return journey next time. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Following on from last time, with letters of recommendation and introduction in hand, I headed to the Maitama area of ​​Abuja. Maitama area is one of the wealthiest areas in Nigeria. There are even people here who own more capital and assets than the national budget of Japan. In Nigeria, where the gap between rich and poor is huge, the status of successful people is very different... Our destination was a large office, surrounded by heavy security, a large gate, and a gatekeeper. Amidst tight security, I handed over the recommendation letter and letter of introduction and went inside... I wonder who's waiting for me... Feeling anxious and nervous, the door opens and I'm shown into a room. An empty conference room... Who could it really be...? My heart was pounding. "Gacha" I heard the door open. I turned around and saw a big man with a big smile on his face. A strong man!!! Eh? Excuse me... Who is this??? (That's pretty rude of me to come here without asking permission lol) The strong man said with a big smile, Hey brother, how are you? (laughs) After a quick greeting, I asked, "Um...excuse me, but who are you?" lol. I am Rochas, CEO of the Rochas Foundation. Huh!? One of the three powerful people in Nigeria that I wanted to meet! Yes. Former President Obasanjo was already old, 98 years old at the time. It would be difficult to continue in business at this point. So he introduced me to Rochas, the former governor of Imo State who is still active in business. Rochas runs the Rochas Foundation, which he established in 1998 to provide the education he was denied himself. The foundation provides education, food, clothing and shelter free of charge to 250,000 students in 183 boarding schools from kindergarten to university. The students are people who cannot go to school for financial reasons, street children who have no home to live in, or orphans who have lost their parents in conflict. They rescue students from all over Africa and provide not only an education, but also food, clothing, and shelter, all free of charge. In addition to the foundation, he has a wide range of business ventures, starting with used car sales, then real estate, and he earns money through his own businesses to make up for the resources and donations that the foundation lacks. The reason why former President Obasanjo introduced me to Rochas was because the challenge was "Creating a brighter future for our children" As a successful businessman active in Nigeria, he introduced us to the costs involved in investment, which is something that is most relevant to "children," and his role as a mentor. From Rochas, I understand the general idea by reading the letters of recommendation and introduction. Are you going to invest in Nigeria? Are you going to do business in Nigeria? It's only been a few days since I arrived in Nigeria... As you say, this is a time-consuming and expensive project. It's not an amount that can be covered by the profits of the Japanese headquarters and the Canadian branch alone... But I don't want to break my promise... It's also true that it will take time due to lack of funds. However, right in front of him is Rochas, a man whose wealth exceeds Japan's national budget. I pleaded. I absolutely must do this business in Nigeria right now! I can't say that... I have no idea about the environment, culture, religion, etc. What is needed, what are the challenges, and how can they be solved? I had no idea. I was being honest. Rochas laughed out loud! ('◇')ゞ Of course! (laughs) Even Nigerians don't understand that! That's why there are so many poor people and the gap between rich and poor is so large. Now, why did former President Obasanjo go to the trouble of writing a letter of recommendation and a letter of introduction? Did you introduce me to him? It was to teach you the nuts and bolts of business in Nigeria. So, first of all, what does Rochas Foundation do? First of all, we need to let people know about this. Tomorrow, let's go to the school we manage. If you go there, you can see at a glance the challenges and problems not only facing Nigeria but also Africa as a whole. The next day, I went to the office and drove for 40 minutes without being told where we were going. Huh?! An airport?! Now, let's get on a plane and go to Imo State, where I was born and raised, and the first school I built. *I later learned that Imo State is at danger level 3 and is actually a no-travel area. Later, when I told them I had been to the Japanese Embassy, ​​they scolded me. As soon as we entered the airport, we strayed from the aisle and I was like??? Where are we going? The room suddenly becomes bright and open. This is a government lounge. Only politicians and other related parties are allowed to enter, and the general public is not allowed to enter. While I was enjoying my coffee, I noticed that there were military and police officers outside, carrying machine guns and grenades on their hips. Well, it's time. Let's go! My seat was first class...and at the boarding area there was a line of guards walking along the aisle reserved for government officials... The crossing time was an hour and a half, and before we knew it we were in Imo State. Yes, even after landing, we were escorted through a government-only corridor. We quickly got into the vehicle that came to pick us up and the trip began... Loud sirens, military, police, cars coming to pick us up, police, military sandwich. The other day, I experienced the military and police riding on boxes, with their loud sirens. "Get out of the way, get out of the way!! Here I go!! (-_-)/~~~Peeee! Peeee!" The congested roads have turned into a Moses-like situation. So, as the president of a small or medium-sized company, you misunderstand your position! In no time, we were at the school gates. It's so, so big... the site is too big... There is a school building, dormitories, a soccer field, tennis courts, and basketball courts, and a gymnasium next to the school building. And then there's the 200-room hotel... It's on a completely different level...(*_*; Rochas said that we must be tired from all the traveling today, so we should get some rest at the hotel, and that tomorrow there would be a school tour and a welcome ceremony from the students. I followed the directions to the hotel and to my reserved room. It's so beautiful, spacious, and the shower is hot! *In Nigeria, even in ordinary homes, showers are cold water, not hot water. After two days of overwhelming experiences, I tried to remind myself that I was misunderstanding my position. I went to bed looking forward to tomorrow's school tour ZZZ We will talk about schools run by the Rochas Foundation next time. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Continuing from my last blog post, I finally made it to the room where former President Obasanjo was waiting. I entered the room feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety, and I felt like I was going to throw up at any moment. There, former President Obasanjo was smiling and in a welcoming mood!! ❤ Finally, I got to meet him! I told him how honored I was, and since it was already past 11pm and I had heard he would be leaving for the airport at 4am tomorrow morning, I had to keep it short! I was feeling a bit impatient, but I presented him with some traditional Japanese sweets as a souvenir from Japan. Are you Japanese? Your eyes are narrow so you look Chinese... (Yes…even Chinese people mistake me for a Chinese person because of my face and eyes lol) When I told them I was a pure Japanese, they asked me, "Do you know Ryutaro Hashimoto?" Of course I know! He is famous as one of the few men who said "NO!" to America. Then, former President Obasanjo replied, "You know, I was good friends with Ryutaro Hashimoto, and I've been to Japan many times, we've established joint ventures, and we've done business together ✨ so I really love Japanese people ❤" (´；ω；`)Uuuu I'm glad I was born in Japan...I'm glad I'm Japanese...(´；ω；`)uuuu Going off topic, I've traveled to many countries and I feel that being "Japanese" is a brand. I've been blessed with many opportunities to be treated kindly and spoken to in a friendly and sociable way just because I'm Japanese. I feel like I am benefiting from the past achievements and behavior of my ancestors. At the same time, I feel and think every day that I must do my best to preserve the "Japanese" brand that I have built up. I have been living in Canada for two years, and I feel the benefits here too. I am truly grateful to my ancestors. Now, getting to the main topic, I've heard most of the story from Dayo. If you look at it as an investment, there is a high possibility of high risk and no return, but you still want to do something for the children of Nigeria??? To achieve this, they want the environment to be provided, not funds? Japanese people are strange, but they have a beautiful soul. People not only in Nigeria but in Africa in general tend to be relatively spiritually minded, and many of them can read other people's souls and auras. Former President Obasanjo is one of them. You were born gifted. You are blessed. Your soul and aura are very pleasant. I think it's the first time a Japanese person has come to visit since Ryutaro Hashimoto. I'm glad to meet you 💛 I'll help you in any way I can! So, please help build a bright future for the children of Nigeria ✨ Before I knew it, the meeting was supposed to be 15 minutes, but we ended up talking for over an hour. The secretary stopped me saying that she had to get up early tomorrow and that she would stop now. The conversation was very lively, and I was going to the airport at 4 o'clock tomorrow. If it's okay if it's early, let's go to the airport together because we can go without traffic jams. I couldn't turn down the invitation, so we arranged to meet at 4 o'clock and headed to my room. My head is still hazy. And I can't sleep at all. I felt a mixture of tension and relief, and was basking in the afterglow of having really met with former President Obasanjo and having him readily agree to my visit. At the same time, I also felt a mixture of pressure, thinking that it was early in the morning and that I had to get some sleep (lol). I took a two-hour nap and then realized that I hadn't contacted Dayo to let her know, so I quickly contacted her on WhatsApp! It was after 2:30 in the morning, so I wondered if he was asleep, but Dayo was awake zzz We'll arrive at the hotel in 15 minutes. Can I come to the lobby? After that, I talked to Dad and wondered if something had happened... I was feeling a bit anxious as I made my way to the lobby. He'll hug you with a big smile and a big body❤ Well done!! It's been a while since I've seen a dad talk so happily! He was so happy! We are now a family!! ❤ As an excited Dayo hugged me, the tension in my heart snapped and tears started to flow... (´；ω；`) Uuuu Ah... I've been accepted as a member of the family ❤ Just when I felt relieved, a loud siren sounded!?! Huh?! What?! A coup?! An incident?! While I was getting impatient, Dayo had a ??? face lol No no, something happened right?! I asked... No, nothing happened. Daddy just came to pick me up. What? Police vehicles and military vehicles...over 100 burly soldiers with machine guns and grenades strapped to their waists were waiting in front of the hotel lobby. My boss (former President Obasanjo) asked me to welcome his new family and provide them with security! I was asked to get on the security and accompany him to pick up my boss. No no, I'm the president of a small to medium sized company lol I'm mistaken about my position!? I thought to myself, but I followed his directions and was welcomed into the home of former President Obasanjo 🚙🚔🚙🚔 After picking them up and saying good morning greetings, I gave them a warm hug and said, "When will you come next?" "I'm looking forward to it!" ❤ Ah, it took a while, but I'm so glad we came to Nigeria... I love Nigeria after all, and I'll definitely do my best for my children and for the dreams I promised them!!! I made that strong impression on my heart. I went there by taxi, but I got stuck in a huge local traffic jam and it took 4.5 hours one way... The airport is far away... I thought to myself, but then a strong soldier climbed onto the platform of a vehicle, holding a machine gun, and the roaring siren started!!! "Get out of here, get out of here! Former President Obasanjo has arrived!" The sirens and the strong soldiers were threatening us...(*_*; Like an ambulance passing through, the congested roads were cleared like Moses, smiling, waving and applauding!!! ❤ Ah, I really think that former President Obasanjo is someone who is trusted and loved by the people ❤ It was as if the four and a half hour one-way trip was a lie, as we arrived at the airport in just 20 minutes. Former President Obasanjo said, "I'm going to board the plane now... I'm sad to leave, but you're family, please come back soon ❤" and gave me a final warm embrace ❤ From here on, Dayo will be the liaison and move the discussion forward. And if you return to Abuja, there is someone good to meet on the business front. I wrote out a letter of recommendation and a letter of introduction for you to take with you. What is the name of the person written there? Please look forward to the next one!! ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

Several months have passed since the strategy meeting. It is not easy to meet influential people, including former presidents. It involves more full use of the brain and full use of the network than you can imagine. I feel like giving up, but I somehow manage to persevere while thinking about the children of Makoko. Meanwhile, finally, there is good news!! We received a message from the former president's youngest son!! First, what do I want to tell my father? What do I want him to do? Give me a presentation and I'll listen and then I'll make a decision. Oh! Progress!! I thought, but it turns out that only about 1 in 2,000 people pass the interview for the youngest child... (*_*; We tried to adjust the schedule online, but they said it would be difficult with more than 15 power outages every day. As a rule, presentations are made face-to-face, and only successful applicants are allowed to meet their father. So he told me to come directly to Nigeria. So, if you fly for 38 hours, get robbed at the airport, and fail, you can even get a former president? I'm sorry I couldn't meet you!! And now I have to take another 38 hours to go back to Japan... Although I thought it would be quite a difficult task, I felt a strong desire to keep the promise I made at Makoko: to get those in power on my side and produce future professional baseball players! One of my beliefs is to always keep promises. It may be obvious, but there are many people in this world who cannot do this. When you make a promise to yourself, you absolutely must keep it!! So, we adjusted our schedule and headed to Ogun State in Nigeria. First, we went to Obasanjo Farm (farm, livestock, and aquaculture), where our office is located. The youngest child, Dayo, came to pick us up right away and gave us a tour of the farm before the presentation. All ingredients, from fruits to vegetables, meat and fish, are grown on the vast land. Nigeria has a food self-sufficiency rate of about 60%. It is normal for people to eat only one meal a day. Because crops and livestock are not thriving, there is a lack of food, and imported goods are expensive and the people cannot afford them. That's why I'm not a politician, but I'm running a farm, in order to increase Nigeria's food self-sufficiency rate, says Dayo. Certainly, with a former president as his father, he would have been guaranteed a brilliant career and a wealthy life as the second son of a politician. But instead of becoming a politician, he decided to run a farm. There was not a single cloud in his sparkling eyes. I could feel from the bottom of my heart that this person truly wants to change the food situation in Nigeria, and that I really like him. It's so vast that even the staff working there don't know where the farm ends lol. I guess it ends just beyond the two mountains you can see in the distance ( *´艸｀) It's too big lol. It looks like it's over 50km long lol. After being shown around the place by car for several hours, we finally arrived at the office. From preliminary research, we found out that Dayo is a big fan of Japanese sake ❤ and sparkling sake ❤. He also loves soccer and manages his own team. I immediately gave him the sparkling sake I brought as a gift (*´艸｀) Dayo-san was so excited, it was like a child getting a Christmas or birthday present. He gathered the staff together, handed out glasses, and toasted everyone together! 🍶! Ah, instead of just drinking it for yourself, you share it with your employees too✨Dayo-san really is someone who cares about everyone, not just for his own selfish gain❤I really love you, Dayo-san❤ Three of the four bottles of sparkling sake I gave him were empty, and he thought, "If I drink too much, I won't be able to hear the presentation, so that's it!" (laughs) Now, it's time for the presentation!! I'll talk about my time at Makoko, the promises I made with the kids, and what baseball is and can you make money from it. Dayo's answer was that it was a long-term investment, and there was a high possibility that it would be high-risk with no return, and he asked if he wanted his father to help cover the costs. My answer is: No. We don't need any financial support. We will continue to manage our own finances. However, we would appreciate your cooperation in the following: - Please provide land within the farm where the children and Nigerian national team players can practice and play baseball. ・If possible, if there are any available dormitories, we would like to work together to develop a boarding school environment where players can concentrate on baseball. - During my free time between baseball practice, I would like to help out on the farm, where I can learn about the environment and skills needed to earn employment and income outside of baseball. Dayo looked puzzled. Everyone who comes here talks about money. Of course, land and accommodation are expensive, but they don't just want money directly, they want to be able to make effective use of the land. I answered, YES!! Dayo-san, Yasu (Shima's nickname) is funny (lol) Yasu is the first person to suggest something like that! (laughs) I get it! You are worthy of meeting my father. However, you can only meet him for 15 minutes. I'll summarize it on one A4 sheet of paper, I need to explain it completely. If I let my father meet with her, I will have a responsibility. Let's prepare the documents together! said Dayo. Uuuuuh... (´；ω；`) Uuuu what a nice guy!? I really love him❤ I can say it again and again! I love you so much, Dayo❤❤❤ As I was concisely summarizing the requirements, Dayo started making a phone call next to me. He spoke politely with a serious expression on his face. Yes, the person she is marrying is her father, former Nigerian President Obasanjo. When I hung up the phone, I was told that there was a hotel in my father's house. I had booked it for today, so I should stay there first. I would wait in the lobby from 7pm. When my father's secretary came to pick me up, we would move to his house. Feeling nervous, I headed to the lobby earlier than scheduled. Time passes in a heavy, tense atmosphere. It was past 10pm. There is a possibility that Dayo-san might not be able to meet me today. My father is very busy. That's true... Even if he's a former president, he can't have free time... While I was wondering if I would be able to meet her, the clock passed 11pm. Before I knew it, I had been waiting in the lobby for more than four hours. It was longer than a doctor's appointment. At that moment!? Finally, the secretary showed up! I wondered if she would tell me she couldn't meet today... Amid growing anxiety, Obasanjo will leave for the airport tomorrow at 4am. Please keep it brief. Wow! Finally, I get to meet him! I shook hands with Dayo-san, got slapped on the back, and got a boost of fighting spirit! ※Nigerians have very strong muscles so it really hurt lol Dayo-san said, "From here on, the secretary will guide you. I can't enter the room with you. This is where we say goodbye. I wish you the best of luck!" ✨. The events of the day flash before my eyes like a slideshow, and I'm ready to set out! Let's get going!! With a heavy breath, we headed home. Eh? Isn't your house too big? There's even an amusement park and a zoo!? A home in a theme park? A theme park in your home? Either is fine lol While thinking about such trivial things, I arrived home. Now, it's finally time to meet the number one and most powerful man in Nigeria! So, what will the presentation be like? Please look forward to the next one!! (^_-)-☆ ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

In my last column, I wrote about my lack of luck with flying, but this week, I suddenly decided to go to Japan for three days. I'm going for work, but yes, I'm not lucky enough to get a flight this time either... If I book a flight, there might be a strike from Air Canada! On these dates! What? The dates overlap! So I had no choice but to take a one-way ticket on ZIP Air. There was a vacancy and I made a reservation. A few hours later, I received an email from Air Canada. The strike has been averted! ✨Your booking is fine!! ❤ What? I made a pinch-hitting reservation, so I asked ZIP Air to cancel or reschedule. They said I couldn't cancel or reschedule. Next, I explained the situation to Air Canada and requested that the flight be canceled or rescheduled. This flight will also fly without any problems, so cancellations or date changes due to customer convenience are not possible... (´；ω；`) Ugh I have two one-way airline tickets for the same day by myself...I thought about giving them to someone, but I can't change the name on them...that's how sad I'm spending my days... So, this time, I'm going back to Japan and going on a journey to find powerful people in Nigeria. We visited a number of African barber shops, restaurants, and bars. What is Nigeria? Who are the people in power? Who is the most ideal? Of course, I asked the nice guy from last time a lot of questions too! Three people came out in common. "Former President Obasanjo" "Former Governor Rochas of Imo State" "Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate" Yes. I don't know his name or face lol When I searched the internet, I found that former President Obasanjo was also known as the "Father of Nigeria." He was the longest serving former president of Nigeria, having served twice for 12 years. His right-hand man and state governor at that time was Rochas. Peter Obi won overwhelming support from young people in the 2023 presidential election but unfortunately lost. It's quite a lineup... but isn't it the representative of rotten adults? It seems that these three are different!! I want to connect with these three and present my desire to create a bright future for children through baseball! However, no matter who I ask, they all say that he is too senior to me and we are not close enough to be introduced to each other. Well, I suppose that makes sense, since I'm Japanese, I can't just ask to be introduced to the Emperor and the Prime Minister... ( *´艸｀) It's so hard just to find something like this... No matter how much I ask around, I just can't find anyone to introduce me to... During this time, I was chatting with a close family friend and we talked about Nigeria. And then!? What?! Former President Obasanjo and Rochas! I'm good friends with them!! Oh? Didn't I tell you? I worked for Rochas in Nigeria for 7 years and dated the youngest son of former President Obasanjo 💛 lol Surprisingly, when I was looking for an introduction to Nigerians, I had a really close friend who was Japanese and went drinking with me every week lol So, in order to properly communicate what I wanted to talk about and what I wanted to achieve, I had a strategy meeting with my Nigerian friend who lives in Japan. His personality is like this, so I need to explain it like this. In the first place, the three of them are so busy that we had to adjust their schedules. It could take years. There will be trial and error, heated discussions, etc. Again, several months passed. Will Shima be able to meet the three powerful people next time? Stay tuned!! ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

If you read my previous column, it may seem as if I was able to fly out of Nigeria without any problems, but I have never been lucky with airplanes by birth, and I have rarely had the experience of being able to board a plane smoothly... When I went to San Francisco and Los Angeles for the first time, I was asked at the immigration office, "You know, you've shoplifted perfume in the past and been jailed for a minor crime, right?" (No, no, this is my first time in America, so it's not just a misdemeanor. I can’t do anything… (´；ω；`) Uuuu) For example, when I traveled around the former Yugoslavia, I was told that my passport couldn't be read because the national server had gone down right in front of the airport entrance gate. I waited for four hours but it still hadn't been restored, and the plane I was supposed to board took off right in front of me. I also got stuck in a mysterious traffic jam that wasn't even on Google Maps, and couldn't get on my plane. I really have no luck with flying... And this time, Lagos International Airport in Nigeria. There was no way I would be able to board the plane without any problems...I was asked to hand over my ticket stub. I have a habit of throwing away things like airline ticket stubs and luggage tags right away. I threw it away and don't have it anymore. You're an illegal immigrant, aren't you? No, no... Nigeria does not have a tourist visa, only a business visa can enter. It may be rude, but Japanese people do not stay illegally in such a country and backward country lol. Luckily, I had a business visa printed on my passport, so I was able to get through without any problems, and then my baggage was inspected. We immediately went to another room... My luggage was opened up and the Nigerian specialty coffee wine that I had received from a director of the Nigerian Baseball and Softball Association was confiscated. This is delicious, right?! You have a good one! Give it to me! And... Next, they open your wallet and tell you that you can't get on the plane unless you give them some money (ﾟДﾟ) After repeatedly refusing and resisting, he called a nearby airport police officer for help... Hey!? How much did you give this guy!? Give some to me too! (-_-)/~~~Peeeeee! Peeeeee! And... Even the police officers are unreliable in Nigeria... corrupt politicians, corrupt police officers... "Nigeria," the children in Makoko said, is a country where adults are corrupt. I felt sad and lonely thinking that this was reality, but I donated $5 each, for a total of $10. Stolen and liberated... There are probably not many Japanese people who go to Nigeria, but if you do, please give me a receipt when you ask for pocket money. I'll give it to you if you give me a receipt. My company gets angry if I spend money without a receipt. Can you provide a receipt? When I say that, they get annoyed and say, "I don't care anymore, go away!" (laughs) Even at airports in Japan, baggage is inspected only once, but in Nigeria it is inspected six times... Every time, they would open my luggage and give me something... Phew... After six rounds of baggage inspection, we were finally able to board the plane. The man sitting next to me was a Nigerian man with a strong physique. I am a smoker and went to the smoking area during my transit in Ethiopia. Apparently the strong man next door was also a smoker, and he was like, "Oh! You smoke too! That's good! I was worried that people would say I smell like cigarettes!" (laughs) We hit it off in Ethiopia, and continued to chat on the plane, arriving at Narita Airport just after midnight. My luggage came out first, so I said goodbye to him. I had missed the last train, so I had no choice but to take a taxi home, when a strong man approached me. He looked confused and was looking around. I asked him what was wrong. I'm going to Nagoya tomorrow, and I wanted to mail a package, but both Sagawa and Yamato are closed so I can't send it... Oh no, it's closed at this time, so I'll have to take it back to the hotel. So, when I asked where the hotel was, I was told they couldn't get in touch with the person who made the hotel reservation. Ahhh... a common occurrence in Nigeria. Travel agencies committing booking fraud. They only made me pay the fee up front, but then they didn't actually make a reservation and just disappeared (-.-)y-゜゜゜ He wanted to go to Nagoya on the first train tomorrow, so I took him back to Shinagawa by taxi, and searched for a hotel near Shinagawa. Since it was already late at night, there were no rooms available for online reservations, so I had no choice but to call and inquire. The reception of a long-established, prestigious hotel in front of Shinagawa Station... I'm sorry. Mr. Shima was not staying at the hotel. Is this hotel only for Nigerian guests? Sorry, we do not accept African guests only. *This type of discrimination still exists in Japanese hotels... Phew... next I'll call a business hotel. Here too, we could stay, but Mr. Shima would have to come to the check-in counter, be the guarantor for that person, and would we be able to get a deposit and Mr. Shima's credit card?... Just how little can Africans be trusted? "Yes, yes, that's fine." I waited for the taxi and went to the hotel check-in counter. Then, because it was late at night, I wanted to exchange money at the airport, but I only had US dollars. In Nigeria, credit cards are not in circulation, so in principle, I paid in Naira or US dollars. I asked the hotel receptionist if I could pay in US dollars. We are not accepting it... Well, what we don't have, and what we can't use, we can't use. I paid for his accommodation, so we exchanged WhatsApp accounts to keep in touch. Even though it was the middle of the night, I was sure I would be hungry, so I exchanged the minimum amount of Japanese yen that I could afford, and everything turned out fine. He then safely boarded the first Shinkansen train to Nagoya. He's a great guy and we still keep in touch! ( *´艸｀)! Although my life is full of accidents, I have been fortunate to have many good connections with people. This strange journey and my meeting with him will be a great opportunity for me to work on the Nigeria project. This would lead to connections with those in power. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

I woke up to the sound of children's voices. I was lying on a thin rice cracker futon. I barely remember anything from yesterday...and where is this house anyway...? I checked with a teenage girl who was nearby. You drank a bucket of beer, you fainted, and the chief came to our house. He invited her in and fell asleep right there. I don't remember it at all... When I woke up, I was given some water, thanked them, and asked where the children were going. Now I'm going to go to a free school and study. She too will be studying to become a teacher at a university that provides tuition free of charge. In a village where only adults remain, we visited the ethnic chief's house to express our gratitude and pay our respects. With a cheerful smile, he said, "You're the first Asian to stay in this village!! Congratulations!!" No no...I didn't stay there, I just fainted...Bucket beer is scary... I asked the ethnic leader about the bucket of beer I drank yesterday that made me faint, and whether it was really beer. The answer I got was, "Well, it's a drink made by mixing beer with gasoline." The truth of the matter remains a mystery, but they say that if you keep drinking it, you'll go blind within 10 years... I guess it's not really a lie... During the day, I did laundry, cleaning, and other things to thank everyone who helped me. We went catfish fishing in the sea, then sprinkled salt on the catfish we caught, grilled it, and ate it together. To be honest, it's not tasty at all...it's a very smelly catfish... That's because Makoko doesn't have toilets, so feces, urine, trash, and everything else goes into the sea... Catfish grow up in seas covered in sludge, feces, garbage, and oil...there's no way they can be tasty... But from their perspective it was the best hospitality. I have no choice but to eat it in silence...it smells so bad... In the afternoon, the younger children started to come back from school and came over to play. When I asked the innocently smiling children, "What do you want to do?", they said, He said that soccer is good, but he wanted to learn other games. When I asked them, "Do you know what baseball is?", they all looked dumbfounded. That's right... In Nigeria, a country of 218 million people, there are only about 600 people who play baseball... I don't know that... While showing YouTube videos, we teach how to "throw," "hit," and "catch." The kids crowded around, wanting to try it! At first, I was worried that the children would quickly get bored because their throwing method was strange and there was no way the ball would hit the wooden stick, but they had a hungry spirit and a brimming with curiosity. I never get bored and just want to watch it again and again!! Baseball has professional players and is a major sport in Japan and the United States. People who earn a lot of money earn more than soccer players! That's what I told them. What?! Is this a sport where there are people who earn more than Messi and Ronaldo?! That's right, baseball is amazing, isn't it? I was talking to Hideki Matsui. He showed me a YouTube video of him from his playing days, and I told him about his visit to Nigeria for an online baseball class. Then, more than 40 children stared intently at the ball and said, "I want to hit the ball that far too!!" This is called a home run. We need one point! I explained that it's like a goal in soccer. "Earn money" and "home runs" - these two things fascinated the children, and with sparkling eyes and no boredom, they began baseball practice. Ahh... I thought to myself that baseball was really great and fun, but the living environment in front of me remained the same and was harsh, and a question suddenly occurred to me. Isn't it hard to live in this environment? How can everyone keep laughing so innocently all the time...? I was conflicted between feeling uneasy and knowing it would be rude to ask, but I decided to go ahead and ask. Hey everyone, isn't it hard on you in this environment? How can you all smile so innocently? My girlfriend, a university student who had fainted last night and stayed over at my place, had returned home and answered the question on my behalf. "When I see the reality in front of me, I want to die. So I always look for something fun to do. If we don't laugh, we feel like we're being crushed by the reality in front of us and want to die. So we always try to find something fun to do and laugh." ...tears flowed down my cheeks... I felt sorry for having heard this, and I wanted to somehow make these children's futures brighter! Returning to the topic of baseball, we talked about how there are big differences between baseball and soccer. In soccer, the ball tends to be concentrated in the hands of skilled players. If they're not careful, the game may end without them ever touching the ball. However, in baseball, there are 9 batsmen, and each one gets an equal number of turns at bat. In other words, I explained that it is a sport where opportunities are equal. The children also listened to my story with innocent smiles and sparkling eyes. "Earn money," "Home run," "Equal opportunities at bat" Children were fascinated by these three keywords: this country is unequal. The rich and politicians are powerful. They took everything and we had to live on the little money and food that was left. If baseball spreads in Nigeria and a professional baseball player is born in Makoko, maybe things will change! I realized, "I want to promote baseball from this land, from Nigeria, produce future professional baseball players, and provide an environment where these players can contribute to their villages and live a richer life than they have now!" To achieve that, where do I start and what do I need to do? I couldn't find the answer right then and there... What should I do? I threw it at the kids. The answer was simple and clear. Connect with those in power, involve them, and work together with them to develop the environment. This country is unequal. The poor don't even have a chance to rise above the poor. It's frustrating, but we need to get those in power to understand baseball, and we need to find and increase the number of people who will work with us to promote and popularize the sport. However, I don't know who the people in power are, and I have no connections... However, what we do know is that politicians are people in power. I don't have time this time. I have to fly back to Japan tomorrow. I asked the ethnic leader to please refrain from buying buckets of beer today and to give a serious lecture on Nigerian politicians and people in power. I took notes until the early morning, then caught an early morning flight to Japan. Finally, I would like to thank everyone in the village, and the ethnic chief said, "It's wonderful that Asians stayed here for two nights! Please come back soon. This is your second family. After receiving such kind words, I got on a plane, looked at my notes, made a list of people in power, and began thinking about how I could contact them. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾

We were invited into the village by the first ethnic chief of Makoko. As you go further in, you will see a faint light in the dim light. It is a church. There were about 50 children there. Nigeria is a country where innocent laughter is rare, and Asians, let alone Japanese people, are a rarity. However, there have been ethnic conflicts and no Japanese guests have ever come here. The children go to a nearby school, learn about the importance of ethics and following the rules at church, and after praying, they all return home to have a meal. The ethnic leader asked me if I could buy some snacks and drinks for the children. Of course, I accepted and went to the market in Makoko with my children. I bought some snacks and drinks (about 700 yen). The value of currency is low in Nigeria, with the average monthly income being 20,000 yen. In this country, 700 yen is quite expensive. The old man at the market also said, I was so happy that I made a profit today, and the kids were so happy too, so I was in a good mood. When I returned to the village, I was invited to have a drink with the leaders of the ethnic group at the church. I was very happy to hear this invitation, as I am a big beer lover. What was served was a local beer called HERO and beer in buckets. I was asked, "Which do you prefer?" and I was afraid to ask, "Is the beer in the bucket delicious?" It sounds delicious, but if you keep drinking it for 10 years, you'll go blind. Indeed, many of the adults in Makoko are blind in one eye... The bucket beer is made by ourselves without a filtering system, and is made with murky sludge water. Apparently the beer made from this is toxic... But I want to try everything, it just interests me. I asked for a drink! The leaders of the ethnic groups looked surprised, but He gladly provided it. The taste is... not beer... it's like flat Dr. Pepper. It tasted like medicine. By the time I finished one drink, I felt dizzy even while sitting... my consciousness was hazy, When I woke up, morning had already arrived. ~To be continued~ ⚾WE ARE ONE TEAM⚾