[Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd.] Held in Fukuoka, where former major leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka spent his playing days! Baseball class finally ends! Daisuke Matsuzaka Baseball Academy presented by Sony Life ~Catch the game that will change your life~ Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Press release: November 9, 2024 Held in Fukuoka, where former Major Leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka spent his playing days! Baseball class finally ends! Daisuke Matsuzaka Baseball Academy presented by Sony Life ~Catch that will change your life~ “I want the children to spend their days with gratitude.” Sending a passionate message to the children Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Kaoru Takahashi) will welcome former major leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka, who appears in the company’s commercials, as a special instructor for youth baseball teams made up of elementary school students (5th and 6th graders) and junior high school students. We are holding a baseball class called “Daisuke Matsuzaka Baseball Academy presented by Sony Life ~Catchball that will change your life~”. The program not only teaches the importance of playing catch and improves baseball skills, but also teaches the important values of life that can be learned through baseball. This event was scheduled to be held three times from August to September 2024, but due to the impact of Typhoon No. 10 at the end of August, the Fukuoka Prefecture event was forced to be canceled. With the desire to “make children who love baseball happy!”, we have decided to revive and hold a baseball class in Fukuoka Prefecture as the final round following Ishikawa and Saitama Prefectures. The event was held at the place where Daisuke Matsuzaka spent his career as a pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and he interacted with boys and girls who love baseball in the form of a “baseball class” and delivered energy. On the day of the event, in addition to providing technical guidance through playing catch, pitching, and batting with the children, we also held a talk show to answer questions from the children. At the end, Daisuke Matsuzaka signed the items the children brought and gave a warm cheer.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-f35e041519f3bb0456995ce737d881d4-3900×2600.jpg Daisuke Matsuzaka thoroughly teaches the basics of baseball! Revealing his thoughts on baseball classes Daisuke Matsuzaka appeared in front of 23 players who belong to the youth baseball team “Nishitakamiya Little Mets” in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The children welcomed Mr. Matsuzaka with smiles and cheered, saying, “I will listen to what you have taught me and do my best!” and “Thank you for your support!” In his speech, Mr. Matsuzaka gave powerful words of encouragement in response to the slogan, “Thoroughly done in all things.” He said, “I want you to try to make the most of your common plays in your daily life, so that you can make the most of them in your matches.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-273bc5e05d30f21d08d39a679a5bfd21-3900×2600.jpg From pitching to control and batting tips! The children responded to Mr. Matsuzaka’s serious instruction, saying, “I felt relaxed after being taught from the basics.” The long-awaited baseball class is finally starting. When the game of catch begins, Mr. Matsuzaka teaches the basics of how to throw and tips on how to play catch. Even the nervous children began to feel relaxed and engaged in the practice with great energy. In the next pitching lesson, Mr. Matsuzaka actually stood on the mound and carefully taught basic form and how to apply force. They could also be seen revising their own form while watching Matsuzaka’s demonstration.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-ad54f100986e6b763f28d473ea761a94-3900×2600.jpg In the final batting lesson, Mr. Matsuzaka explained the basics and points of batting in an easy-to-understand manner. Mr. Matsuzaka also gave a batting demonstration, and the children’s eyes lit up as they listened intently to his advice and practiced batting one after another. The children who received the instruction excitedly commented, “It was difficult, but I was happy to be able to learn from Mr. Matsuzaka directly,” and “I want to do my best at baseball from now on.” The baseball class ended in a warm atmosphere, with everyone on the team sweating but filled with a sense of
accomplishment.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-0d15a64b3bb22547497f0455b593527d-3900×2600.jpg Mr. Matsuzaka talks about special training episodes from his youth baseball days! Sending a warm cheer to the children After the baseball class ended, a talk show was held to answer questions from children and parents. Mr. Matsuzaka talked about his baseball life and gave messages and advice to children. When asked by one of the players how he changed his mind after being hit, Matsuzaka answered, “I thought the reason I got hit was because the other batter was better, and I tried to avoid making the same mistake again.” “I was writing things down in my notebook and preparing for the next match.” He emphasized to the children, “It is important to keep working hard and not give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult it may be.” Next, when asked, “What kind of practice do I need to improve my level?”, she answered, “To improve my control, I put the ball above the home plate and practiced aiming and hitting it. Also, by practicing Kendo practice every day, you can build muscles in your upper body.” The children were also listening intently. Mr. Matsuzaka also encouraged the children, saying, “Please continue to love baseball and enjoy baseball forever.” The talk show proceeded in a peaceful atmosphere from beginning to end, and the children were encouraged by Mr. Matsuzaka’s words and had a lot of smiles on their faces.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-4c1abdff0835cd43c4d7bd8b9b4dd9cd-3900×2600.jpg Greetings from Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Branch Manager Nakajima: “Stay strong and do your best!” Life planners also participate and support baseball classes! Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Fukuoka Life Planner Center Branch 1 Branch Manager Nakajima took the stage and explained the purpose and outline of the baseball class. “The basics of baseball is catch. Please learn a lot from Daisuke Matsuzaka not only about the basics of baseball, but also about the technical and mental aspects,” he said about his thoughts behind the event. Additionally, this event combines the “catch game” between Mr. Matsuzaka and his children as they communicate with each other, and the “life planning” dialogue with our customers that we have cherished since our founding. On the day of the event, 10 Life Planners from a branch office based in Fukuoka Prefecture also supported the baseball class. I supported the players by following their catch and batting practice.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-3bc1056d61aabac8d7a4121379d77c90-238×286.png Daisuke Matsuzaka (Daisuke Matsuzaka) Born September 13, 1980. Born in Tokyo. As the ace of the Yokohama High School baseball team, he won consecutive spring and summer Koshien championships. After joining the Seibu Lions as the No. 1 draft pick, he played for the Boston Red Sox, Creepland Indians, and New York Mets in Major League Baseball. In 2014, he joined the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, and after playing for the Chunichi Dragons and Seibu Lions, he retired from active duty in 2021. Currently active as a baseball commentator, baseball critic, and sportscaster. Event overview [Date and time] Saturday, November 9, 2024 13:00-16:00 [Reception starts from 12:30] [Venue] SG Marine Field Higashihama [2-9-85-8 Higashihama, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 812-0055] [Sponsor] Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. [Lecturer] Daisuke Matsuzaka [Classroom Participating Team] Nishi Takamiya Little Mets (Boys Softball Baseball Team/Activity Area: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) [Contents of the day] Greetings from Daisuke Matsuzaka / Baseball class [Catchball / Pitching / Checks / Batting] / Talk show / Photo session / Souvenir handing over & autograph session About Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-051f7d857bd3f6f80f531eecc1e623d0-241×241.jpg At Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Life Planners, who are insurance and financial professionals, offer “consulting sales,” in which insurance and financial professionals design and propose custom-made insurance according to each individual’s life plan, as well as lifetime insurance inspections and services. We provide a “consulting follow” service that provides advice. Consultations are also available online using PCs, smartphones, etc. Moving forward, we will continue to work to further expand the value we provide while building up trust as our customers’ “life companions” in order to realize our vision of “protecting customers’ lives that are worth living.” Official website: https://www.sonylife.co.jp/ About Daisuke Matsuzaka Baseball Academy
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/3638/336/3638-336-3d2fed163e21e97341249891ef4f9d99-1080×454.jpg Daisuke Matsuzaka Baseball Academy is a baseball class held with the theme of “Supporting children’s physical and mental growth through baseball” and inviting Daisuke Matsuzaka as an instructor. We support children’s future by teaching them the importance of playing catch and improving their baseball skills, as well as their spirituality. Special site: https://www.sonylife.co.jp/land/baseballacademy/
