“Korea-Japan exchange games become regular” Korean and Japanese baseball leaders met… Expanding exchanges for the development of baseball between Korea and Japan, expanding to three countries: Korea, the United States, and Japan

Sports Chosun = Reporter Jeong Hyun-seok

[스포츠조선 정현석 기자]On the 19th, KBO President Heo Heo-yeon met with NPB Commissioner Sadayuki Sakakibara at Tokyo Dome, where the 2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) final against Japan was held, and held a meeting for the development of Asian baseball.

The two countries’ commissioners, who met for the second time since the WBC last March, once again agreed on the need for active baseball cooperation.

The Korea-Japan exchange match, which was promoted immediately after President Heo Heo-yeon’s inauguration, could not be carried out due to the Japanese national team’s pre-scheduled schedule, but it was decided to discuss it so that it could take place in the future. President Heo expressed his opinion, saying, “I believe that the Korea-Japan game is an important factor in the baseball boom. Let’s work to develop baseball in Asia through various international competitions and games linked to both countries.”

Commissioner Sadayuki Sakakibara responded by saying, “Although the number of Japanese professional baseball spectators has increased, the number of amateur baseball players has decreased, so there is a sense of crisis about baseball’s popularity falling. Let’s review various ideas together and cooperate for the revival of baseball.” did.

The two heads of professional baseball in Korea and Japan decided to actively promote meetings between the two organizations that had been delayed due to COVID-19. They also shared the idea of ​​promoting a meeting between Korea, the United States and Japan before the MLB opening game in Korea in March next year.