It’s possible that you recall Shohei Ohtani giving 20,000 primary schools in Japan 60,000 gloves at the end of last year. In his Instagram post announcing the effort, the two-time MVP and current National League front-runner expressed his hope that the donation will spark greater interest in the sport.

“I hope baseball will be a happy and energetic way for the kids to spend their days,” Ohtani stated. “I’m excited to play on the field with someone who used this glove growing up!”

One Tokyo school, Koen Girls Elementary, was so happy with their new baseball equipment that they staged a celebration for the entire student body and shared pictures of it on Instagram earlier this year.

Through a translator, a Koen administrative official informed us that “the kids were very happy.” “A number of the children were aware that Shohei was giving them as a present, but many doubted that the gloves would really go to Koen, an all-girls school. However, that unpredictability made their arrival all the more delightful.”

Koen was given three pairs of gloves, same like every other school in Japan. While some children were unaware of baseball altogether, others were aware of Ohtani from his illustrious high school or National Baseball League days. A few of educators were handling a baseball for the first time and joking with others that they believed it to be “made of iron.”

But even just three of the mitts seemed to have everyone in the corridors, baseball enthusiast or not, shouting. And the players employed them nearly right away, shooting out pitches to the camera in turn.

or simply glamming up their new presents.

“There was nothing but happiness in the gymnasium,” the Koen spokesman stated. “Kids were joyous about being able to experience baseball for the first time, joyous about the special gift that Shohei gave them, and joyous about getting together for a special event.”

The school has attempted to teach its students about the national game of Japan by incorporating Ohtani’s Goal Setting Matrix into its curriculum and discussing the 2023 World Baseball Classic as it was taking place. (Many developed a strong interest in the competition, and some people are now, understandably, huge fans of Lars Nootbaar). Furthermore, these gloves will surely contribute to increasing interest in the activity, as Koen pointed out and based on the children’s response. After the special delivery, a girl who didn’t receive a glove even wrote a letter expressing her hope of one day having a mitt and playing. The entire letter, translated from Japanese to English, is seen below. It could be the most enjoyable read of the day.

One day, I hope to play baseball.

I toss a baseball against a wall every day and catch it when it bounces back. I catch with my left hand and toss with my right, kind of like in baseball. This became pretty enjoyable after a while, and I’d like to start playing baseball soon. While I haven’t been watching much of the National High School Invitational Baseball Tournament, I have taken note of the pitcher’s motions. The pitcher’s enormous wind-up throw was incredibly impressive, and he has since gained my admiration. I can’t start playing baseball right now since I don’t have a bat, glove, or ball. But I still want to play baseball eventually, no matter what. Dodgeball allows me to throw the ball, which is a great method to be ready for baseball, in my opinion. Both my teacher, Mr. Watanabe, and my buddy Shiho play, and I would want their advice. One day, I hope to play baseball.

She plays catch with her dad every day now that she has a glove.

Hey, maybe she will play alongside the renowned athlete who encouraged her to take up the sport someday.