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[ONLINE EVENT] Baseball in Japan and the U.S. during COVID-19
Monday, August 10, 2020 | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm


The Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants play at the Tokyo Dome on June 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Co-presented by Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth and Japan Society (New York)
Baseball plays a significant societal role in Japan and the United States, acting as both a respite from daily challenges and a source of unity in times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected everyday life across the globe, including within the sports industry. Hundreds of games have already been cancelled or postponed, altering seasons for players, the teams’ staff, stadium employees, and devoted fans. This is true for baseball in Japan, where the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) returned in June, and in North America, where MLB (Major League Baseball) has finally started in July.
As baseball comes back in Japan and the U.S., we are pleased to welcome experts to discuss the game’s contribution to national morale, what measures will be taken to ensure player safety, and when we might even see fans back in the stands. Joining for this interesting program are an American sports reporter writing for a Japanese newspaper, a record-setting former player who starred for one of the NPB’s most popular teams, and an iconic manager who won a Japan Series championship in addition to leading three MLB clubs.
Program attendees will have an opportunity for Q&A with the panelists.
Date and Time
Monday, August 10, 2020
6:00 PM Dallas/7:00 PM New York
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
8:00 AM Tokyo
Location
Online
Cost
FREE
Register HerePanelists
Jason Coskrey – Sports Writer/Editor at The Japan Times
Matt Murton – Baseball Operations Assistant with Chicago Cubs, former professional baseball player in the U.S. and Japan
Bobby Valentine – Director of Athletics at Sacred Heart University, former professional baseball player in the U.S. and manager in the U.S. and Japan
Moderator
Yuriko Gamo Romer – Award-winning director of Diamond Diplomacy, a documentary film about U.S.-Japan relations through a shared love of baseball