The NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2025, a tournament to determine the No. 1 junior team for fifth and sixth graders, will be held at Meiji Jingu Stadium and Yokohama Stadium from Friday, December 26th. This year marks the 21st time the tournament has been held, and a total of 16 junior teams will compete for the title of Japan's best over four days from December 26th.

Pacific League Insight introduces the junior teams of the six Pacific League teams participating in the tournament. We also interviewed the managers of each team about their team's strengths and players to watch.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Junior, who came in second last year, are aiming for their second victory since 2011.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Junior was formed by fifth and sixth grade elementary school students who play on infield teams. To date, 12 members have gone on to become professional baseball players.
Approximately 350 people applied for the 2025 tournament, and 16 players were selected through four rounds of selection: the first round (video selection and digital challenge), the second round, the third round, and the final round. This year, with the theme of "having fun," players, parents, and team staff all aim to win the tournament for the first time since 2011.

The 16 players selected for 2025 are as follows:

(number / Name / Reading / Team / Branch / Appealing point)

#1 Haruya Kawauchi (Kawauchiya Haruya) Yoichi Strong Kids baseball Sports Club / Shiribeshi Branch
"Sharp fastball, crossfire"
#2 Ren Miyashita (Ren Miyashita) Maeda Little / Sapporo Branch
"I have powerful batting skills, a strong arm, and a loud voice that will cheer on the team!"
#5 Jinsuke Nakano (Jinsuke Nakano) Horonami The Fighters / Sapporo Branch
"The versatility to play multiple positions"
#6 Yasuo Tanba (Tamba Taisei) East 16th Street Flippers / Special Category
"A voice that leads the team"
#7 Higuchi Seira (Sera Higuchi) Kushiro Golden Monkeys BBC / Kushiro Branch
"batting"
#8 Suzuma Iga (Iga Ryoma) Ogiyama Red Peckers / Kamikawa Branch
"Shoulder strength"
#10 Maiya Kondo (Kondo Maiya) Higashi Sapporo Giants / Sapporo Branch
"Having a wide field of vision and being able to see what's going on around me, and being able to bat according to the situation"
#11 Shunnosuke Inoue (Inoue Shunnosuke) Hongo The Eagles / Sapporo Branch
"Powerful pitching"
#13 Ichiro Yanagiya (Yanagiya Issa) Iwamizawa Children's baseball Club / Sorachi Branch
"defense range and shoulder strength"
#18 Haru Yoshida (Haru Yoshida) Iwamizawa Children's baseball Club / Sorachi Branch
"Sidearm pitching"
#21 Ryunosuke Tokuda (Tokuda Ryunosuke) East 16th Street Flippers / Special Category
"Batting, bunting, second baseman throw"
#22 Zen Imada (Imada Zen) Sapporo All Blacks / Special Category
Solid defense and speed
#23 Nanane Sato (Nanato Sato) Kuromatsunai Stars / Shiribeshi Branch
"defense"
#35 Kiryu Aragaki (Shingaki Kiryu) Former Senajo Giants
"Batting, defense"
#36 Kizuna Komatsu (Komatsu Banri) Sorachi JBC Bears / Sorachi Branch
"defense"
#99 Takayuki Iwano (Iwano Takara) Yubari Diamond Stars / Sorachi Branch
"Competitive spirit, speed, pitching speed"

・Captain…#6 Yasuo Tanba

"Their aggressive attacking style is what makes them so appealing," says Coach Yoshida of the 2025 The Fighters Junior

The team staff are as follows:

Representative: Yutaka Otsuka (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, 2010-2016)
Manager Yuki Yoshida (2016-2020 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
Coach Hideki Sunaga (2004-2010, 2015-2016 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters / 2011-2014 Yomiuri Giants)
Coach Yuya Taniguchi (2011-2021 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
Trainer Jun Ohinata

Manager Yoshida said about the 2025 The Fighters Junior Team:

"Led by our captain, Tanba, each member of the team is able to play according to the situation. Our strengths this year are our diverse and powerful pitcher staff and our offensive team that works together to score runs."

When asked about players to watch, he replied with high expectations, "As for pitcher, fielder’s choice pitch that overwhelms hitter. As for fielder, I'd like you to keep an eye on Higuchi, who is good at hitting long balls and hitting when the opportunity arises."

Finally, Coach Yoshida shared his thoughts about The Fighters Junior Team:

"Our goal is, of course, to win the championship. But we also tell our players about not only baseball skills but also what it means to 'put on the The Fighters jersey.'
To continue to attract attention after middle school and high school, to grow not only as a baseball player but also as a person, and to be supported throughout the rest of your life - all of the junior team staff want to continue to convey this feeling during the time we spend together.
I hope that the players will grow and make it into the world of professional baseball, and I will continue to encourage them while drawing up a blueprint for the future."

The NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2025 will begin soon. Be sure to keep an eye on the fierce battle between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Junior, led by Manager Yoshida!

"NPB Junior Tournament"
With the desire to "make the goal of 'dreaming of becoming a professional baseball' more accessible Japan the baseball Organization (NPB) and 12 professional baseball teams are sponsoring and holding a national soft-style baseball tournament for elementary school students in the 5th and 6th grades. A total of 16 junior teams, selected and organized by 12 NPB clubs, NPB Farm regular season 2 participating clubs, and 2 affiliated leagues of the Japan independent league baseball organization, will compete for the top spot on the stage of the stadium where Japan the professional team is based. It is a tournament that can be said to be the "gateway to professional success" that has produced many professional baseball players so far, and this year is the 21st time it has been held.

"NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2025"
◯ Schedule
December 26 (Fri) ~ December 29 (Mon) 4 days
◯ Venue
Meiji Jingu Stadium: December 26 (Fri) ~ 29 (Mon) *No reserve days
Yokohama Stadium: December 26 (Fri) ~ 28 (Sun) *Reserve day 29 (Mon)
◯General admission
Free to watch
◯Click here for details

Text: Sari Ikeda