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.
The team theme is "Lions' Power" and The Lions Junior team aims for their long-awaited first victory
The Saitama Seibu Lions Junior team consists of 16 members (sixth graders) competing in the tournament, and five support members (fifth graders) who, like the competing members, will take part in team activities such as practice and practice matches during the period leading up to the tournament.
Approximately 650 applications were received for the 2025 selection from all over the country, mainly from Saitama Prefecture, and 21 members were selected after the first round of selection (video screening), the second round (practical test), and the final round (practical test, interview, and written exam).
In the process of striving to win the tournament, the team not only focuses on improving baseball skills, but also on developing each player's non-cognitive abilities and verbalization skills. They value the "personal growth" that lies beyond win, and work to develop leaders who will take on the responsibility of not only baseball world of the future, but society as a whole.
The 16 members and 5 support members who will be competing in the 2025 tournament are as follows:
(number/Name/Pronunciation/Hometown/Team/Position/Appeal Points)
< Participants in the tournament >
#1 Ryoyo Nakazawa (Asahi Nakazawa) Tokyo/Bunkyo Red Suns/pitcher
"Heavy balls are his strength. a very serious player"
#3 Yuma Sawanaga (Sawanaga Yuma) Chiba/Urayasu Baymarines/pitcher
"A bright player with a good smile. Captain of pitcher camp"
#5 Yuho Kurihara (Kuribara Yuho) Saitama/Kasumigaseki The Eagles/outfielder
"Chance maker to increase chances by making use of proud legs"
#6 Kaimasa Yoshida (Yoshida Kaisei) Saitama/Muneoka Youngers/infielder
"A 'quiet trump card' with perfect defense, small skills and punch power."
#8 Shota Nakayama Saitama/Shiki Junior Baseball Club/infielder
"watch the game calmly as a vice-captain and make sure any play is made"
#9 Shunsuke Yano (Shunsuke Yano) Tokyo/Myogadani Club/outfielder
"He is the key player in all of the running guards. race around the field on attractive legs"
#10 Ayumu Katsura (Ayumu wig) Saitama/Kotesashi The Fighters/infielder
"Before the game, he's a jock. During the game, he's serious. Boil up the stand with strong shoulders and punching power"
#11 Hayate Kojima (Kojimaso) Saitama/Kurihara Beavers/pitcher
“A player who can go to fastball to win struck out. ”
#17 Kumashiro Kaisei (Kumashiro Kaisei) Saitama/Nishihori Falcons/pitcher
"Crossfire and pickoff are weapons."
#18 JOTARO SOZA Tokyo/Kodaira Friends/pitcher
“A player who can push hitter with fast ball and fast tempo. ”
#23 Koto Kajiwara (Kajihara Kirato) Yamanashi/Kodachi Shonen baseball/pitcher
"Precision machinery. a player who can control a game with less Walk"
#25 Yusei Igarashi (Ikarashi Yusei) Niigata/Hakkai Sharks/infielder
"Overwhelm all with size and power. the batted ball is always substandard"
#27 Yugo Morohashi (Morohashi Yugo) Niigata/Hakkai Sharks/catcher
"A man with the nickname "Atsuya Furuta of the Reiwa edition"! a team leader who pulls on one's back"
#31 Sato Keidai (Kei Sato) Saitama/Fire Nines/infielder
"The batted ball is powerful, base running is super fast, and he is a physical monster that nobody can stop."
#42 Ryo Maruyama (Maruyamaryo) Tochigi/Takaragi The Fighters/catcher
"He runs around the field with outstanding athleticism. Focus on the momentum of play"
#51 Hidekatsu Kawaura (Kawaura Hidekatsu) Gunma/Gunma World Wings/outfielder
“I will give the team momentum with my top-class leg strength. ”
< support member >
#0 Soku Tateno (Tatenokanata) Tochigi/Mooka Club/infielder
"Excellent baseball sense. Utility player that can protect anywhere"
#4 Yusho Hatori (Yuto Hatori) Saitama/Koizumi Juniors/infielder
"Even a 6th grader is as good as a defense glove."
#7 SOTA KOBAYASHI Saitama/Higashimurayama 3RISE Baseball Club/infielder
"A player who can contribute to the team by hitting a ball from a wide angle."
#16 Kota Ueda (Kota Ueda) Saitama/Oyama The Dragons/infielder
“The charm of the attack guard is his speedy play. ”
#66 Sui Katayama (Itsuki Katayama) Saitama/Nakamura Winds/infielder
“A player who can bring momentum to the team by playing with emotion. ”
"Our strength is that we can think and act independently" - Manager Hoshino on how the 2025 The Lions Junior will play
The team staff is as follows.
Representative Hiroyuki Shirasaki (The Lions Baseball Academy Coach
Director: Tomoki Hoshino (The Lions Baseball Academy Coach)
pitcher Coach Kazuki Miyata (The Lions Baseball Academy Coach )
fielder Coach Ryusei Tsunashima (The Lions Baseball Academy Coach)
Manager: Mari Yamazaki (The Lions Baseball Academy Coach)
Development Advisor Taro Toyoda (Baseball & Sports Clinic)
Coach Hoshino said about the 2025 The Lions junior team,
"This year's team has a great strength in that they can think and act on their own, with the theme of "Shikoryoku (Shikoryoku)". At defense, we are thoroughly aware of not allowing unnecessary advances to the bases centered on the battery and closer to minimize runs. On the offensive side, we are always aware of 'getting on base, advancing, and scoring', and we have the ability to score points every inning."
In addition, regarding the notable players, he said, "I would like all players to pay attention to ...", and then mentioned "(Battery) Kojima, Kajiwara, Aiza, Maruyama, (Captain) Morohashi, (center fielder line's keystone) Yano, Katsura, Yoshida, (Axis of attack) Sato, Kurihara, Igarashi", and raised expectations as a presence that will lead the team.
Coach Hoshino expressed his enthusiasm for the NPB Junior Tournament, which will soon begin, saying, "We will fight until the end with all baseball aiming for the long-awaited first championship." The Lions Please pay attention to the struggles of the juniors!
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"NPB Junior Tournament"
With the desire to "make the goal of 'dreaming of becoming a professional baseball' closer to children Japan the National Tournament of Soft baseball by 5th and 6th graders is sponsored and held by the baseball Organization (NPB) and 12 professional baseball teams. A total of 16 junior teams, selected and organized by the 12 NPB clubs, the NPB Farm regular season 2 participating clubs, and the Japan independent league baseball 2 affiliated leagues, will compete for the top spot on the stage of Japan the stadium where 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 29 (Mon)
◯General admission
Free to watch
◯Click here for details
Text: Sari Ikeda
