Day 1 – The Journey Begins
The adventure to Japan is officially underway.
For most of the group, alarms were ringing well before 3:00am as players, coaches and families made their way to the airport for a 4:00am arrival. Despite the early start, excitement levels were high as check-in began, team photos were taken and everyone made their way through security, with only a few bag checks and pat-downs along the way.
The first leg of the journey took us to Cairns. The energy and enthusiasm of the players never seemed to fade throughout the flight, but once we landed there was still plenty of work to do. Suitcases, ball buckets and kit bags were hauled from the domestic terminal to the international terminal, feeling like we had walked the entire distance between the two.
Once baggage was checked again and customs cleared, there was only one thing on everyone’s mind – food. Lunch was quickly consumed before players explored the duty-free stores and counted down the minutes until boarding.
The seven-hour flight to Japan felt much longer than expected. Device batteries slowly drained, entertainment options ran out and stomachs began rumbling once more. The arrival of the in-flight meals was a welcome sight for everyone on board.
Landing in Japan was an exciting milestone, and thanks to some excellent preparation, customs and immigration were completed smoothly with all players ready to go with their QR codes. We met our tour guide and boarded the coach for the 50-minute drive into the hills.
Upon arrival, our host welcomed us and offered one final piece of advice: keep an eye out for bears. While the players took the warning in their stride, it was fair to say the adults were just a little more concerned.
After room allocations, showers and a long day of travel, everyone was more than ready for bed. Just before midnight local time, tired heads finally hit the pillows and the Japan adventure truly began.
Day 2 – Meeting Our Buddies
Arriving after dark meant we had no idea just how beautiful our accommodation setting really was.
The Seminar House is nestled amongst mountains and forest, and the morning light revealed a stunning landscape surrounding us. Before long it was time for breakfast, with players enjoying a traditional Japanese meal of miso soup, rice, fish and meatballs in the cafeteria.
While managers tackled the first round of laundry, the teams prepared for one of the most anticipated moments of the tour – our visit to Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School.
The welcome was incredible.
Students greeted our players with handmade signs featuring their names, while cheers, smiles and laughter echoed through the hallways. Our new buddies guided us around the school before sharing lunch together. Despite the language barrier, friendships quickly began to form. Bottle flipping became the universal language as students and players laughed and competed together throughout the day.
Following the school visit, it was time for baseball.
The U18 team travelled to Mikiyama Stadium to face Kobe Koryo’s A Team, while the U13 group remained at the school.
The Queensland players were immediately impressed by the Japanese warm-up routines. Every drill, every throw and every pitch was performed with remarkable energy, discipline and attention to detail. It was a fascinating insight into the dedication that has made Japanese baseball famous around the world.
On the scoreboard, the result was a challenging one, with the U18 team falling by 47 runs. However, the scoreline told only part of the story. The Queensland players never stopped encouraging one another, never stopped smiling and continued to enjoy every moment of the experience.
As the bus wound its way back through the countryside, players chatted, laughed and watched the rice fields roll past outside the windows. The result may not have gone our way, but the memories being created certainly did.
Day 3 – More Baseball
Day three followed a familiar rhythm as the group settled into life in Japan.
After another traditional breakfast of fish, rice and soup, the girls gathered for a team meeting before making the trip back to Kobe Koryo Gakuen. Lunch in the school cafeteria provided another opportunity to spend time with our Japanese hosts before the team headed once again to Mikiyama Stadium.
The mission for the day was an ambitious one: introducing the Japanese team to one of Australia’s more unique local competition rules — the six-runs-across mercy rule.
Explaining that six runs equals three outs proved a little challenging at first, but with the help of translation devices and plenty of patience, both teams eventually understood the concept. The Japanese coaching staff were incredibly supportive, even lending us two pitchers and a catcher to help throughout the game.
The contest itself was another learning experience. While the final margin remained substantial, the Queensland team showed significant improvement and competed with confidence throughout the day.
One of the biggest celebrations came after escaping an inning having allowed only five runs. It might seem like a small victory, but moments like these are what make touring so memorable. Every out, every run prevented and every improvement is something to celebrate.
Perhaps the greatest success of the day wasn’t on the field at all.
The friendships between the Queensland and Koryo players continue to grow stronger. Bus rides are now filled with singing, laughter and constant conversation, with players finding ways to communicate despite speaking different languages.
Tomorrow will be our final day with the Koryo girls, and already there is a sense that saying goodbye will be one of the hardest parts of the trip.
Fortunately, there are still plenty more memories to make before then.