​Dear Asahi Families:

I hope everyone has been safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.

As you are aware, due to the pandemic, the original Japan Tour trip was postponed to March 2022. We are pleased to announce that we will be starting to plan the proposed travel. All players born in the years 2005 to 2009 are eligible to try out for the team. The team's selection will be dependent on what the Provincial Health Authority will allow in the next few months.

The health and safety of players, coaches, and chaperones are of the association's highest priority. We will be following all health orders in Canada and in Japan. All participants are expected to follow all health orders recommended for travel. Given that there is still some uncertainty with travel, we will have until November 30,2021 to make decision on the trip. If the health orders on November 30, 2021 still restricts travel in any way, we may defer the trip to March 2023.

The itinerary for the trip is still in review. Historically, our Japan Tours visited the Tokyo and Kyoto areas experiencing the baseball, culture, and tourist sites.

Past costs per player ranged between $3300 - $3500 (including airfare, accommodations, most of the land transportation, some of the food costs, and share of the coaches and chaperone costs). However, in past years much of the player’s costs has been covered through fundraising and sponsorships. Our last fundraising effort for the 2019 Japan Tour raised over $42,000 in 18 months which helped to cover most of the player’s costs. Due to the current limitations of Covid19, we predict that fundraising will look different this time around.

To minimize the costs and financial risks associated with the trip, you will be able to arrange your own flights to Japan, taking advantage of air miles, seat sales, etc. The players will meet in Japan at a designated time and place when the tour will begin. The team's accommodations and land transportation will be arranged and will be part of the tour package. Player's parent(s) who wish to participate in the trip will be required to arrange their own flights, accommodations, and land transportation. However, our tour organizer will be available to assist you if you so desire. If a player is travelling alone, they must travel to Japan with another family or take the same flight as one of the coaches or chaperones. Additionally, we will not commit to any accommodation and land transportation costs until after November 30, 2021, when greater certainty and health risks have been mitigated. As such, there will be a minimal financial risk should the trip get deferred. However, the team will still need to begin fundraising to help defray costs for the players. If the March 2022 trip gets deferred, Asahi Baseball Association will allot all funds raised to a future trip.
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If you are interested in joining the next Asahi Tour Team and meet the birth year's current criteria (2005- 2009), please click on this form and complete by February 28, 2021.

Sincerely

John Wong
President
Founding Member
Head Coach Japan Tour Team
Asahi Baseball Association

In these unprecedented times, Asahi continues to try to keep the Asahi legacy alive. One of our key goals is to educate the youth about Asahi and it is quite inspiring that one of our members has decided to learn more about Asahi by completing research and report on the history of Asahi. I would encourage that more youth take this initiative. What better way of learning about Asahi than a student project. Something of great interest and the ability to share your findings to their peers and teachers.

Matthew Hesse’s Historica project about the Vancouver Asahi in his French immersion class. Although it is in French, it is a great example of a youth initiative to learn more about the history of Asahi and then sharing it amongst his class. Well done Matthew! May more students follow you in this initiative. ​English Translation by Haruki de Waal.