Dear Players and Parents,

We invite all players born in 2005 to 2008 to tryout for the 2021 Asahi Japan Tour Team. Historically there will be players selected in the younger ages to gain the experience and become leaders for future trips. As such I would encourage the younger players to at least participate in the tryout to see how they match up and what they will need to work on for future tryouts.

The Trip

We are excited to be planning the 2021 Asahi Japan Tour for spring break in March 2021. This will be our 4th trip and promises to be another great experience for the players to learn the baseball culture in Japan and to experience the Japanese culture firsthand. In addition to the baseball practices and games with teams in Japan, there will be activities planned to experience the sites and cultures in Japan.

This trip will be especially significant as it will be the 100th anniversary of when the original Asahi Team visited Wakayama, Japan in 1921. Due to this momentous occasion, the team will be visiting Wakayama (Sister City of Richmond) where the team will be greeted with a 100th anniversary ceremony. Additionally, many of the Japanese descendants in Steveston were originally from the Wakayama area and we will get an opportunity to learn more about this historical connection. And of course, there will be games and practices scheduled with teams from the Wakayama area.

We will also be making a stop in Tokyo/Yokohama area. It will be Yokohama and Vancouver’s 55th year as sister cities in 2021 as such it will be a great opportunity to pay homage to the city and the teams in the area. We are contemplating a number of games and practices with teams from the Tokyo/Yokohama area. Players will also have the opportunity to visit the great sites of Tokyo and Yokohama.

Other potential stops include a stay at Tenri in the Nara area where we hope to have a practice with the players at Tenri University. Additionally, we are hoping to also visit Hiroshima if we can fit it into the schedule.

Coaches for the 2021 Asahi Japan Tour Team

Head Coach:
John Wong, President and Founding Member of the Asahi Baseball Association, and Head Coach of the inaugural 2015 Asahi Japan Tour Team

Assistant Coaches:
Tomio Fukumura, Vice President and Founding Member of the Asahi Baseball Association, and Head Coach of the 2019 Asahi Japan Tour Team

Junichi Eto, Director of the Asahi Baseball Association

Tryout Schedule

Sunday, March 8 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Central Park Baseball Field ** NOTE NEW FIELD **
** Tuesday Tryout cancelled due to forecast rain ** 
** Sunday, March 15th Tryout cancelled ** 
Additional tryout dates may be added

Central Park Baseball Field - Patterson Ave and Kingsway, Burnaby, BC
Kensington Park – Hastings Street and Fell Avenue, Burnaby, BC
Robert Burnaby Park – 4 th Street and Elwell Street, Burnaby, BC

Player Selection

We will be selecting 14 to 16 players to represent Asahi on the trip. However, players chosen may also be dismissed if they show disinterest, a lack of effort, disrespecting teammates and coaches, lacks passion and drive, or shows poor sportsmanship in all their actions whether with Asahi or other activities outside of Asahi.

Players will be selected on (no specific order):
1. Understanding and demonstrating the Asahi spirit
2. Sportsmanship
3. Passion
4. Leadership
5. Teamwork/team player
6. Respect
7. Work ethic
8. Skill/talent
9. Multi-positioned (utility players preferred)
10. Dedication to the club

Your Asahi family membership must be current.

Registration

The cost of the tryouts is $30 per Asahi family membership (whether the player(s) attends 1 or all the tryouts).

If you are interested in trying out, please complete the online form below and go to the Asahi website to complete the payment. 

Tryout Registration Form: 
https://forms.gle/WRWhSTy5nXTH9xUu5

Tryout Fee:
https://www.asahibaseball.com/store/p40/tryout_2021JapanTour.html

Players must register online and complete payment before attending the tryout.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at john@asahibaseball.com.

Sincerely

John Wong
Head Coach, 2021 Asahi Japan Tour Team
President and Founding Member, Asahi Baseball Association

Ring in the New Year and Celebrate Kaye Kaminish's 98th Birthday!

Sunday, January 12, 2020
2pm - 4pm

Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby

Games, Food, and Prizes
2020 Koichi Kaye Kaminishi Award Presentation
Guest of honor, Kaye Kaminishi

***Extra door prize entry if you wear Asahi apparel and if you RSVP by January 6, 2020.