A Want to Create a Home for "Wise Outdoor"

(Oita Godo Newspaper, March 11th 2009, morning paper)

Kojima Michiro (21), a third year student from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University's Volleyball's Club was the first short-term student who participated in the sport business internship of "Hoshino Dream Project". As a voluntary interpreter there, he said that the Wise Outdoor is "a place to enliven the experiences that you've got sports, and this year's spring the business activities will start and I also want to participate in it".

In this project, one the previous professional baseball supervisors, Hoshino Senichi aspired to be a support for the young people with passion and enthusiasm. As a volunteer, Kojima was not only an interpreter but he also expressed interest in the contribution of the activities to the betterment of the area, and he also responsibly attended and took part in the development of the team. He applied in 2007, did the interview in April 2008 and managed to pass.

From the middle of June 2008, approximately one and half month, he was joined a professional baseball team in the United States of America. He participated in the activities in the Gift Shop and Ticket Counter.

"Although it is a small city, business was still operating. And the way they sold the ticket was different from that in Japan. The sponsor is a relatively normal shop near the baseball stadium. By reducing the ticket price by US$5 they increase the number of spectators, and by selling food and drinks at the foodstalls they increase their profits. It seems that all the people in the city were drawn into the businesses revolving the baseball match" He commented.

Oita's baseball team is already in the third year looking for sponsor but they still have not found a sponsor yet and. "If we work hard, we can find enough. I want to give them assistance", he said.

Comment: An experience to live abroad like what Kojima had experienced is indeed an eye-opening experience. He came back to Japan with the fresh perspectives and new understandings of things, and has decided to do something for the betterment of society. In his case, he would provide assistance to the baseball team in Oita, an area in which he has a passion and enthusiasm.

NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama

APM 2nd Year

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University