Former Professional Baseball Players to Coach at "The 3rd BASEBALL FESTIVAL"
GLCC Co., Ltd. and Only General Co., Ltd. will host "The 3rd BASEBALL FESTIVAL," a baseball clinic featuring five former professional baseball players, at Wakasa Stadium Kyoto on May 6, 2026. This event aims to convey the joy of baseball to local children and revitalize the community, addressing the declining baseball population.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 22:41
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GLCC Co., Ltd. (Nakyogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Representative Director Yoshitsune Takai), which handles real estate sales, rentals, and accommodation facility management in Kyoto City, and Only General Co., Ltd. (Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Representative Director Takaki Fujii) will host "The 3rd BASEBALL FESTIVAL," a baseball clinic featuring former professional baseball players, at Wakasa Stadium Kyoto, the largest baseball stadium in Kyoto Prefecture, on May 6, 2026 (Wednesday, holiday).
**Scenes from the BASEBALL FESTIVAL**
**■ Expanding Community and Children's Connections Through Baseball**
This baseball clinic, which was also held last year and received a great response, is jointly organized by GLCC Co., Ltd. and Only General Co., Ltd. Based on the experience of the companies' representatives having been involved in baseball in Kyoto, they decided to host a baseball clinic inviting former professional baseball players as an initiative to convey the charm of baseball to children.
Amidst the continuing decline in the baseball population, we believe it is essential to create opportunities to pass on the fun and appeal of the sport to the next generation. This event also embodies the shared desire to "create opportunities for people to connect and revitalize the community through baseball."
For this year's event, we received tremendous support from Mr. Takao Shige, a Kyoto City Council member. Mr. Shige has dedicated many years to fostering and promoting youth baseball and also serves as an advisor to the Kyoto Baseball Federation. In his student days, he himself was a baseball player who aimed for Koshien alongside Sachio Kinugasa, a recipient of the People's Honor Award. We received his generous cooperation based on his passionate feelings and deep understanding of baseball.
Kyoto is a city of history and culture, and it has also produced many talents in baseball. We hope that this event will become an irreplaceable memory for the children of the region and an opportunity for them to experience the new appeal of baseball. We will continue to support the growth of children who will bear the future of the region.
**■ Direct Coaching by Former Professional Baseball Players**
Five instructors who have been active in the professional baseball world have agreed to participate in this project.
The instructors are Keisuke Aomatsu, former Chiba Lotte Marines; Atsushi Ugumori, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Tokyo Yakult Swallows; Hidekazu Kawano, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters; Masashi Chikazawa, former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles; and Kentaro Hisago, former Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
With experienced players from various positions—pitchers, infielders, and outfielders—we hope it will be a day of great learning for the children. Approximately 150 elementary school students, mainly from Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, will be invited, making this a valuable opportunity to receive direct coaching from professionals.
Furthermore, as instructors from Kyoto, Mr. Aomatsu, Mr. Kawano, and Mr. Chikazawa will once again dedicate themselves to nurturing children with their passion for their hometown.
On the morning of the event day, the finals of the GLCC Cup Fushimi Youth Baseball Federation Flag Tournament will also be held. Wakasa Stadium Kyoto, the venue, is the largest stadium in Kyoto Prefecture, and opportunities for it to be used as a stage for youth baseball are limited. We hope that this event will further revitalize the local baseball culture and be a step towards the future of children.
**■ Instructor Profiles**
**Keisuke Aomatsu, former Chiba Lotte Marines**
Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Joined Chiba Lotte Marines from Uenomiya Taishi High School in 2004.
The first player from Uenomiya Taishi High School to join NPB. In 2015, he won the batting title and home run king in the Eastern League. In the first team, he hit a home run against Tokyo Yakult Swallows pitcher Ishikawa, among other achievements.
**Atsushi Ugumori, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Tokyo Yakult Swallows**
Born in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. Joined Nippon-Ham Fighters from Saibi High School.
In 2006, he made it to the opening day first team and debuted in the first team on April 18. In 2007, he achieved his best results since joining, with a batting average of .286, 10 home runs, and 46 RBIs (4th in the league) in the Eastern League. He also made it to the opening day first team after transferring to the Yakult Swallows in 2016. In 2018, despite being mainly used as a pinch hitter, he showed strong hitting with a batting average over .300.
**Hidekazu Kawano, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters**
Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. After graduating from Bukkyo University, he joined Shin-Nippon Steel Hirohata in industrial league baseball. In the 2012 professional baseball draft, he was selected by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 7th round and joined the team.
He debuted in the first team on April 12, 2013, in a game against the Orix Buffaloes.
He recorded his first professional win on August 14, 2014, in a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines.
*Photo is from his active days (independent league).
**Masashi Chikazawa, former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles**
Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. After entering Toba High School, he participated in the Spring Koshien in his third year. In the 2000 draft, he was selected by the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in the 3rd round and joined the team.
**Scenes from the BASEBALL FESTIVAL**
**■ Expanding Community and Children's Connections Through Baseball**
This baseball clinic, which was also held last year and received a great response, is jointly organized by GLCC Co., Ltd. and Only General Co., Ltd. Based on the experience of the companies' representatives having been involved in baseball in Kyoto, they decided to host a baseball clinic inviting former professional baseball players as an initiative to convey the charm of baseball to children.
Amidst the continuing decline in the baseball population, we believe it is essential to create opportunities to pass on the fun and appeal of the sport to the next generation. This event also embodies the shared desire to "create opportunities for people to connect and revitalize the community through baseball."
For this year's event, we received tremendous support from Mr. Takao Shige, a Kyoto City Council member. Mr. Shige has dedicated many years to fostering and promoting youth baseball and also serves as an advisor to the Kyoto Baseball Federation. In his student days, he himself was a baseball player who aimed for Koshien alongside Sachio Kinugasa, a recipient of the People's Honor Award. We received his generous cooperation based on his passionate feelings and deep understanding of baseball.
Kyoto is a city of history and culture, and it has also produced many talents in baseball. We hope that this event will become an irreplaceable memory for the children of the region and an opportunity for them to experience the new appeal of baseball. We will continue to support the growth of children who will bear the future of the region.
**■ Direct Coaching by Former Professional Baseball Players**
Five instructors who have been active in the professional baseball world have agreed to participate in this project.
The instructors are Keisuke Aomatsu, former Chiba Lotte Marines; Atsushi Ugumori, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Tokyo Yakult Swallows; Hidekazu Kawano, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters; Masashi Chikazawa, former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles; and Kentaro Hisago, former Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
With experienced players from various positions—pitchers, infielders, and outfielders—we hope it will be a day of great learning for the children. Approximately 150 elementary school students, mainly from Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, will be invited, making this a valuable opportunity to receive direct coaching from professionals.
Furthermore, as instructors from Kyoto, Mr. Aomatsu, Mr. Kawano, and Mr. Chikazawa will once again dedicate themselves to nurturing children with their passion for their hometown.
On the morning of the event day, the finals of the GLCC Cup Fushimi Youth Baseball Federation Flag Tournament will also be held. Wakasa Stadium Kyoto, the venue, is the largest stadium in Kyoto Prefecture, and opportunities for it to be used as a stage for youth baseball are limited. We hope that this event will further revitalize the local baseball culture and be a step towards the future of children.
**■ Instructor Profiles**
**Keisuke Aomatsu, former Chiba Lotte Marines**
Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Joined Chiba Lotte Marines from Uenomiya Taishi High School in 2004.
The first player from Uenomiya Taishi High School to join NPB. In 2015, he won the batting title and home run king in the Eastern League. In the first team, he hit a home run against Tokyo Yakult Swallows pitcher Ishikawa, among other achievements.
**Atsushi Ugumori, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Tokyo Yakult Swallows**
Born in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. Joined Nippon-Ham Fighters from Saibi High School.
In 2006, he made it to the opening day first team and debuted in the first team on April 18. In 2007, he achieved his best results since joining, with a batting average of .286, 10 home runs, and 46 RBIs (4th in the league) in the Eastern League. He also made it to the opening day first team after transferring to the Yakult Swallows in 2016. In 2018, despite being mainly used as a pinch hitter, he showed strong hitting with a batting average over .300.
**Hidekazu Kawano, former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters**
Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. After graduating from Bukkyo University, he joined Shin-Nippon Steel Hirohata in industrial league baseball. In the 2012 professional baseball draft, he was selected by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 7th round and joined the team.
He debuted in the first team on April 12, 2013, in a game against the Orix Buffaloes.
He recorded his first professional win on August 14, 2014, in a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines.
*Photo is from his active days (independent league).
**Masashi Chikazawa, former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles**
Born in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. After entering Toba High School, he participated in the Spring Koshien in his third year. In the 2000 draft, he was selected by the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in the 3rd round and joined the team.