Hironori Ishige, who used to play for professional baseball clubs such as Seibu and was the manager of Orix, has decided to open a sports academy in Okinawa to train professional baseball and golf players.
This was announced on the 21st at a press conference by Mr. Ishige and others at the Okinawa Prefectural Office.
According to that, the name will be "Ryukyu Sports Academy" and it will be opened in Kin Town, Okinawa Prefecture.
The aim is to have high school students explore the possibility of becoming a top professional in various sports while studying at a correspondence school.
At the time of its opening, baseball, tennis, and golf will be the sports to be coached, and the policy is to invite athletes who have been active in various sports in addition to Mr. Ishige as coaches.
In addition, we have partnered with a local vocational school that trains judo therapists and receive lectures from registered dietitians and mental trainers, so that even if athletes give up due to injuries, they can be active as trainers.
The sports academy is scheduled to open in March 2025, two years from now, and we would like to start with about 100 students per grade.
Mr. Ishige says, "I want to develop world-class athletes in the warm land of Okinawa. I also want to revitalize the local community and develop healthy young people through sports."