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Day 7: Another practice in the books
SENDAI CITY / KAMI AYASHI, AOBA-KU, SENDAI-SHI (Japan) - The Dutch Olympic Softball Team conducted another practice session on Tuesday at the Miyagi Hirose Ballpark, located in Kami Ayashi, situated in the Sendai-suburb Aoba-Ku.
For the first time in our stay in Japan, we had a complete warm and sometimes hot and thus humid day. OK, there were some clouds, but there was also blue sky and that, we didn't see the last few days.
Since arriving in Sendai last Thursday-evening, it had been cloudy and it rained during the night and morning, but today was a fine day to be outside.
In today's 3-hour practice, there were hitting drills, a scrimmage game and a conditioning session.
After returning to the hotel and having lunch, a video session followed again, after which the team had the rest of the day off.
In the afternoon, Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar accompanied KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten and his wife Rienette on a walk through Sendai, which brought them to the remains of Sendai Castle.
All what remains of the original castle are the stone walls.
From the viewing platform, there is a beautiful view of the city and also the Sendai Daikannon can be seen, the 100 meter high statue of The Great Image of the God of Mercy.
The Van Zetten's and Marco also visited closeby Sendai City Museum, which houses the history of Sendai.
On Wednesday, another practice session follows for the team.
| Where are we? |
| Since last Thursday, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team is playing and practicing in the city of Sendai, the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tohoku (northeast) region of Japan with a population of just over one million.
Although the Sendai area was inhabited as early as 20,000 years ago, the history begins from 1600, when the daimyo Masamune Date founded the city. Sendai is also known by its nickname 'City of Trees' (Mori no Miyako).
Masamune Date relocated to the area, which was an ideal location for him, as it was in the middle of his newly defined territories, had a major road to Edo (which now is Tokyo) and was near the sea.
Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu gave Lord Masamune Date, the ruler of Sendai, permission to build a new castle after the Battle of Sekigahara.
The castle rises 130 meters above sealevel and was built to hold a natural stronghold. Is is said that Masamune Date, who had the ambition to rule entire Japan, dot dared to build a castle tower to avert precaution from Shogun Ieyasu.
Nowadays, Sendai is considered one of Japan's greenest cities, mostly because of its great numbers of trees and plants.
Hirose-gawa River, which runs through Sendai, is known for its exceptionally clean water and natural beauty.
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Jolanda Kroesen and Nathalie Timmermans arrive at the field,
followed by the rest of the team
Head Coach Liz Kelly and the team discuss details before practice
The batting-tee and the balls are waiting, while the players warm up in the back
Physical Therapist Rob Oskam goes through warming-up with the players
Coach Rob Walgien with interpreter Hami Ueda
Saskia Kosterink swings during a hitting drill
Coach Mary-Ann Hatt drops a ball for Marjan Smit
Marloes Fellinger is ready to connect
Kim Kluijskens swings at a hitting station
Ellen Venker swings at Coach Mary-Ann Hatt's station
A giant insect enjoys his lunch
Kristi de Vries and Judith van Kampen wait their turn at bat
A situation during the scrimmage game
Head Coach Liz Kelly coaching at third base
A lot of bottles with water were emptied today
After practice, it was running during the conditioning session
Catcher Ellen Venker in the bus with a cooling vest
Pitcher Kristi de Vries also wears a cooling vest
In the Sendai City Museum, this is how Sendai Castle must have looked like in the 17th Century
The uniforms of Sendai-ruler Lord Masamune Date (left) and a local Warlord can be seen in
Sendai City Museum, which displays various artifacts related to the Date family
and the history of Sendai
KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten and his wife Rienette in front of their 'new' home
The entrance gate of Sendai Castle
At the site of Sendai Castle, a temple is open for public
Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar with a local geisha at Sendai Castle
(photo taken by Ruud van Zetten)
KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten makes a wish at the temple, then rings the bell
The giant statue of the Sendai Daikannon, The Great Image of the Goddess of Mercy,
which towers above the city, is visible from the viewing point
at the site of Sendai Castle, located on Aobayama Hill
A view of the city of Sendai, at right is the Pacific Ocean
The Van Zetten's enjoy the view
The Hirose-gawa River which runs through the city of Sendai
Go back to the schedule of the Japan Tour
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