Inside the Kyushu Asia League with Saga Indonesia Dreams
Hello from Saga Indonesia Dreams! We want to share more about our team and the unique role of the Kyushu Asia League (KAL), where we are participating this year.
The Kyushu Asia League is an independent professional baseball league based in Kyushu, Japan, inaugurated in 2021. Originally managed by the non-profit Baseball Federation Kyushu (BFK), the league's operations were taken over by Kyushu Asia Baseball League Inc. in the 2024 season. Starting as the Kyushu Independent Pro Baseball League, it was later renamed the Kyushu Asia Pro Baseball League before settling on its current name in March 2021.
Following a sponsorship deal, the league was known as "Yamae Hisano Kyushu Asia League" from September 2021, transitioning to "Yamae Group Kyushu Asia League" in November 2022 after corporate changes within Yamae Hisano.
The league comprises several teams, each representing a distinct prefecture in Kyushu, including:
Oita B-rings from Oita City, Oita Prefecture.
Hinokuni Salamanders from Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Kitakyushu Shimonoseki Phoenix from the Fukuoka and Yamaguchi areas.
Miyazaki Sunshines from Miyazaki Prefecture.
Saga Indonesia Dreams from Saga Prefecture.
For those unfamiliar with baseball, KAL plays a crucial role in the Japanese baseball ecosystem. Unlike Japan's major leagues, where players are typically full-time professionals, KAL features many players who balance their athletic careers with other professions. This dual-role aspect emphasizes the league's community-rooted and accessible nature, providing a platform for players to grow while maintaining other career paths.
KAL's ties with major Japanese baseball entities, like the partnership with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, help to enhance its visibility and support player development, bridging the gap between independent and major league baseball. Financially supported by ticket sales, sponsorships, and innovative methods like crowdfunding, KAL is vital for nurturing talent and offering a stepping stone to higher professional levels.
Though smaller and newer than Japan's established leagues, KAL is crucial for developing baseball in the region. Its evolving relationship with major leagues and its role as a training ground for aspiring athletes are central to its mission.
As of 2024, Japan hosts several independent baseball leagues, each with its unique management structures and regulations. The relationship between Japan’s professional baseball leagues (NPB) and the independent leagues is symbiotic, with each supporting the other's development. The independent leagues are crucial for player development and regional revitalization for NPB, while NPB serves as an aspirational goal for those in the independent leagues. The future promises further deepening of these relationships.
We encourage you to follow our progress and the exciting developments in KAL. If you have any questions or are interested in supporting us as a sponsor, please feel free to contact us.
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