Japan’s Olympic gold-medal winning softball team honoured with memorial wall in Izumo City

A memorial was recently unveiled at Izumo Dome in Izumo City, to honour Japan's Olympic softball gold-medal winning team at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The construction of "SOFT JAPAN Izumo Camp Memorial" was planned and realized in order to keep the strong bonds between Softball Japan and Izumo City, officials said. 

Japan’s left-handed pitcher Miu Goto, outfielder Saki Yamazaki, infielder Hitomi Kawabata and team leader Shinsuke Yabata were in attendance in the unveiling ceremony.

The monument is set up in front of the entrance to the Izumo Health Park and Izumo Dome where Softball Japan's training camp was held. 

The memorial includes the hands of all the participating players and head coach Reika Utsugi engraved in bronze pieces.

The Japanese Women’s National Softball Team in November 2019 held a training camp at the Izumo Dome, as part of their preparation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 

Players and team leader agreed that the team was able to win the gold medal with the support of everyone, Izumo City and other parts of the country included. They also expressed their gratitude to Izumo City for the opportunity to work hard and train in a blessed facility and environment, which helped lead them to the gold medal.