On August 12th and 13th, the annual "Bon Baseball" in Tango Town, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, was held on the ground of Tango Junior High School in Tango Town. A wide range of generations, from elementary school students to those in their 60s, chased the white ball under the scorching sun.
It began in 1946, the year after the end of the Pacific War, as an entertainment for the residents, and is currently hosted by the Tango Town Baseball Club Association. This year, 10 teams (about 120 people) gathered, including locals who are returning home.
In the final on August 13th, the team "Animaru" from high school students to people in their 50s played against "Sabanjin", a team consisting mainly of members in their late 30s. Animaru scored 3 points in the first round, added 1 point in the middle stage, and won the competition 4-2 for the first time.
Toshiyuki Oe (43), the representative of the Tango Town Baseball Club Association, recalled, "It was a good tournament with a heated battle."
