Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks hold fundraiser for Kumamoto Earthquake victims

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks held a fundraising event at Mizuho PayPay Dome on August 11 to support victims of the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake. The initiative, part of the 10th annual ‘Fight Kyushu Day,’ saw participation from manager Hiroki Kokubo and catcher Riku Watanabe, a Kumamoto native, alongside players from the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Following the earthquake that recorded a maximum intensity of 7 and resulted in over 30 deaths, the club aims to support those still living in evacuation centers. Watanabe expressed his desire to encourage his hometown through strong performances on the field. The fundraising drive collected 494,634 yen from approximately 500 donors during the event, and donation boxes will remain at the stadium until August 16.