Masahiro Tanaka visits Miyagi to lead disaster drills and baseball clinic

Masahiro Tanaka, a pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants, visited Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, to participate in a disaster prevention drill organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Marking 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tanaka joined local elementary school students in practicing evacuations to higher ground to simulate responses to a major tsunami warning.

Tanaka, who played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles during the 2011 disaster, emphasized his mission to prevent the memory of the earthquake from fading. He noted that his perspective has changed since retiring from his former team, believing his influence as a public figure can encourage others to prepare for future disasters.

Additionally, Tanaka held his third consecutive baseball clinic for children in the Tohoku region. The event included students from Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures, focusing on introducing the sport to beginners. Former Rakuten players Yosuke Hiraishi and Teppei also assisted in coaching the children.