Masaki Aiba stars in film based on true story of disability baseball team

New promotional images and event details have been released for the upcoming film ‘4 Out: Play Ball Again’ (4 Out — Mou Ichido, Play Ball —), starring Masaki Aiba. Scheduled for release on November 6, the film is based on the non-fiction novel by Jo Hirayama, which tells the true story of the founding of the Tokyo Blue Thunders, the first baseball team for people with physical disabilities in Tokyo.

The story follows Yuichi Yagami (played by Aiba), a man who loses his career in professional baseball and finds new purpose as a manager for a team of players with disabilities. The production emphasized inclusivity, casting several actors with disabilities and involving actual disability baseball players in the process.

At a recent promotional event held at Umi-no-mori Water Sports Center, cast members including Yuna Kuroshima, Toshio Matsumoto, Yusuke Terada, and Aoi Yoshida appeared alongside notable figures such as Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, former WBC Japan manager Hiromitsu Ibata, and professional baseball legends Alex Ramirez and Warren Cromartie. Kuroshima praised the cast's dedication and the inspiring energy of the players, while Aiba provided a video message emphasizing the courage and potential displayed by those playing baseball despite physical challenges.