In our “Oh yeah, I know that feeling” series where we dive into relatable experiences and moments, today we’re exploring Akasaka Park in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya – a nostalgic spot where boys and girls used to play baseball all day long. Mr. Daiya Tajima and Mr. Tomoya Okada, two former classmates, take us on a journey down memory lane, sharing their experiences and reliving the glory days of their youth. Join us as we explore this hyper-local gem and celebrate the enduring spirit of the Nagoya community.

*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are solely our own!

When we got home, we headed straight to Akasaka Park on bike. It was our daily routine!

– Hi Daiya and Oka-chan! Today we’re going to talk about your memories of Akasaka Park, your home ground! 

Daiya: We’re proud to say we’re the best when it comes to talking about Akasaka Park, haha.

Oka-chan: Absolutely. I used to live right in front of Akasaka Park, so you could say it was my backyard.

– When did you start using Akasaka Park as your home ground?

Oka-chan: I started playing there every day from 4th grade to 6th grade. Even without making plans, everyone would just gather on the bench next to the park on their bikes, and someone would start playing baseball.

Daiya: As soon as I came back from school, I’d bring my bat and glove and head straight to Akasaka Park. That was my routine back then.

– Were there any other parks you could have gone to?

Daiya: The three biggest parks in Ueno district are Akasaka, Ueno, and Benten parks, but only Akasaka has a fenced sports ground. Plus, it’s not like Chikusa Park or Chayagasaki Park, where you have to pay to use it. For elementary school kids, it’s the best possible condition for a home ground.

Oka-chan: Also, there was a candy store called “Imoya” that everyone from Ueno Elementary School used to go to right next to Akasaka Park. And there was a tobacco shop near the entrance on the east side where you could buy juice, so it was really the perfect environment for kids to gather.

– It’s like having a shopping mall attached to Nagoya Dome!

There used to be a candy store "Imoya" near the park.

A tobacco shop that no longer exists.

There is a dedicated sports field for ball games.

Our home ground that is being created by our imagination!

– Have you noticed any changes since you last came to your home ground?

Daiya: Well, the fence in front of the bench wasn’t there, haha. That’s for sure!

Oka-chan: And the fence was definitely green. Also, I think it had an L-shaped diagonal support post type of fence. Everything looks clearer and more streamlined now. Wait, the clock is facing a different direction…haha. You really have to come here to notice these things.

– That just means you’ve gotten older, haha. By the way, how many friends would gather to play baseball back then?

Daiya: There were times when more than 10 people would gather. But if we had 4 or 5 people, we would start playing baseball.

Oka-chan: It was rare to have a 9 vs 9 game, so we made up our own rules. For example, if the ball hit the top row of the outfield fence, it was a three base hit, and if it hit the bottom row, it was a two base hit. If it went over the fence, it was a home run. We also had a rule where a ground ball could be a hit or an out depending on the ball’s trajectory or speed.

Daiya: We also had invisible runners, but even though each of us was imagining things in our heads while playing baseball, we were able to share that world pretty well!

– That’s true. Even though there was no technology, you had a lot of imagination, haha.

Oka-chan: Yeah, we even used the green poles on either side as makeshift foul poles and designated fair zones. We used our creativity to make it our original home field.

– That’s clever! Those poles were perfectly positioned for it. By the way, who hit the most home runs?

Daiya: We kept track of everyone’s home run count, and as far as we remember, our classmate Nakajima holds the record for the most home runs in Akasaka Park.

– Wow, Nakajima is definitely making history! But did he include the home runs he hit during practice?

Daiya: Yeah, he did, so it’s not an official record, haha.

– It seems like we don’t see many kids playing baseball while having fun in this park nowadays, right?

Daiya: Well, today’s elementary school kids have a lot of other activities to enjoy besides baseball. Plus, kids who play baseball can go to clubs or places with better facilities to play.

Oka-chan: For better or for worse, back in our day, we could improvise and play baseball against walls or on roads without needing specific facilities.

Daiya: Yeah, we didn’t have many facilities, but we could exercise our minds by “thinking” and “imagining” new ways to play. I also feel like catch ball is not as popular as it used to be.

Oka-chan:  Yeah, that’s right. Nowadays, some parks even prohibit playing ball against walls, and it can cause a big problem in the neighborhood.

– As times change, the way we use parks also changes, and street baseball is constantly being updated. It’s inevitable, but it’s still kind of sad, isn’t it?

Daiya:  Some of our friends only enjoyed playing street baseball while playing in the park. I think that “playfulness” is an important part of baseball. If it can help someone become interested in baseball, that would make me happy.

Oka-chan: I hope the culture of street baseball remains as a way to introduce people to baseball. I believe it holds the essence of baseball.

– Today, we had a great conversation! Thank you so much!

Daiya & Oka-chan: Thank you very much!