News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　National Chiayi University and Chukyo University, Japan, signed an academic exchange agreement in 2015. This year, a delegation from Chukyo University visited Chiayi again, this time for friendly matches. The friendly matches took place at Chiayi Baseball Field on August 4th and 5th to restore the splendor of the Koshien championship in 1931. On August 4th at 13:00 p.m., the opening ceremony was proud to have Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui throw the first pitch. The classic baseball game also began with NCYU President Chyung Ay serving as the hitter, and Prof. Taki Tsuyoshi, Vice Chairman of the Sports Association, Chukyo University, as the catcher.

　　According to NCYU President Chyung Ay, National Chiayi Institute of Agriculture (NCYIA), now NCYU, founded its first baseball team called “Kano Baseball Team” in 1928. In its debut at a Taipei’s contest in 1931, the Kano baseball team placed first in the national high school baseball championship, breaking the then 12-year curse that “No champion below the Jhuoshuei River.” Afterwards, it participated in the 17th edition of Summer Koshien in Japan on behalf of Taiwan, and obtained a runner-up award with three wins and one loss. The Kano baseball team has since been feted as “Heroes’ Battlefield, Unequaled Kano.”

　　Chukyo High School became affiliated with Chukyo University in 1995. The school is the educational institute with the highest number of winnings throughout the Koshien history, including four championships in the spring games, and seven championships in the summer games. It first made it to Koshien in 1931, and broke the Koshien record by securing a third successive championship in 1933. These years could be called the golden days for Chukyo High School. Today, under ferocious competition, Chukyo narrowly defeated the Kano baseball team with a score of 3-0. The spectacular friendly match brought back the splendor of the Koshien championship that took place decades ago in Japan.

　　Kano has become a proud memory for all Chiayi people, and the idea of “never give up” has since been integral to the Kano spirit. The movie Kano, which was well received in both Taiwan and Japan, brought back the pride of Chiayi, and wove the beautiful stories between Taiwan and Japan through baseball. As NCYU celebrates its centennial anniversary, the Chukyo University baseball team visited Chiayi with a letter of congratulations from Japan on August 3rd. One and all are welcome to watch the two friendly matches between Chukyo and NCYU.