Breaking News
News

Hosts, translator enjoying time with Japan’s Little League World Series team

By Mark Maroney 4 min read

Even though they are an ocean apart, Kensuke "Ken" Tsuchida, a coach with the team from Tokyo Japan, the Joto Little League, said he feels close to Williamsport, and the team's uncles Scott Metzger and Joe Hamm.

"I was a player in the 2013 Little League World Series," said 26-year-old Tsuchida or "Ken," as Metzger and Hamm affectionately called him at the Little League Baseball World Series Picnic on the campus of the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The picnic happened before the Grand Slam Parade as Tsuchida, who is the team translator, talked a bit about the challenges of the language barrier, but also the fun of sharing experiences and commonality that all players have – a love of baseball as a team sport.

"I played mainly first base, but also catcher and pitcher," Tsuchida said. "I can't forget that experience," he said, adding how played baseball in Japan in 2018 but said he got injured and stopped playing the game.

But as a university student, his love of the game and his experience in 2013 made him want to remain a part of it. He fit the bill for the Japanese Little League Association that was looking for an interpreter in Japan, who had experience in the Little League World Series in Williamsport.

He said he has been a translator for Japan since 2022.

"I like this place, the stadiums, this environment and I like to watch the kids have fun and to play baseball at Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium," he said.

The players also like working with Tsuchida because it makes them feel more at ease.

For Metzger, who is in his 22nd year as a Little League "Uncle," and Hamm who says it's "year number two," coach Tsuchida is among the best at what he does and has a wealth of baseball knowledge and experience.

The uncles noted how today's technology is helpful in translation of multiple languages, including English to Japanese and vice versa -- through the use of apps on their smart phones.

Metzger also is Lycoming County Commissioner and its chair and Hamm is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives serving the 84th House District in Lycoming and Sullivan counties.

"We have had a lot of fun with the kids so far, and we look forward to spending the next two weeks with them," Hamm said.

For the uncles, it's a rewarding and educational experience.

"The other night we got back late at night and there were lightning bugs out," Hamm said. "Well, they are from Tokyo so they don't get to see a whole lot of lightning bugs because the town is lit up so much."

The city, itself, has a population of 14 million, with 37 million in the metropolitan area.

"They were very excited to see the lightning bugs ... and the manager said in Tokyo it's very bright because we're in town and don't live out in rural areas. When they saw the lightning bugs, they were very excited to see them because it's just different from what they are used to seeing at home."

"We just love watching these kids have fun," Hamm said of being an uncle and watching the series in general. "That's what it is all about, they are here to have fun," he said. "They are here to meet new friends from all around the world and it's just really neat to watch these kids interact with one another -- even if there is a language barrier -- they still find common themes whether they are playing video games together or playing ping pong together, these kids have fun."

For Hamm and Metzger, being uncles means each day getting up bright and early in the morning and getting to see the smiles on their faces.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them," Hamm said. "For us, we are just here to make sure they enjoy themselves, they have fun and enjoy playing the game of baseball."

There was a player who had a recent birthday. "We went out and got a cake, and in the cafeteria they turned the lights out and sang 'Happy Birthday' to him and shared a cake with him," Metzger said.

"You try not to miss anything because you want to make it special for the kids," Metzger said.

Starting at /week.