Tokyo. Tom Peng of Chinese Taipei was elected unopposed at the BFA Congress held in Tokyo on Saturday, April 13 2013, previous day of the IBAF Congress.

Taking advantage of his trip to Japan on the occasion of the XXVII IBAF Congress, President Riccardo Fraccari extended his stay to visit Mizuno Technics, the manufacturing center for Mizuno’s superior quality products, in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture.

The first 2 sessions of the 2013 IBAF Congress had a strong Olympic flavour, even if the launching of the World Baseball Softball Confederation is scheduled for the afternoon.
Tsunezaku Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Commitee, and Ryozo Kato, Commissioner of NPB, made both strong statements in favour of the reinstatement of baseball and softball in the Olympic Games. Takeda mentioned the importance the sports may have if the Games are played in Tokyo.

Former MLB star Manny Ramirez hit his first home run in the CPBL (Chinese Professional Baseball League), in a game between the EDA Rhinos and the Uni-President Lions last week.

The Bone and Joint Decade Japan (BJDJ), mainly comprising Orthopedic Sugeions, held Executive Board Meeting and General Meeting in Tokyo on Sunday, April 7, 2013 reviewed BJDJ’s activities in 2012 and approved nation-wide campaign plans by coordinating with their counterparts throughout the world for 2013　 In addition to Japan, more than 95 nations are currently taking part in this campaign.

Baseball greats Shigeo Nagashima and Hideki Matsui will be nominated for National Honor Awards, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

On April 1, 2013, Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ) changed its domestic legal status from a private entity to General Incorporated Foundation stipulated by the law, and continues to be a member of IBAF as the sole National Federation under the Japanese Olympic Committee.

The newly elected president of the Korea Baseball Association (KBA) Mr. Lee, Byung-Suk met IBAF President Riccardo Fraccari at the Italian Olympic Committee headquarters, near the famed Foro Italico in Rome.

The 2nd HEC Intervarsity Women Baseball Championship 2013 was conducted at Abbasia Campus by Islamia University Bahawalpur from March 11 – 13, 2013.

Upset of Two-Time Defending Champion Japan is Highest-Rated Sports Broadcast in Puerto Rico in Past Year – 74% of Televisions on in Puerto Rico Tuned in to Final Moments of Game