Kitahiroshima: Retired baseball stars from South Korea and Japan will meet in an exhibition game in November for the second consecutive year, officials said Thursday. Japan-based firm Fighters Sports and Entertainment (FSE) announced that the "2025 Dream Players Game" will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Es Con Field Hokkaido in Kitahiroshima, home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). FSE owns and operates the stadium.
According to Yonhap News Agency, FSE noted that the game has been recognized by the Japanese foreign ministry as part of celebrations of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the neighbors. Kim In-sik, former manager of the South Korean national team, will return as skipper this year. His team will feature former Korea Baseball Organization All-Stars, including Lee Dae-ho, Kim Tae-kyun, and current Kia Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho. All three also spent time in NPB during their careers.
Tatsunori Hara, who won six Japan Series titles-three as a player and three as a manager-for the Yomiuri Giants, will manage the Japanese side in November. FSE said Hara's team will include Shunsuke Watanabe, Atsunori Inaba, and Kosuke Fukudome.
The first Dream Players Game was held last July. In a statement released by FSE, Kim In-sik expressed his satisfaction in managing former South Korean stars for the second straight year. "It meant so much to me to stand on the ground with those legends in a game that represents friendship between South Korea and Japan," Kim said. "We will try to make it a special occasion where baseball will transcend borders."
Hara acknowledged the relationship between South Korea and Japan, stating, "South Korea is at once a good rival and a friend for Japanese baseball," and added, "We will try to contribute to the development of friendship for the two nations."