First U.S.-Japan Sports Exchange
Hillary Clinton: The Japanese people have shown a great resilience and they’re pulling together to support each other during this time. And sports is a way to bring people together.
Exchange participant #1 (in Japanese): I came here because my baseball coach told me about this great opportunity, and I really wanted to come here and study baseball.
Exchange participant #2 (in Japanese): I’m on this program that is offered for kids from the earthquake-afflicted areas of Japan, and I’m here to practice my English.
Exchange participant #3 (in Japanese): This program is for us to forget about the disaster we recently experienced and play softball as much as we want. And also to have an exchange with the American people.
Hillary Clinton: We love Japan for many reasons, but one of them is because they love baseball. And we’re very proud that Cal Ripken, Jr., who is such an icon of sports all over the world, is one of public diplomacy envoys.
Cal Ripken, Jr.: There is a magic to sports. There is an openness to bringing people together through sport. It almost seems to drop any barriers and there’s an interest and fun that is associated with sports. We have a great relationship with Japan. I’ve been to Japan three times, and they’re crazy about their baseball. Yes, you’re aware of the tsunami, you’re aware of the earthquake, and you’re aware of the situation that the country is in. And you feel; you’re very empathetic, you’re very sympathetic, and you want to help. But certainly, by playing a game, it’s almost a bit of an escape. You get back in touch with some of these good feelings, and it makes you feel really good. And all of a sudden, you feel better. We could all relate through baseball, the love of baseball. I mean, it was obvious.
Exchange participant #3 (in Japanese): Well, I can’t speak English, but on the field, I’m able to use gestures or eye contact to communicate with the players, and I’m learning to do that better now, too.
Exchange participant #1 (in Japanese): We don’t need any words at all.
