Women’s Softball Team⚾
Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) is one of Japan's leading universities for producing Olympic athletes. The NSSU softball team has both a men's and women's division, both boasting long histories. The men's team celebrated its 66th anniversary, and the women's team its 71st. The women's team has won the All Japan University Softball Championship 20 times, while the men's team has won the same tournament 34 times.
Approximately 60 years ago, Shinya Shimooku, a professor at Nippon Sport Science University, first taught the windmill pitch. At the time, the windmill pitch was an unusual pitching style in the softball world. Professor Shimooku has since trained numerous coaches throughout Japan, and today, the windmill pitch is the standard pitching style for all pitchers. In other words, NSSU is a university that researched and popularized the windmill pitching method in Japan.
The team's objectives, based on the university's educational philosophy, are to cultivate and develop the character of its members, improve their athletic performance, conduct research, and contribute to the local community, ultimately aiming to cultivate individuals who can contribute to society.
Many graduates of our university's softball club play for corporate softball teams affiliated with the JD League, such as Toyota Motor Corporation, Bic Camera, and Hitachi. Furthermore, numerous graduates are active as teachers and coaches in junior high schools, high schools, universities, and corporate teams throughout Japan.
Our proud theme is "offense."
Because the attitude we put into every single pitch can determine victory or defeat, we chose this theme because we want to enjoy softball in every situation and play an offensive style of softball where everyone attacks until the very last pitch. This offensive attitude not only makes us stronger, but also empowers us to believe in our teammates and take on challenges, moves the hearts of those who support us, and puts great pressure on our opponents.
We aim to be a team that doesn't wait for opportunities, but actively strives to seize them.
Our women's softball team consists of 49 players in total: 13 first-year students, 9 second-year students, 16 third-year students, and 11 fourth-year students. Practices and games are generally held from Tuesday to Sunday. Weekday practices are held after school from 4:30 or 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. During the season, from April to October, most matches are held on weekends.
This year, the Asian Games are being held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and the Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. The whole of Japan is looking forward to the athletes' successes, and many foreign athletes and tourists from around the world are excited to visit Japan. We want to support and promote softball from various angles.