JAKARTA, August 9, 2026 – Two young Indonesian baseball players, Emil Rasya and Samuel Kurniawan, made history after taking part in the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game of The 108th National High School Baseball Championship, also known as Summer Koshien 2026, at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan, on Wednesday, August 5.
For the first time in the 108-year history of Summer Koshien, players from Indonesia were given the honor of participating in the ceremonial first pitch of the tournament’s opening game. In the historic moment, Emil took the mound as pitcher, while Samuel served as catcher.
Summer Koshien is one of Japan’s most prestigious high school sporting competitions and holds a special place in the country’s baseball culture. For Japanese high school baseball players, earning the opportunity to play at Hanshin Koshien Stadium is considered one of the sport’s highest achievements, following an intense qualification process across different regions of Japan.
For that reason, Emil and Samuel’s appearance on the Koshien field was not only a valuable experience for both players, but also an important milestone for the development of Indonesian baseball. For the first time, two young Indonesian players became directly involved in a sporting tradition that has existed for more than a century.
Emil and Samuel’s journey to Koshien began with their participation in Asia Koshien 2025, held in Jakarta. They were later selected as members of the Asia Koshien All-Star U-18 team.
From the competition, which featured 14 teams from three countries, 18 players were selected to take part in a baseball visit and exchange program in Japan. In addition to attending Summer Koshien games, the Asia Koshien All-Star players also participated in baseball development and exchange activities during their stay in Japan.
Among the 18 selected players, Emil and Samuel received the special honor of serving as pitcher and catcher for the ceremonial first pitch of the opening game of Summer Koshien 2026. Their selection for the opening ceremony had also been officially announced by the Summer Koshien organizers in Japan.
The journey of Emil and Samuel, from competing in Jakarta to standing on the field at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, demonstrates how Asia Koshien is beginning to serve as a bridge that provides young Indonesian players with greater access to international baseball experiences.
Asia Koshien was first held in Jakarta in 2024 with the vision of bringing the values and culture of Japanese high school baseball to the wider Asian region. The program is not focused solely on competition, but also on character development, sportsmanship, teamwork, cultural exchange, and creating opportunities for young players to grow through baseball.
The inaugural edition featured eight teams from Indonesia, while the second edition in 2025 expanded to 14 teams from three countries.
The historic appearance of Emil and Samuel at Koshien is expected to inspire more Indonesian children to pursue baseball and to dream bigger. Their achievement demonstrates that with consistent development, quality competition, and access to international experience, young Indonesian players have the opportunity to perform on the global baseball stage.
The momentum will continue with Asia Koshien 2026, scheduled to take place in Jakarta from December 12 to 20, 2026. The third edition is planned to feature 16 teams from five countries and will once again be held at GBK Baseball Stadium and Rawamangun Baseball Field.
The single pitch thrown by Emil and received by Samuel at Koshien Stadium may have lasted only a few seconds. For Indonesian baseball, however, the moment carried much greater significance: after 108 years of Summer Koshien history, young Indonesian players stood on the Koshien field for the first time and became part of the history of one of Japan’s most iconic high school baseball traditions.
