Baseballers from Chiba Lotte Marines visit pediatric ward at Science Tokyo Hospital
Professional baseball players Hiromi Oka and Kyota Fujiwara from the Chiba Lotte Marines paid a visit to the pediatric ward at the Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital on March 19, ensuring a truly special day for both patients and staff.
A young boy currently hospitalized at the facility is a huge fan of the Marines. Upon hearing this, the boy’s attending physician consulted with Koji Murofushi, vice president for sports science at Science Tokyo, who then reached out to Oka regarding a possible visit.
Murofushi, a former Olympic athlete himself, maintains a relationship with Oka through off-season training and other activities.
In addition to meeting with the boy, Oka and Fujiwara interacted with other hospitalized children and their families in the ward. They shared gifts and took commemorative photos, answered questions from the children, and played catch with them, creating a truly warm and friendly atmosphere.
At the end of the visit, Oka and Fujiwara were both presented with a certificate of appreciation by the hospital’s then-Deputy Director Yasunari Miyazaki.
- Note: Affiliations and titles correct at time of event.