I have never been to Koshien, but its legends have had a prominent place in my life. In the '90s, my favorite way to experience the high school baseball tournament, held each year at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, was watching with my husband at a ramen shop in the August heat. Half the pleasure was observing other fans glued to the little TV set hanging in the corner.
But now, 25 years later, I watch through the lens of my 12 years with Musashi Fuchu Little League in west Tokyo. First my daughter and then my son played for this legendary program that has produced two Little League World Series champion teams.
In 2014, Musashi Fuchu Little League celebrated its 45th year. On the morning after a very grand celebration to mark the achievement, I heard a news story about Somayya Jabarti. The news made me smile. Not a sneering smile, but certainly more sneering than elated.