Chiayi - The Hometown of Baseball
In 1931, the baseball team of THE KAGI AGRICULTURAL AND DENDROLOGICAL SCHOOL(KANO) represented Taiwan and made a historic run at the Koshien tournament in Japan, ultimately finishing as the runner-up. This remarkable achievement shocked the Japanese baseball community and earned Chiayi the honor of being called the "Heroic Battlefield, the Home of KANO." Since then, Chiayi City has been known as the Hometown of Baseball.
History of The Jhu-Luo Shan International Junior Baseball Tournament
In 1998, the Chiayi City Baseball Committee began organizing The Jhu-Luo Shan International Junior Baseball Tournament. By 2005, the number of participating teams surpassed 100, setting a record for the largest number of teams in this event. In 2014, community baseball teams were first invited to compete. As of 2024, the 27th edition has been held, with 258 teams participating. The tournament has become highly popular, with 344 exciting matches held across 12 fields. The players, inspired by the perseverance and never-give-up spirit of KANO, engage in skill exchanges and competitions.
Legacy and Impact of The Jhu-Luo Shan International Junior Baseball Tournament
The Jhu-Luo Shan International Junior Baseball Tournament has stood out among hundreds of international tournaments, earning recognition from the Ministry of Education′s Sports Administration as one of the “12 Featured Sports Event in Taiwan” in 2020 and 2024. It was also featured in the 2021 Sports Administration calendar, showcasing the pride of Chiayi City as the Hometown of baseball. Furthermore, more than 60% of the players on the Chinese Taipei team that won the 2024 WBSC Premier 12 World Cup had participated in the The Jhu-Luo Shan International Junior Baseball Tournament during their youth, highlighting the tournament's role in nurturing top-notch national baseball players.