Where We Call Home.

This sixteen-year-old pitcher throws fastballs at more than 140 kilometers per hour.

Here's Kato Edrine, a baseball player from Uganda.

A promising southpaw, he plays for a regional independent league in Japan.

He moved to the country a year ago with big ambitions.

I want to join the NPB or Major League.

I want to be part of that league, that big league.

With his cheerful personality, he's won the hearts of his teammates,

who kindly watch over him as he pursues his goal.

With his potential and young age,
he has a big chance of succeeding.

We all want him to make it
to the big leagues.

Carrying the hopes of his family and fellow players...

Kato stays focused on his big-league dream.

In southeastern Hyogo Prefecture, the city of Sanda is blessed with abundant nature.

This is the home of the Hyogo Bravers.

They're part of the Kansai Independent Baseball League.

Independent leagues are professional regional leagues outside of Nippon Professional Baseball, or NPB, Japan's top league.

A total of forty-one players ranging from sixteen to forty-five years old belong to the Hyogo Bravers.

Kato is among the youngest members.

But, 183 centimeters tall, he's definitely not the shortest.

His fastball exceeds 140 kilometers per hour.

Oh, 45!

Bravo!

He's been in Japan for about a year.

Though he still struggles a bit with the language, he doesn't let it get in the way of his communicating with teammates.

Friend. Very friend.

He's your friend?

What's his name?

Same age: sixteen.

What's his name?

- How do you call him?
- Kimura.

Kimura-kun? Kimura?

Very funny boy.

Their style is so nice.

They have a funny style.

Communication was so hard, but now it's very easy...

because I can listen to Japanese and we talk.

I talk with everybody here.

The son of a police officer, Kato was born and raised in the east-African country of Uganda.

He began his baseball journey at the age of eight when he joined his elementary school's team.

But in Uganda, baseball is a minor sport.

While many children prefer other sports like soccer,

Kato explains that he had a rather unexpected reason for his choice.

It kept me away from bad groups
involved in drugs and theft.

I took up baseball to stay out of trouble.

I spent most of my time playing baseball.
It allowed me to avoid those groups.

With time, I came to enjoy the sport.
I stayed focused on playing.

His very first coach was actually once a member of the same Hyogo-based team.

Sensing Kato's athletic skills were very promising, he introduced him to the Bravers.

Without hesitating, Kato, who had been dreaming of playing overseas, decided to move to Japan.

Through achieving success as a pro baseball player, he hopes to inspire children in his homeland.

...because he told me, 'You lead us in Uganda.'

So, I told him 'OK.'

They are waiting for me.

I have to make my dream happen, so they can also enjoy baseball.

And my sweat.

I'm sweating for them now.

On his own, Kato came to Japan, where he was warmly welcomed by his teammates.

They too dream of joining the top league.

Each has his own story to tell.

At 19, I played two years.

Then I was a company worker
for another two years.

But I wanted to play again.
So, I asked my parents, and here I am.

I played baseball in university.

Then I was drafted into the NPB
by the Giants.

Now, I joined the indie league
in hope to go back to the NPB.

Going from independent leagues to the NPB is said to be a strait gate only one percent of players can get through.

Yet, the brave ballers are determined and stay focused on their big-league dreams.

Coach Yamakawa Tomohiro is among those who broke through the indie-to-NPB barrier.

While playing for the Bravers, he was drafted under a player development contract by the Yomiuri Giants for five years.

However, he never got the chance to play on the first team.

He now entrusts his ambition to the players he trains.

In the past ten years, only three players
in our league went to the NPB.

I'd love to see
a Bravers player get drafted.

But I'll be happy if anyone
in our league is chosen.

They choose players with potential.

Kato is a young southpaw with potential
to grow. He has good chances.

Though he's one of the players Yamakawa has pinned his hopes on, Kato has one major obstacle to overcome.

His lack of control of the ball causes him to give too many bases on balls.

As a result, he has yet to be able to play in an official match this season.

Today, Coach Yamakawa makes use of his own experience as a former pitcher to help Kato improve his form.

Your set position...

Yes, yes.

Nice full power!

OK? Relax your arm.

Before, my style...

Yes, your arm and wrist
were too stiff.

The goal is to relax his arm and lash it like a whip to gain better speed and control over the ball.

He'll also train to sync his torso, arms and legs to throw with his entire body and thus improve his stuff.

I asked him to throw
with a bat between his legs.

Did you do the practice with a bat?

Every night.

- Every night?
- OK!

Really?
You're kidding, right?

Thank you.

Kato lives in a dormitory run by the baseball team,

which also provides him with a minimal salary for his living expenses.

He loves to style his hair into his trademark look.

He takes the time to get it right.

About a five-minute walk from the dorm...

...is a diner where he often goes to have dinner.

The place is also managed by the team.

In charge of preparing meals is one of the players who works here part-time.

As only a few Hyogo Bravers receive a salary, the majority of them have jobs to earn a living.

Bon appétit!

Very good menu.

Players sign yearly contracts with the team.

Every year, about half the members leave while new ones join.

The players are both rivals and partners who support one another.

All encourage their teammate from faraway Uganda in the pursuit of his dream.

He came to Japan in his teens.
I'd never have the courage to do that.

He works hard.
I want him to keep going.

We all want him to make it
to the big leagues.

I wonder if he knows it.

Today, pitchers train against batters to prepare them for an actual match.

For Kato, who hopes to pitch in his first official game this season,

this is a chance to show the fruit of his efforts.

His turn comes.

He seems to have improved his control of the ball.

Kato!

After the practice, the coach calls him over.

How was practice? Good?

Last time also, you told me last time.

So, I tried it today in the first inning.

I think when I practice, it can become easier... if you practice more.

It's OK.

Next month in English is 'July?'

On July 6th, can you play
against Awaji Island?

After checking Kato's condition,

Yamakawa decided to put him on the roster for an upcoming official game slated a week from now.

"Please adjust yourself and practice well for the 6th."

I'm looking forward to it.

"He's looking forward to seeing you... a good pitch."

- You're up for it?
- Thank you.

His first pitching appearance of the season - something he'd long been waiting for.

He continues to train for the match.

After practice, a massage and a phone conversation with his mother back in Uganda are perfect for relaxing.

- This is Ohyama-san, a dangerous trainer.
- No, no, no, no!

Trainer. Kato, good trainer! No dangerous!

He's a trainer, team doctor and masseur.

Thank you.

You should cut that weird hairdo.

Leave it. It's cool.

Your brother had the same hair.
I had him cut it.

It's bad in Uganda, not here.

Encouragements from his family are a source of moral support.

I wanted him to...

I'm expecting him to be a good boy, to have his own house,

so that in the future, he becomes a man.

She's thinking about my future, like, to be signed, to be a good player in baseball...

to be, like, join NPB or Major League, to achieve my dreams.

She was saying, like, she's there praying for me, like,

praying for me to play hard, what... to join the NPB or Major League.

The day of the game.

Of the five teams in the league, the Hyogo Bravers rank in fourth place.

If they win today against the Awaji Island Warriors, they could move to third.

For this important match, Kato has been assigned first pitcher.

Will his training pay off?

At the bottom of the first inning, the Bravers lead by one point against the Warriors.

Kato heads to the mound.

His first pitch is a strike.

He's off to a good start.

He uses his signature straight to try to maintain the Bravers' lead.

He struck out a player, but one got to third base.

A tough situation.

He suddenly loses control of the ball and gives the Warriors a point.

Later, he gives up a hit and lets one more player reach the home plate.

The Warriors take the lead.

His teammates cheer him on.

Go Kato!
Good ball!

Later, he holds on, and manages to prevent any further points.

In the second inning, Kato's teammates evened the score.

Now back on the mound, Kato stays focused.

He strikes the first batter out swinging.

He strikes another one out.

Thanks to Kato's fine pitching, no new points are scored this inning.

Impressed by Kato's performance, the coach puts him up for the third inning.

However, fatigue starts to take over.

Kato is having a hard time putting up against the other team's offensive, and lets them take two more points.

Bitterly disappointed, Kato leaves the mound.

Later on, the score gap widens to reach five points,

but Kato's teammates give it their all, allowing the team to come from behind.

The match ends in a score of nine to seven, a victory for the Bravers.

We won, guys!

Kato, you did well.

Take care of your shoulder.

He was able to stay in the strike zone
and had very few walks.

When a pitcher does his best,
it motivates the fielders to help him.

Seeing Kato work hard all the time
helped unite the team.

It's thanks to Kato's efforts.

Today, the Bravers hold a baseball workshop for children at a local school.

Kato hopes to help kids in his native Uganda discover and enjoy baseball.

His journey to becoming a top player in the big league has only just begun.

I have many dreams, and my dream is my future,

so right now, I'm just working for them, because I can't finish my dreams.

Right now, me, I'm just focusing to get much money,

for my future, for my family and friends, teammates, yeah.

And I need, like, my teammates home, I'll be their role model.

Go shake his hand.

Thank you!

He's so tall!

Hi. I'm Feng Li. I'm in marketing
at a pharmaceutical firm.

This is our famous throat medicine.

Kanda in Tokyo is home to many
long-standing pharmaceutical firms.

Feng works for a 152-year-old
throat medicine manufacturer.

8:00 a.m.
arriving at work.

Good morning!

Feng is in her 2nd year
in the marketing department.

She's currently working on
the company's Chinese website.

10:00 a.m.
online meeting.

Did you eat a lot during the holiday?

- I'm on a diet.
- But you're so thin.

I have a few ideas
I'd like to share with you.

Feng shows footage of young customers
at a sports bar in China.

They all shout in support of their team.

You can guess they'll have
a sore throat the next day.

I want our Chinese website to cater
to the needs of younger customers.

It's boring if we just
introduce the products.

I also want to add a column that offers
advice on proper throat care.

That would help increase
word-of-mouth advertising.

I have to consult the developer
about adding the new content.

Yes, I also have to talk with
our team at my end.

The younger generations
are our main market in China.

So, social media is very important.

It helps us identify and
keep track of the latest trends.

Feng plans to improve the site to make it
more compatible with social media.

Since she was in her teens, Feng has
loved Japanese anime and pop idols.

Fascinated by Japanese TV commercials,
she did her post-graduate studies in Tokyo.

In 2021, she found her current job,
which is related to advertising.

She worked 4 months in a factory
to familiarize herself with the firm.

Her marketing goal is to show
the effort and thought...

the company pours into
the manufacturing of their products.

Watanabe-san is my senior.

He's godlike.

That's a little too much.

I really feel so!

She's sensitive to people's feelings,
and, as her work involves communication...

it's one of her biggest strengths.

She worries a lot.
She could be more confident.

I lack confidence.

But it also makes her careful
and attentive in her work.

When she's unsure of something,
she comes to ask me.

She asks many questions
to make sure she understands.

He tells me not to hesitate
to ask for advice any time.

It's reassuring.

2:00 p.m.
at a music event
supported by the company.

Feng gives away throat lozenges to hear
the consumers' firsthand opinions.

- Here you are.
- Thank you.

- Hi. Try our lozenges.
- Thanks. I am feeling a cold coming on.

- Have you ever tried them?
- No, I haven't.

It's nice to have a chance to speak
to customers directly.

It makes my work feel
even more rewarding.

This is my treasure.

On my last day after working
four months at the factory...

my colleagues wrote me this.

"Thank you for bringing us together,
and for being such a huge help at work!"

On my last day at the factory, I cried
every time I saw a colleague.

I said I wanted to come back.

I'm going to cry again.