3月28日、午後4時のサザンビーチ。この場所では、少年野球は最も愛されているスポーツの一つです。手前では、小学生らしき少年と、紅一点、少し年上に見えるお姉さんが真剣にボールを投げ合っています。その奥でも、少年同士が夢中でキャッチボール。バッターは居ないようですが、投げられたボールを捕るのは意外と難しいものです。時々ポロリと取り損ねるのも、またご愛敬。まだ試合にはなりませんが、ここは文字通り「草野球の入口」。将来の大谷選手を夢見て、白球を追う背中には思わずエールを送りたくなります。

ふとサイクリングロードに目を向ければ、ジョギングに精を出す人、自転車にボードを積んで走るサーファー、犬と散歩するおじさん、そしてスマホ片手に歩く女性や仲睦まじい親子連れ。

同じ時刻、世界のどこかでは戦火に怯える人々がいることを思うと、こうして平和な日常の中で、予測可能な明日を信じられることの尊さが身に染みます。この穏やかな湘南の春が、いかに貴重な宝物であるかを再確認させてくれる、そんな夕暮れ前の一幕でした。

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Sandlot Dreams: White Balls Dancing in the Spring Breeze

March 28th, shortly after 4 PM. Southern Beach has transformed into a vast playground, with people gathered across the sands to play ball. Youth baseball is clearly one of the favorite pastimes here. In the foreground, a young boy is playing catch with a girl who looks a bit older. Further back, another pair of boys is engrossed in their own game of catch. There are no batters in sight, but catching a thrown ball is harder than it looks. Every now and then, a ball slips through their hands—a charming part of the learning process. They aren’t ready for a real game yet; this is the very beginning of “sandlot baseball”. Watching them chase their dreams of becoming the next Shohei Ohtani, one can’t help but root for them.

On the nearby cycling road, the scene is equally lively: joggers, surfers on bicycles, a man walking his dog, a woman on her smartphone, and families strolling together.

Thinking about how other parts of the world are under the shadow of war at this very moment, it makes one realize how precious it is to live in peace and have a predictable tomorrow. This peaceful spring afternoon in Shonan is a reminder of just how invaluable these quiet, everyday moments truly are.