Led By Shohei Ohtani's Father, Japanese Youth Baseball Team To Play 'Friendship Games' In South Bay City

TORRANCE, CA — A youth baseball team from Japan is visiting the South Bay this week to take part in the inaugural Torrance Friendship Games.

The Torrance Friendship Games are meant to be a week-long celebration of youth baseball, cultural exchange and international collaboration, according to city officials.

"Hosting the Torrance Friendship Games are about more than just baseball, it creates meaningful opportunities to promote international friendships, tourism and lay the groundwork for future economic development and global partnerships," Torrance Mayor George K. Chen said in a statement.

The youth baseball team from Oshu, Japan, which is made up of 20 student athletes, will be coached by Toru Ohtani, the father of Dodgers' superstar Shohei Ohtani. Led by 310 Baseball, a local youth baseball nonprofit, the team will play a series of free-to-attend exhibition games across the city.

"We hope that this exchange will be a wonderful experience for both teams," Oshu city officials commented on Torrance's Instagram page Thursday. "We are cheering for you all the way from Oshu City."

Here are the exhibition game schedules:

• Friday — North High School, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Saturday — Opening Ceremony and Games at Kendall Field (Torrance Park), 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Sunday — South High School, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

"As Torrance looks ahead, events like Friendship games play a key role in the city's broader strategy to promote itself as a safe, accesible and welcoming destination for global visitors, particularly in the lead up to international sporting milestones such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic games," Torrance city officials said.