Masumi Kuwata has spent most of his life in the spotlight of stardom and publicity.
As one of Japan's all-time outstanding baseball stars, with a 23-year professional career behind him, this 42-year-old from Osaka Prefecture began capturing headlines at the tender age of 15 when he first shone as a pitcher for Osaka-based PL-Gakuen in the national high school baseball tournament held annually at Hyogo's Hanshin Koshien Stadium — popularly known as the "Koshien."
The tournament, held every year since 1915 (apart from a five-year break during World War II), is arguably the most popular amateur sports event in Japan, and to merely take part — let alone win — is the dream of every young player in the land.