Consul General Takahashi's Visit to City of Springfield, MA (June 9, 2026)
June 15, 2026
Meeting with the Mayor of Springfield
The Springfield College YMCA Hall of Fame, which collects and preserves the history and archives of the YMCA
The first basketball rule book
A sketch by Genzaburo Ishikawa
On June 9, Consul General Takahashi visited the City of Springfield, MA. Springfield is a sister city of Takikawa in Hokkaido Prefecture.
During his visit, Consul General Takahashi met with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and they agreed to strengthen cooperation, with a focus on the sister-city relationship.
Consul General Takahashi also visited the Springfield College, which annually hosts the U.S. study program for students from Kokugakuin University Hokkaido Junior College located in Takikawa City, and held talks with President Mary-Beth Cooper and others.
Springfield College traces its origins to the International YMCA Training School where James Naismith invented basketball. The college is the alma mater of two Japanese exchange students, Genjiro Ishikawa, who participated in the world’s first basketball game, and Hyozo Omori, who first introduced basketball and volleyball to Japan.
Consul General Takahashi also toured the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
During his visit, Consul General Takahashi met with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and they agreed to strengthen cooperation, with a focus on the sister-city relationship.
Consul General Takahashi also visited the Springfield College, which annually hosts the U.S. study program for students from Kokugakuin University Hokkaido Junior College located in Takikawa City, and held talks with President Mary-Beth Cooper and others.
Springfield College traces its origins to the International YMCA Training School where James Naismith invented basketball. The college is the alma mater of two Japanese exchange students, Genjiro Ishikawa, who participated in the world’s first basketball game, and Hyozo Omori, who first introduced basketball and volleyball to Japan.
Consul General Takahashi also toured the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Meeting with Professor Yazawa of Springfield College and Mr. Monseau of the YMCA Hall of Fame
Meeting with President Mary-Beth Cooper of Springfield College
Statue of Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball
“FIRST TEAM” at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Members of "FIRST TEAM"
Mr. Genzaburo Ishikawa, the only Japanese member of the Basketball Hall of Fame