A Historic Recognition

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te presented Japanese baseball star Wang Zhenzhi with the “First Class Medal of Stars” on February 26th. The ceremony highlighted Wang Zhenzhi’s remarkable career and the strong baseball connection between Taiwan and Japan.

Record-Breaking Legacy

President Lai Ching-te emphasized the significance of Wang Zhenzhi’s achievement, stating that his record of 868 home runs is the common pride of Taiwan and Japan. The President acknowledged Wang Zhenzhi’s impact on fans in both countries and around the world.

“World Home Run King” Wang Sadaharu is a well-known baseball hero. His life-long life of hanging on to one ball and his original “one-foot play” set a world record of 868 home runs and inspired the hearts of fans in Japan, Taiwan and the world.

Lai Ching-te

Support for the World Baseball Classic

With the World Baseball Classic (WBC) approaching, Wang Zhenzhi expressed his confidence in the Taiwanese team, calling them the strongest ever. He voiced his hope for a collaborative effort between Taiwan and Japan, aiming for advancement to the decisive battle and elevating Asian baseball on the global stage.

Wang Zhenzhi also presented President Lai with an autographed baseball, a Japanese painting fairy board, and a Fukuoka SoftBank Eagles jacket. President Lai jokingly responded, “Are you going to sign me up?” before adding, “I can’t even be called a cheerleader.”

A Shared Passion for Baseball

The event also saw Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Meng-an and Chief Executive Officer Toh Wing-tai share their long-held admiration for Wang Zhenzhi. Pan Meng-an recounted his childhood attempts to emulate Wang Zhenzhi’s unique batting stance, the scarecrow style, with humorous results.

The group, including President Lai, Wang Zhenzhi, Zhuo Rongtai, and Pan Meng-an, recreated Wang Zhenzhi’s iconic “scarecrow” batting pose, paying tribute to his legendary career.

Dual National Honors

President Lai noted that Wang Zhenzhi was awarded the “Medal of Culture” by the Japanese Emperor in November of the previous year, complementing his recent recognition with the “First Class Medal of Stars” from Taiwan. He described these honors as the highest honors of the two countries, representing a shared source of pride.

Wang Zhenzhi’s Gratitude

Upon receiving the medal, Wang Zhenzhi expressed his deep honor and gratitude for the President’s words of encouragement. He reflected on the friendships forged through baseball throughout his life and his fortunate journey through the sport.