Japanese baseball team to donate 10 million yen for earthquake relief

Taipei, April 5 (CNA) A Nippon Professional Baseball league team will donate at least 10 million Japanese yen (US$66,112) to Taiwan for relief purposes after Taiwan was hit by its strongest earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday morning.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Yomiuri Giants said the money will come mostly from funds raised in previous charity activities by the team's social contribution group, titled "G hands."

It will raise additional funds through a "We love Taiwan! Taiwan, keep going!" charity campaign launched in response to the magnitude 7.2 Hualien earthquake.

That will involve a three-day emergency fundraising campaign starting Friday in conjunction with the club's home series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

In addition, the franchise will sell charity T-shirts for disaster relief and hold a charity auction featuring T-shirts signed by players, the Giants wrote, without providing other details.

All of the funds raised will be donated to disaster-stricken areas in Taiwan, the Giants said.

Referring to the two exhibition games it played in Taipei in early March to celebrate the franchise's 90th anniversary, the Giants said that their connection with Taiwan motivated them to launch the campaign.

The crowd of 37,890 that packed the Taipei Dome for the game between the Giants and the CTBC Brothers on March 2 set an attendance record at the multifunctional venue.

Their game with the Rakuten Monkeys the next day also drew 30,890 fans to the only indoor baseball stadium in Taiwan.

Update

April 5

● Japanese baseball team to donate 10 million yen for earthquake relief

● Japan pledges US$1 million donation to earthquake-hit Taiwan

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