By Kirsten Grind

December 16th, 2007

Seattle Times 

Masami Hasegawa isn't a tour guide or a travel agent.

But late last month, the Kent youth-baseball coach found himself leading 19 high-school age baseball players and their parents on a 10-day visit to Japan.

The group of 42 visited three cities, and the athletes played 12 games against Japanese teams on a tour that was completely organized by Hasegawa.

It's his idea of a really good time.

Over the past four years, Hasegawa, 60, has led two similar trips to Japan, taking student athletes, their parents and coaches. He organizes every detail of the visit, from transportation down to meals and meet-and-greets with local dignitaries.

It's his way of showing off his home country to students and their families.

Read on...