Natasha Watley's Blog

OK so I apologize, but things have been real busy here! So I haven’t had much time to write. Time has
flown by since I last wrote. This is our last week here! Excited to come home, but have some unfinished
business to take care of here first. Our final tournament is this weekend! We are the #1 seed going into the
tournament and the 1st game we face the #2 seed, “Ueno’s team” also known as Renesus. Ueno is the
Japanese pitcher the USA team faced in the Gold medal game at the Olympics. She is very popular here in
Japan, and a really good pitcher, so you know you are going to get a good game when you face her. So we
have 2 games, maybe 3 games to win the tournament. If we win the first game we automatically move into
the championship game the next day. So send your good vibes towards Japan for us please!!!!
When I last wrote we were on our way to the Japan tournament, something completely separate from the
league games. We ended up loosing in the championship game vs. Renesus team (”Ueno’s team”). We
played 5 games in 3 days, so I was pretty much drained in every way possible afterwards. So again please
accept my apology for not updating=). After we resumed playing league games, our team bounced right
back, (beating Renesus the first weekend back) moving into 1st place and never looked back since! So
hopefully we continue this right into this weekend!

Ok so enough softball……since I last wrote Monica and I have done A LOT of traveling/sightseeing on our
off days. This also explains why we have been so busy. We were able to travel to Osaka, to shop, sightsee,
and relax, but mainly to see BEYONCE!!!!!! So all of you know my obsession with Beyonce, so it was a
real treat to see her on the other side of the world in Japan. It was such an experience seeing her in Japan,
1st of all the fact that the entire audience didn’t really know a lick of English but was still captivated by her
was amusing to me. I on the other hand knew EVERY word, to EVERY song, and I’m sure I was more
entertainment for the people sitting behind us than Beyonce..lol! This was truly the closes I’ve ever been to
her, we were in the floor seats and when she made her way down the center stage that went through the
middle of the audience, we were able to push our way through and be right by the stage. In fact, I believe
Beyonce and I had a moment. I was THAT girl with her hands in the air, knowing all the words and ummm
crying…lol!!!! Beyonce saw me (since I towered over everyone else) she stopped, looked and then smiled at
me (or the person behind me)!!! lol!! Oh yes, by the way, Osaka was a nice city too! Monica and I did a lot
of shopping!!

My mom also visited last week for our last week of league games along with my good friend Jessica. It was
great to have a chance to share them with my team. I was glad that my Mom was able to see how I have
been living for the past 6 months. My team enjoyed them and showed My Mom and Jessica a great time.
Showed them a great meal of Shabu Shabu! After we played My Mom, Jessica, Monica and I were able to
leave the team and spend a couple days in Tokyo. We tore up the city by shopping in Roppongi, Harajuku,
and Shibuya!

Below are some more pictures, but that is pretty much the update. Keep your fingers crossed and I will
update on how we do after finals this weekend!
Go Toyota!!!

Hello All!!
As most of you know I’m back in Japan. I have been back for almost two weeks now and already the time
has flown by and feels like we have been here for a month. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. But
nonetheless I have been having a blast. It was great to be reunited with all the girls on the team, and get
back on the field with them, after a long summer away. The season is split into 2 halfs, so we are in the
same season. Before we left for the summer we were in a 3-way tie for 1st place. And after our first weekend of league play we are still in a 3 way tie!!!
Our team had a great weekend, winning 2 games in DRAMATIC fashion. Our first game we came from
behind to beat a team (that beat us last half) 8-3! Our second game went 9 innings!! we ending up winning
4-1!!! So keep wishing us luck!! Next up is another big weekend against Toyota Shoikki, which is where
my old USA teammate Jenny Topping and current USA teammate Katie Burkhart play for!
Also upon our return, the girls threw us a welcome back park where we ate yakitori, which is chicken on a
stick!!! Oishi!!that means delicious!!! Also our coach took us out to eat to Yakiniku, which is also
delicious!
When I was home I tried to describe to a few people how we pray to the field everyday. Basically they all
line up on the foul line, and thank the softball gods for the opportunity to play, then we bow to the field,
then it’s time to play! Wo do this EVERYDAY!!! It’s something that I have grown to appreciate to get to
pause time and be thankful for everything. I think one of the things I admire the most about the Japanese
culture is that they are ssoooo appreciative of everything!!!!
That’s it for now!!! Hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday weekend! Wish us luck!!
Go Toyota!!!
Natasha

Hello Everyone!!
I hope all is going well at home. Things are moving along here in Japan! Since I last wrote so much has
happened in a span of a week. As I write we are on a 7 hour bus ride…yes I said 7 hours… very
loooonnggg!!!!! We are on our way to a big tournament that is held every year. There are teams from the
lower division, higher division and some college teams. It is a single elimination tournament, so we have
some big games coming up!
In the last week, we had a loss in one of our league games and now we are in 3rd place. Before the loss, we
were in a 3-way tie for 1st, we lost to one of the teams that was in the 3-way tie with us. So now there is a
2-way tie for 1st place, and we move to 3rd place. The loss in my mind was good for us because it kept
things in perspective, and keeps us working hard! We will have to face the same team hopefully this
weekend in the tournament and maybe at the league championships. We definatley have our work cut out
for us between our tournament this weekend and the rest of league.
Now to some fun stuff…so this past week we had a break in between our last league games and the
tournament. So we were able to have some days off and sometime for fun!!
One evening 2 of our teammates took Monica and I into Nagoya for a nice steak dinner at Outback!!!
Awesome!!! It was definitley needed to get away and have a FAMILIAR meal! Then we finished a perfect
meal with a trip to Starbucks, I couldn’t have asked for a better evening. It was our teammates first time to
Outback, so it was neat to show them what we eat!

This past weekend we had the longest 48 hours! We did more in two days than we have done the entire time
we have been here. On Saturday, we had an early morning because we had a doubleheader practice game.
Then after the game our whole team went to team toyotas Rugby game. Which was an experience for
Monica and I because we had never been, or seen a rugby game played. I have no idea how the rules work,
even after watching the game, but I do know Toyota won!! (interesting sport) Then as soon as we returned
home from the rugby game, we decided to take an adventure to Nagoya since we had Sunday off. We
decided to figure out the train system to Nagoya since every time we have been it has been by car and then
we planned on spending the night there so that we could wake up and spend the day in Nagoya. So you all
know how I feel about adventure, if you remember our bike ride story, so this time I let Monica do all of
figuring out of how the train system worked. She did great! She knew better than to let me lead, because last
time I led, I led us to a 2 hour bike ride!
Upon our arrival to Nagoya safely and easily, we wanted to experience the night life! So by this time we
were already exhausted but figure “you only live once”. It wasn’t long before we decided we had seen
enough and went back to the hotel to get some rest. The next day after we woke up in Nagoya, we had the chance to experience a Japanese professional baseball game at the Nagoya dome. Luckily, I have a friend
that plays for the Yokohoma Bay stars, that left tickets for us. It was the Nagoya Dragons vs. Yokohoma
Bay Stars. That game was definitley a different experience! Japanese fans are much quieter compared to
american fans. They were so calm the entire game. I’m used to rowdy fans yelling and screaming the entire
game. All in all we had the busiest 48 hours, but had a great time! They had cheerleaders at a baseball game…crazy!!!
That’s the update here in Japan. Please wish us luck this next weekend in our tournament! talk to you all
soon. Go Toyota!!!
Natasha

Ohiyo..Good Morning!
Man this trip flew by! We already return home tomorrow!
Today is the gold medal game versus Japan. Yesterday was a long day. We had a doubleheader vs Chinese
Taipei and Japan. We won both games with scores of 9-2 (vs. Taipei) and 6-1 (vs. Japan). With the playoff
rounds we are match to meet Japan again, so today should be a great game. We always have a great match
up between Japan.
We have been having a great time here. Jennie (Finch) is my roommate, so it’s been fun hanging out with
her. We are easily entertained, so we are constantly laughing at something!!!
Hope all is well at home. Wishing our other halves good luck in Venezuela at the Pan-American qualifier!!!
We miss them mucho!!!!
Go USA
#29

Day 1 down, 2 more to go!!! We had a great win against Australia today! Tomorrow will be a long day for
us. We have a doubleheader against Chinese Taipei and Japan. Going to get a good nights rest since I had
an early morning today. I woke up at 4am this morning, so I have been up for a long time today =)
Go USA!

I know that it has been a while since I last wrote but things are busy as usual. We just arrived yesterday
days ago after an 11-hour flight and a 5-hour bus ride. What a day! It’s great to be back in Japan. I almost
feel like this is my second home since I have spent so much time here in the last year. The people are
always so welcoming and hospitable, so it makes it very easy to travel here!
We have a practice today, and have our first game tomorrow vs. Australia.
This is our last competition for the summer, so we want to try and end it on a high note!
Before arriving here in Japan, I had a couple days off in between our last events in Canada and our World
Cup in Oklahoma. It was great to be home for a couple of days to catch up with friends and family. I’m
looking forward to the 3 weeks that I will have off when I return from Japan before I head back to Japan at
the end of June for 3 months of my pro season.
I really enjoyed getting everyone congrat comments after our World Cup!!! Keep the questions and e-mails
coming! I love hearing from you all! I will try to write often while we are here to keep everyone updated!

Konichiwa!!!!

Time has really been flying by. I come home in less than a month. I can’t believe it
It has been a couple weeks since I last wrote. Things are still going great here in Japan. After this last
weekend of league games we are 5-0!!! We are halfway through the first half of the season. We are really
doing well, but we definately have some big games coming up in the next weekends. This past weekend we
played in Kagoshima, which is about a 2 hour plane flight south from where we live. It’s the complete
opposite from where we live, we were near water and the weather had a tropical feel!!! So it felt like a
vacation destination, which was nice. Where we live is more rural and country-like. We had a neat view
from our hotel of an active Volcano.
I have to admit the time last week did feel a little slow in comparison to my total time here because we had
a week break in between our league play, so we had a lot of time on our hands. With 3 straight days of rain
during the week, practicing indoors got old, but we were left with a lot free time on our hands, which was good. One night some of our teammates took Monica and I to Hard Rock Cafe in Nagoya. We introduced
our teammates to Nachos, which was hilarious. They had never heard of nachos before, but they loved it! (
but how could you not??? lol)
Also=2 0during last week Monica and I visited one of the actual plants where the Toyota Corolla and IQ
were made. We actually saw the monotony of an assembly line which was amazing to witness, probably not
as cool for the workers..lol. It was neat to see how fast the men worked on each car, they have certain
amount of time on each car to perform their certain task. If they don’t finish they are expected to stop the
line, because Toyota is all about “quality”. We also learned that it takes about 6 hours to make a car from
start to finish.
We also had a funny little story…usually on our day off Monica and I will ride our bikes to our favorite
restaurant “Louisiana Mama” then we will go grocery shopping for the week. So on this particular day off I
decided to change it up a little. Usually Monica wants to do a little more exploring than I do (lol) so I
thought I would come out of my comfort zone and be “adventurous”…but my idea of adventurous is taking
a new route to our favorite restaurant. I thought this would be a great idea because 1.we had a map, 2.we
could also see what else was close to us, 3. we always go the same boring way! Little did we know that we
were going to see a little more of Japan than we actually wanted. What usually takes us 10 minutes by bike
the “boring” way, took us 2 hours the “shortcut” way….lol oh man once we figured where we were, we
were not even remotely close to “Louisiana Mama”…..I was just trying to picture the way Monica and I
looked, on our bikes, in Japan….cracks me up every time!!! Luckily the people here are so friendly they
were able to help us out!
Lastly,just wanted to reassure everyone to not worry about Monica and I, today we discovered an
international market, so we were able to get some tortilla chips, salsa, tortillas, taco sauce and seasoning!!!
We are celebrating our Cinco De Mayo a little late!!
Well still missing everyone…take care!!
Go Bruins!! (my softball bruins in postseason)
Go Lakers!!
Go Toyota!!
Natasha

So it has definitely been really eventful around here the past 2 weeks!
Last week when I last wrote we were going start our toyota cup and see most of the teams from our league. We ended up winning 6 games and ended 1 game in a tie!!! So it was
great confidence heading into our league games that started this weekend!
We got to play in the Seibu Dome, outside of Tokyo, which is20where one of Japan Major
league baseball team plays. So the set up and atmosphere was great. There were a lot of
softball fans there. All 12 teams from the league were there and played their opening game
there. Monica and I were able to see some of the other Americans that are on the other
teams, so it was good to have conversations where people could understand us and
compare notes on how or experiences were going. So far they are all enjoying their teams
and the culture here!!!
Our opening game was versus Toyota Shoikki. We won 3-1!!! it was a great game!! Monica
pitched great. It was a great win for our team because Shoikki has either finished 1st or 2nd
the last couple years. So it was great confidence for our team heading into the rest of
league!! Wish us luck for the rest of league!!
So we have had a couple fun things that we have done this far. After our Toyota cup 2
weekends ago, our teammates took us to a Cherry Blossom festival. Here in Japan when it
turns spring, the Cherry Blossom trees bloom and are beautiful!!! It’s tradition where you
have a picnic in the evening, under the trees and celebrate the spring. A lot of people come
out and eat, sing karaoke, and enjoy the sceanery. The trees are so pretty, looks like snow
in the spring time!(I have attached some pics)
Cherry Blossum Party
Lastly, Monica was contacted by a youth director from the US military to do a clinic on their
base and she brought me along! !! So after our game in the Seibu Dome, we got to spend
another night in Tokyo at a military hotel! I got to see sports center, eat Mexican food, and
see Americans!!!! It was great!!! the military base is 1 hour outside of Tokyo so after
spending the night in the city, the next morning we were able to do a little shopping before
heading to the base. I even got to pick up a few things from Mizuno!! Once getting to the
base, Camp Zama, it was great seeing the kids of amazing parents. People who protect our
country miles away from home, and having to relocate family. These kids are very fortunate
because they get great schooling on base, and are able to travel the world! They try to
provide them with a normal lifestyle as much as possible. So it was great to see some kids
that were excited and eager to learn a few things about the game! It was such an honor
being on the base!!!
I hope everyone had a blessed Easter!!

Missing you all!!
Natasha