VISIONARY PLUS
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VISION+ EDUCATION

EXPANDING FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

For many student-athletes, sport can open the door to educational opportunities they may never otherwise have considered.

VISION+ Education is developing pathways that help student-athletes and families better understand and explore higher education opportunities in the United States and internationally.

Students walking across a U.S. university campus

U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION

The United States offers a wide range of academic and athletic pathways across NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA institutions, junior colleges and other higher-education options.

Our goal is to help student-athletes look beyond a single level or destination and better understand where their academic goals, athletic ability and personal aspirations may fit.

PREPARING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

Higher education abroad involves academics, language, finances, personal development and adapting to a new environment.

Through educational programs, university engagement and collaboration with qualified partners, Visionary Plus seeks to help young people and families make more informed decisions about what may be possible.

OPENING CONNECTIONS

As VISION+ Education develops, programs may include university visits, educational sessions, mentoring and opportunities to learn directly from appropriate institutions and partners.

The goal is simple: help young people see more possibilities for their future.

Itsuki Takemoto at Koshien, the Perfect Game All-American Classic, the University of Hawaiʻi and the MLB Draft

STUDENT-ATHLETE STORY

ITSUKI TAKEMOTO

Chiben Wakayama → Perfect Game All-American Classic → University of Hawaiʻi (NCAA Division I) → MLB Draft

Itsuki Takemoto is a student-athlete whose journey represents an emerging pathway from Japanese high school baseball to opportunities on the international stage. A standout pitcher at Chiben Wakayama High School, he gained national recognition during the school's championship run at the 2021 Japanese High School Baseball Championship, helping Chiben Wakayama capture the Summer Koshien national title.

Takemoto was subsequently selected to participate in the prestigious Perfect Game All-American Classic, where he gained exposure to elite international competition. That experience helped open the door to opportunities in the United States and ultimately to the University of Hawaiʻi, where he continued his academic and athletic career at the NCAA Division I level.

Following his collegiate career, Takemoto was selected by the Athletics in the Major League Baseball Draft. His progression from Koshien champion to an international showcase, NCAA Division I baseball, and the MLB Draft demonstrates that the pathways available to talented Japanese student-athletes can extend far beyond Japan.

Takemoto is now a supporter of Visionary Plus, formerly Perfect Game Japan, and its expanded mission. Having personally experienced how sport can create access to education, international relationships and opportunities beyond one's home country, he understands the importance of giving the next generation more ways to discover what may be possible.

PROGRAMS

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