Masahiro Tanaka, who has returned to professional baseball and Rakuten, wrote his name on the flag of the local firefighting music corps in Sendai City, which was signed by the team's first member who won the number one spot in Japan, over eight years.
Since pitcher Tanaka has transferred to the major leagues, he has not been able to sign until now, and he has sent a message saying, "I think it is something that I was able to write 10 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake."
"At the timing of 10 years after the earthquake"
This flag was used by the Sendai City Fire Fighting Music Corps in a parade to celebrate Rakuten's first time in Japan, which was held eight years ago in November 2013.
After that, at the request of the music corps, the main players such as director Senichi Hoshino at that time and Motohiro Shima, a catcher, signed and presented it, and the music corps put it up every activity.
However, pitcher Tanaka, who became the leading player in Japan with a record of 24 wins and 0 losses, could not write his autograph because he transferred to the major leagues.
Pitcher Tanaka, who returned to Rakuten this time, was willing to accept the request from the music troupe and wrote a sign for eight years in the margin of the flag last month during the Okinawa camp.
He also sent a message to the music troupe, saying, "I think it's something that I was able to write 10 years after the earthquake. I'd like to do my best this season so that I can make a new flag." ..
Ken Sasaki, the deputy captain of the music corps who participated in the parade eight years ago, received the flag with the signature of pitcher Tanaka and said, "I am grateful that the space reserved for pitcher Tanaka was filled in the 10th anniversary of the earthquake. I would like to get more power from this flag and work hard with hope, and in the fall of this year, I would like to parade again with a new flag. "
Tanaka "A new flag again"
Pitcher Tanaka has sent a message to the Sendai City Fire Fighting Band with a sign for eight years.
"Hello, everyone. It is Masahiro Tanaka. Winning a member of the 2013, to I did not even I know of that had to put a sign on the flag, and who have to take care everyone is still, also listed at the time of the training I was surprised because I didn't really know that he was doing it, and I'm very happy as a member. It's been 10 years since the earthquake, and I was able to write the sign on the flag. I'm wondering if it's a connection. I've returned to the team for the first time in eight years, so I'll do my best this season so that I can make a new flag again. Thank you for your support. "