Hideki Kuriyama, director of professional baseball and Nippon-Ham, held a resignation interview and recalled, "I've never been so happy that I've been desperate for my favorite baseball game until this year."
Kuriyama, who will retire this season, has led the team for 10 years, leading to the league championship in the first year, the second league championship in the fifth year, and the third in Japan's history.
Coach Kuriyama held a resignation press conference at Sapporo Dome on the 1st, looking back on the 10 years and continued to say, "I want the players to take the plunge and play baseball, and I am responsible for winning and losing. I didn't criticize it. "
On top of that, "I've never been so happy to be so desperate for my favorite baseball game until this year. However, I'm really sorry that I wasn't happy to win with my fans less often than I expected. I said.
Regarding the appointment of Tsuyoshi Shinjo, an alumnus of the baseball team, to succeed Kuriyama, he said, "When I talk, I have a solid view of baseball, and I really feel the kindness and compassion to please everyone. I think that he will win by thinking about the players while playing baseball that is not available. "
At the end of the press conference, a bouquet was handed to Director Kuriyama by the team staff, but immediately after that, Kenshi Sugiya ran to the press conference and appeared, yelling "Wait a minute".
Sugiya said, "Thank you for 10 years. Thank you for your hard work." He gave Kuriyama a new bouquet and expressed his gratitude.