Hideki Matsui, who was active in professional baseball, giants, major leagues, Yankees, etc., opened a baseball class in the United States on the 24th.
Regarding Yakult's Munetaka Murakami, who is expected to hit the 56th home run of the season, the most by any Japanese player, he said, "I think No. 55 equals Murakami. That's the era." I was.
After retiring from playing baseball, Mr. Matsui runs an NPO that aims to popularize baseball in the United States.
On the 24th, I held a baseball clinic for local elementary and junior high school students at a Yankees minor league facility.
At the end, he showed off his batting in front of the children, and flew a big hit over the fence in the outfield with a form reminiscent of his playing days.
Mr. Matsui, who responded to the interview after the class, said, "The star players I played with always valued the basics, so I wanted to convey that. I think," he said with a smile.
Regarding the fact that Yakult's Murakami, who wears the same number "55" as Matsui, has hit 55 home runs so far this season, tying in with the season record for most Japanese players, he said, "I appreciate him because he is such a wonderful player. I can't. Recently, when it comes to number 55, it's not me but him. I think it's the era where number 55 equals Murakami."
Next month, Matsui will hold his first baseball clinic in Japan in four years in his hometown of Ishikawa Prefecture.