It has been three years since the death of Katsuya Nomura, who led the team to Japan three times as the manager of the professional baseball team Yakult, on the 11th.

A moment of silence was observed at the Yakult campsite in Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture, and manager Shingo Takatsu said, "I am very aware that there is a chance to win three times in a row, and I will do my best to win the league title three times in a row." We will only fight," he said with renewed determination.

Mr. Nomura was appointed manager of Yakult in 1990, and built a golden era, leading the team to three wins in Japan with "ID baseball," which emphasizes data.



On the 11th, three years after Mr. Nomura passed away, Yakult received guidance from the players before the start of practice, coach Takatsu, who was active under Mr. Nomura, temporary coach Atsuya Furuta, and Mr. Nomura at Rakuten. Coach Motohiro Shima and others offered a moment of silence.



This season, Mr. Nomura is working to raise the team's strength for the first time in the history of the team to win the league title for the third consecutive time, something that Mr. Nomura could not achieve even when he was a manager. However, young players appealed, such as 21-year-old Hideki Nagaoka, who grabbed the shortstop regular and flew a sharp liner hit ball.



Director Takatsu said, "In my heart, I tighten my loincloth and think about trying one more time. It's a day that marks a turning point. I think it's my job to convey Mr. Nomura's teachings to the current Swallows. I'm very aware that I have a chance to win three times in a row, so it won't be easy, but I'll just give it my all."

Extraordinary coach Furuta "Teacher for the team and for me"

Atsuya Furuta, who is a temporary coach of Yakult, said about Katsuya Nomura, "Manager Nomura was a teacher and an influence for both this team and me. He was a great person again. Director Nomura often told me to use my head. He said, "I want the current players to feel that they can win against strong teams if they have a grounded way of thinking and preparation."