Hanshin's professional baseball team, Akifu Okada, and his players prayed for victory at a shrine in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, aiming for a consecutive victory.
Since 1962, the year after Hanshin won their first league championship, they have held a prayer for victory at Nishinomiya Shrine near Koshien Stadium every year around this time.
On the 7th, about 100 people visited the shrine, including Manager Okada and player Koji Chikamoto, who won the title of Stealing Base Player for the second year in a row.
During the ritual, after the Shinto priest gave a blessing, Coach Okada and others offered a tamagushi to pray for Japan's victory for the second consecutive year.
Hanshin has made many adjustments, such as holding open games, and is putting the finishing touches on building a team that will aim to win back-to-back championships for the first time in team history.
After visiting the shrine, Coach Okada expressed his feelings by saying, ``I feel like the opening day is finally approaching.''
On the ema, he wrote his determination to ``win consecutively'' and said, ``I want everyone to win the season together and aim for a consecutive victory.I want everyone on the team to be in top condition for the season opener.'' Ta.
Professional baseball in both the Central and Pacific Leagues will begin on March 29th, with Hanshin facing the Giants at Tokyo Dome.