On the 24th, Softbank manager Hiroki Kokubo held a press conference the day before the SMBC Japan Series 2025, which is just the next day.

Softbank advanced to the Japan Series with a 4-3 record in the CS final stage against Nippon-Ham. Manager Kokubo commented on his current state of mind, saying, "We were fighting fiercely until Monday, so I feel relatively calm and like we can keep up that momentum."

This will be his second consecutive year as manager in the Japan Series. When asked what is important in this year's Japan Series, he analyzed, "I think the most important thing in order to win is to bring it to our fighting spirit. Since the middle of the year, The Hawks 'baseball has been to close with the likes of Fujii, Matsumoto, and Sugiyama, who have been active since the middle of the season, so I think it will be most important to bring it to that form."

In order to bring the battle to a winning pattern, he said, "I think it will be difficult to take advantage unless the starter makes a solid game, so the opponent Hanshin Tigers batting line is more like a line that doesn't need a warning starter, because it probably won't change until the 5th in right or left. A strong batting lineup and a starter pitcher will make the game. I think that is the first condition," he said emphatically.

Regarding the batting lineup, he said, "Ideally this year we would have had a fixed lineup with regular members and reserves with designated roles, but that fell apart early in the season and it's been more of a flexible, adaptable battle, so I'd like to continue being adaptable."

Finally, he said enthusiastically, "Whether we laugh or cry, it will all be over in a week, so we have to have complete faith in the players, and everyone will be exhausted, but we will fight until the very end for a week and try to win the championship in Japan."

(Nippon Broadcasting System Show Up Night Game Reporting Team)