Softbank Hiroki Kokubo, the manager of the Japan Series, was interviewed after a night practice session at Koshien on March 27. He said of the out-of-form Akira Nakamura infielder, "Akira can't make the Japan Series. （He won't be coming (to Koshien). See you next year.

The 35-year-old veteran collided with the first base umpire while base running the bases in the fourth game of the final stage of the CS on the 18th and was rushed to the hospital during the game. After the start of the Japan Series, he was left off the bench for both games due to "discomfort in his right hip."

This season, he batted .240 with 3 Home Run and 34 RBI in 115 games. He batted fourth in 40 games, second only to Yamakawa's 68 games, and supported the batting line-up with his strong hitting. In the final S of the CS, he batted fourth in the first, second, and fourth games while Kondo was absent due to a flank injury.

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