Rakuten pitcher Shoma Fujihira attended contract negotiations at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi on the 1st, signing a contract for an annual salary of 80 million yen, an increase of 40 million yen (all amounts are estimates). He pitched as a member of Samurai Japan in a training match against the South Korean national team in November. "I was able to hold pitcher meeting, and I had a lot to talk about with everyone. It was inspiring," he said, noting that he felt a lot from interacting with high-level players. Among them, he said that the person who inspired him the most was The Giants pitcher Ose, with whom he is good friends.

The balls he throws, the nerve he has at mound. I could feel from being close to him that he still hasn't caught up to me. I want to work hard in the off-season to close the gap so that I can catch up and overtake him. He pitched in the same relief lineup for his team and knows both the pain and the joy of pitching, so there are many things he can relate to. In addition, he also interacted with Chunichi Shinya Matsuyama pitcher, Nippon-Ham, Koki Kitayama, pitcher, Seibu, Kaima Taira, pitcher and other relievers of the same generation. Not to be outdone by his "rivals," he will continue to beat his opponents hitter next season with his fastest straight ball of 157 km/h and sharply falling fork.