A "confessional conversation" between Orix Buffaloes 's manager Mamoru Kishida (44) and pitcher coach Yoshihisa Hirano (41) was recently held. Kishida, who took charge for the first time this season, has lifted the team from fifth place last year to third place, and Hirano, who has contributed as a constant guardian angel, is now in his 21st year as a professional in his new role as pitcher coach. The two were drafted in the same year in 2005 and have built a brotherly relationship. They shared their passionate desire to win the league championship for the first time in three years next season. (Interview and editing by Nagata Toru and Nanbu Shunta)

- Manager Kishida is in his second year in charge, and pitcher Hirano is now also serving as a coach. Looking back on the fall training camp in Kochi.

Coach Kishida (hereafter referred to as Kishi): "I want each player to clarify what they need to do individually in the fall and then go into the off-season. It's important that each player understands themselves. That's what I was watching. I wasn't going to tell them what to do or what not to do. I was watching the players' faces and expressions when they were talking with the coach."

Hirano (hereafter Hira): "My first priority when I came to Kochi was to learn from the coaches. I also got a real sense of how much the coaches think about and act on each individual player. Now, the players do what they want, and if there's a slight deviation, they correct the course. What surprised me about the training camp was that Coach Kishida doesn't say anything."

Kishi: "It's important to follow the order and not jump ahead. The coaches are also studying, so we have to work in harmony."

Taira: For example, if there was a kid who was throwing in a similar way to Coach Kishida, I think he would immediately say so. But he doesn't say anything. He's making us look good, right?

Kishi: "It's impossible for all of my thoughts to be correct. If something becomes the right answer just because 'the coach said so,' it's not good for the players. If I casually tell them to do this or that, and it turns out to be the right answer even if it's wrong, that shouldn't happen."

Taira: "Until now, our relationships have been between players, between players and coaches, and between players and managers. But now that I'm acting as half coach, it's easier to get closer to him. It's like before again. It feels like he's my big brother who takes good care of me. Isn't that the case for all players?"

Kishi: "My relationship with Hirano won't change. I'm sure we'll talk about work more, but I don't think the way I treat him will change. Considering his age, he's like a really good 'amazing little brother.'"

Taira: "I thought we were classmates... (laughs)"

Kishi: "Maybe I should punch him? (laughs) That's a joke. But the way we interact hasn't changed."

- You two joined the team at the same time in the 2005 draft. If you were asked to wish for one thing from each other, what would it be?

Kishi: "Physical strength and height."

Taira: That's two (laughs).

Kishi: "As pitcher, it would have to be those two. He's a legend. It's no easy feat to put up those numbers."

Taira: "For me it's Director Kishida's strong stomach. What's amazing is that no matter what he eats or drinks, he never shows it on his face."

Kishi: "I knew you'd say that... (laughs)"

Taira: "When Manager Kishida was starting, he would eat udon after the fifth inning. He would come to the cafeteria and say, 'No good, I can't get any power.' Is there any pitcher like that? He would eat udon and then be replaced in the middle of the sixth inning. It made me wonder what that udon was doing..."

Kishi: "I was also hit with salt ramen (laughs)."

Taira: "In baseball terms, I wanted the softness of Coach Kishida. fastball that has a soft, whip-like throwing motion and a long extension. Coach Kishida's strikeout rate with fastball is by far higher. My straight ball is a high-pitched, powerful fastball, and it's not the kind of ball that gets batters to strike out. It's the complete opposite of me."

Kishi: "We're complete opposites. The things we think are good about each other are completely opposites. My fork didn't fall like Hirano's."

Taira: "Manager Kishida is soft, and I'm hard. I can't throw like Manager Kishida, even in terms of my joints. But I guess it's my stomach... (laughs)."

Related News

・ [Orix Buffaloes] Manager Mamoru Kishida and pitcher coach Yoshihisa Hirano hold a "confessional conversation" Special edition also on sale from November 24th, the day of the fan festival!
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Tomoya Mori has been ordered to "take no days off" and has volunteered to participate in the fall training camp starting on the 6th. "Usually I would make time to rest, but this year..."
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Manager Mamoru Kishida: "We will become a manly, cool group that combines ability and hard work" to regain the championship
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Yoshihisa Hirano has stated that he will be taking on the role of coach from next season, saying, "I guess it's my turn to give back what I've been given so far." As previously reported in this paper
・ [Orix Buffaloes] "Please win the championship!" South Korean slugger commands manager Mamoru Kishida to win, shaking hands with "great star" for the first time in 14 years