Lotte's Akito Takabe challenged his own limits this fall.

During autumn practice at Zozo Marine Stadium, Takabe said, "First of all, it's my body. I need to make my body stronger, so I need to understand my capabilities and know my limits. I also need to think about whether my body will move even when I'm tired, how I move, and how I move when I'm tired. I want to think about it as hard as I can." He worked hard at training to find his limits amidst the rigors of the training.

After completing the fall practice at Zozo Marine Stadium and the fall camp in Miyakonojo, I wonder if he was able to find out his own limits.

"What I learned in Miyakonojo is that I don't get tired," he said reassuringly. "So I thought it would be fine no matter how much I practiced, and all I had to do was avoid getting injured."

Regarding his own training, he said, "I want to immerse myself in it. I want to concentrate on myself and do it silently. I think I can push myself to my limits," and he intends to train thoroughly on his own.

Now that Takabe has learned that practicing doesn't tire him out, he plans to continue practicing and improve his skills in preparation for next season.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita