Nippon-Ham of Hiromi Ito pitcher congratulated the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who won the Japan Professional Sports Award on January 17. A member of the 23rd WBC, which won the world championship, he said to his junior who is one year younger than him, "It's amazing that he looks so great and yet he doesn't seem so great. When you talk to him, he's a normal junior. But when he throws, he's really amazing pitcher as he is. The thing I admire most about him is that he doesn't treat himself in a good way". He praised his humble attitude, which remained unchanged even after winning the World Series MVP award.

On this day, he participated in a talk show in Hakodate, Hokkaido, together with Kanemura. His first child was born this month. He was also present at the birth. "I was moved. I have to do even more. Not only because our family has grown, but also because next year is an important year for The Fighters." He has been selected to be the opening pitcher for the opening game of the next season on March 27th (against Softbank Hawks at Mizuho PayPay Dome), and he promised the 340 fans in the venue that he would "pitch shutout game."