Rakuten pitcher Takahiro Norimoto spoke to reporters before the game against Seibu on the 21st (Rakuten Mobile) and shared his memories and gratitude for outfielder Takero Okajima who recently announced his retirement. He revealed that he received a direct message from Okajima on the 20th, the day before the announcement, saying, "I felt lonely, or rather, I felt like this day had finally come." He recalled Okajima, saying, "Even when he was having a hard time, he always cheered up those around him. He was a senior who was always cheerful and never showed his weaknesses." He also commented on Okajima's personality, saying, "He liked to look after his juniors, or rather, he was good at it, so I had the impression that he always had juniors by his side."
Although he didn't have many opportunities to pair up with Okajima, who was initially registered as catcher, Norimoto remembers pairing up in an exhibition game in his first year, and reminisced, "I threw change-up to Eldred (of Hiroshima) and he got a strikeout. Since then, I've been telling him to throw more change-up to right-handed batters." As another member of the team who experienced the Japan Series championship in 2013 hangs up his uniform, Norimoto said, "I feel a bit sad, but that's why I want to play for as long as possible," and will continue to play with many thoughts in his heart.
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