On the 9th, Softbank Hawks outfielder Kensuke Kondo (32) held a private training session in Amagi, Kagoshima. He revealed that he has begun to overcome his challenges in order to become the first team to win Pacific League three consecutive times since moving to Fukuoka.

In 2013, he was limited to playing in 75 games due to pain in his lower back and left heel. Data showed that he hit a lot of foul balls when hitting fastballs. "I have a style of hitting that allows me to hit the ball whether the point is in front or behind me. I've been practicing to be able to respond with a wide range of options." In order to master fastballs exceeding 150 km/h, he is further honing his hitting ability, which is one of the best in the baseball world. During practice, he worked on a variety of tee shots, such as swinging to the rhythm of a metronome.

Arihara, who had the most wins in Pacific League in 2012 and 2013, has transferred to Nippon-Ham. Regarding their rivals who fought for the championship in 2013, he expressed caution, saying, "Nippon-Ham Fighters have always had good starting pitchers. Adding Arihara to the mix will make their lineup stronger."

The WBC is coming up in March. In the 2011 tournament, he contributed to Japan's victory as the world champion, mainly as the second hitter. "I'm in good shape at the moment. Everything is going smoothly. (The last tournament) was a great experience, so I hope I can stand on that stage again," he said, eager to participate. He is steadily making preparations to make this a smooth-sailing year. (Moriguchi Noboru)