Kohei Arihara pitcher (34), who is returning to Nippon-Ham after a six-year absence, held a press conference in Escondido on March 13. 4-year contract with a salary of 500 million yen per year plus piecework (amount estimated). The new number chose "74" because no one has ever put it on. He will further grow together with Shinjo, whom he has eerily felt as an adversary, and become the driving force behind the team's first league championship in 10 years.

At the press conference inside ESCON, Arihara showed a gentle smile. When asked about the reason for his return, he said, "The team told me that they needed my help to aim for the championship, and they really are going to win the championship as a team. They told me many times that I was needed in that, so I was really happy about that, and that's all I'm thinking about."

He hopes to use his time working with manager Shinjo, who he found ominous and difficult to work with, to help him grow. The manager has already pointed out issues such as the team's poor tempo in the early stages of the game, but he took a positive approach, saying, "I felt uncomfortable playing against him, and I think we have different perspectives, so I think that's something I can learn from him. I want to communicate with him and grow as a player."

number is "74". He chose himself from among many candidates and received it from Coach Iwatadate. "I wanted to start over with a number that no one had ever worn before. In the past six years, the coach, players, and stadium have changed, and he will start with a new self in a new world, saying, "I feel like I'm close to another team, and I think I'm new rather than back."

Manager Shinjo has already named him as the starter for the home opener against Lotte on March 31st. "I also saw it in an article," Arihara said with a wry smile, but added, "I'll just be well prepared so I can go at any time. I want to pitch with a sense of security and solidity and go all year. But I think I can still grow, so I'll keep a fresh mind." He hopes to grow even more under this unpredictable manager and pull off their long-awaited league championship. (Yamaguchi Yasushi)