On the 30th, Softbank Hawks 's manager Hiroki Kokubo, chief baseball officer Kenji Jojima, and other members of the front office, management, players, and staff visited Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka City to pray for victory. The manager vowed to be back-to-back Japan Series champions and expressed his hopes for fierce competition for positions within the team. Below is the second part of the main Q&A.
-What kind of instruction did you give?
"We are the only ones who can aim for a third consecutive championship, and the only ones who can rewrite history are the members of this year's 2026 class, so we will rewrite it with this group of members. To do that, individual growth is necessary. We have talked about how we cannot win three consecutive championships without improving our current strength, and we cannot win three consecutive championships without growth. When asked what growth means, it means being able to do things that you couldn't do before, so if you can do the things that you couldn't do now through this spring training camp, exhibition games, and the season, you will have grown, and that coming together will lead to consecutive championships."
-Miyazaki camp
"We can't do anything about the weather, but last year it was pretty cold for a month. This year, the forecast is for it to warm up before the middle of the month, so I want everyone to prepare well so they can compete this year in a warm environment where they can move their bodies properly."
-What is the key point of the competition?
"Well, the same can be said for short stop position. Imamiya has also shown great promise, and we also have Isami Nomura, who performed well last year, so I think outfield will be very competitive. It has not yet been decided who will be the designated hitter, and although Yanagimachi is a title holder, he is not a player who is guaranteed a regular spot. I am looking forward to a deep player pool and high-level competition in that area."
-The camp is also focused on pitcher
"That's right. We really need to see who pitcher is who can fill the 180 inning, so I'm going to keep a close eye on pitcher this year, including bullpen."
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