On the 31st, Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo showed off the popular baseball manga Dokaben, which features his own comment on the book's promotional band.

During a break in the Es Con autumn camp, he brought two volumes, 19 and 20, to show the press. Pointing to the text on the jacket of volume 19, which read 'I learned baseball that turns the unconventional into common sense from Dokaben,' he promoted it, saying, 'Isn't this great?' He also looked at the number on volume 19 and reflected on his mentor, Katsuya Nomura, saying, 'That's Nomura-san's number.'

The manager said on the 30th, the day before, 'The Dokaben book band. I've provided a comment, so please take a look. It's already finished.'