During defense practice at Lotte's Miyakonojo autumn camp, there is a player who is constantly shouting to liven things up. It is Naonori Yasuda, who will enter his 10th year as a professional next year.

During infield practice at third base, Yasuda kept calling out, saying things like 'Looking good, Yuya (Sakurai),' 'Yawara-chan,' and 'Oga-chan.'

Given the nature of my position, I feel it is better to keep things lively and energetic rather than being too somber, so I am making an effort to speak up and raise my voice.

"Yawara-chan" and "Oga-chan" are familiar, somewhat nostalgic words. Yes, they were the vocal shouts Seiichiro Oshita, who played for Lotte until last year, often used during defense practice.

I was told by Mr. Oshita when he was playing for The Marines that 'Yawara-chan' means 'soft defense and handling.' 'Oga-chan' was also a shout that Mr. Oshita often directed at Ryusei Ogawa during his time with Lotte.

When asked if his actions stemmed from respect for Oshita, Yasuda jokingly replied, "Let's go with that (laughs)," but then firmly added, "I have total respect for Seiichi-san."

I wonder if Yasuda himself felt that those kinds of vocal cheers were really heating up back when Oshita was playing for Lotte.

That's right. Mr. Oshita's voice was certainly incredible, and when I was playing in Urawa, the younger players were also very vocal. Seeing that, I think practices with a lot of energy are more engaging and productive.

The 'spirit' of Oshita, who enlivened practice sessions with his incredibly energetic voice, still remains firmly within The Marines today as a positive tradition.

Entering his 10th professional season next year

During autumn practice at Zozo Marine Stadium, Yasuda said, '(This autumn) I want to focus on physical conditioning and swing strength. I also plan to focus on defense.' As the Miyakonojo autumn camp nears its end, he feels he is getting satisfactory practice, stating, 'I have been able to practice without injury, my swing is feeling good, and I think it is good practice that I can carry into the off-season.'

Regarding his position, he expressed his intention to prepare for both third base and first baseman, stating, 'I'm playing third base a lot right now, but I don't know what will happen next year, so I want to prepare thoroughly so I can play both.'

By the way, when asked if he plays second baseman during two-spot fielding drills because there are few players available, he revealed, 'That's right, yes.'

Next year marks my 10th year as a professional. 'I want to achieve good results personally, and since I haven't seen the team win a championship in my 10 years here, I want to work hard so I can contribute to that victory.' He intends to play a role that contributes to the team's championship win.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita