On the first day of training camp on the 1st, Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (54) rode his electric kick scooter from his lodgings to the stadium, as is his annual custom.

He appeared on a red electric kick scooter wearing a black mask and a blue neck warmer. He appeared at 8:36 a.m., with about 150 fans and members of the press waiting for him since around 8 a.m. He greeted the crowd with "Good morning" and dashed off amid loud cheers.

Now in his fifth year in office, the culmination of his career, Shinjo Ham's battle to win the league championship for the first time in 10 years has begun in Nago, Okinawa.