After the game against Orix Buffaloes (at Kyocera Dome), Softbank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo offered words of encouragement to Kensuke Kondo, who had gone hit in eight at-Walk with one At Bat in two games for the WBC Samurai Japan team.

"I watched the final play by Yukyo before going to sleep," he said, having thoroughly checked the game against Korea on the 7th, including Shuto's super catch in the 9th inning with one out. He then added, "Kondo is hitting in tough situations (batting second after Ohtani). But it's Kondo who should be drawing Walk in that situation (the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and third, with the score tied). It's not so much about when he hits, but in what situation he hits. I want him to just do his best without worrying about it," he said, speaking about his team's talented hitter is battling the pressure of representing Japan, as the manager of the 2017 WBC Japan national team.