On the 12th, Softbank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo appeared on the TV Asahi talk show "Tetsuko's Room" (Monday to Friday, 1:00 PM) for the first time in 11 years. He reflected on the incredible performance he felt from Shohei Ohtani when he served as the manager of the Japanese national team at the Premier 12 in 2015.

He recalled that they lived together for about two weeks at the time, saying, "Even back then, he would take pictures from above of the food he was eating at the buffet and send them to people. When I asked him where he was sending them, he said, 'To the nutritionist.' He had been eating this food for 11 years, getting big, and working towards becoming home run hitter in America one day." He was impressed by Ohtani, who has now won the MVP award three years in a row in the Major Leagues, saying, "I saw with my own eyes that his everyday attitude, or rather his approach, was completely different."

In addition, regarding the WBC currently being held, he commented, "It is a tournament that has attracted a lot of attention because Shohei Ohtani will appear again this year." Regarding Ohtani, who is leading the Japanese national team as the No. 1 hitter in this tournament, he said, "I think the most amazing thing about him is that he succeeded as a home run batter to the extent that he was able to win the Home Run championship in the United States," while also touching on the greatness of his pitcher.