◆ Pacific League Rakuten vs Softbank (1st, Rakuten Mobile)

Softbank Hawks Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo spoke to reporters before the game Rakuten Eagles on April 1st (Rakuten Eagles Mobile) and expressed his hopes for the success of his nephew, Seia Kokubo, a third-year infielder from Kinki University High School (Osaka), who was announced to be participating in the U18 Japan national team candidate training camp (for three days starting April 3rd). "It was fun. I think I've only coached him since he was in the lower grades of elementary school. He had quite a bit of talent. I haven't seen him play recently, but I think I've seen a bit of it on video. He's very composed," he said, speaking about his brother Takaya's son.

He revealed that being selected for the Japanese national university team in his second year at Aoyama Gakuin University was a turning point in baseball career. "My perspective broadened and I gained confidence. I was selected in my second year and was hitting the ball the farthest. I was convinced that if I could reach this level with players from all over the country, I could become a professional. At that point, my goal was no longer to join professional baseball. It was about where I could go to become a regular player. That's where it all started," he said, explaining that it was the catalyst for his breakthrough, and he also expressed his hope that his nephew would take part in the national team training camp and soar to great heights.