Chunichi Nippon-Ham 's (34), who was announced to be moving to 's (34) in a monetary trade to 's (34), vowed to start over in a new place on January 12. He gave an interview at ESCON and said, "I was surprised, but it is a real opportunity. It's something I'm grateful for as a player, so I'm taking it positively," he said. Toshihiro Sugiura pitcher baseball

Manager Shinjo encouraged him, saying, "Think of this as a real opportunity. They want you there, so it's a real chance, so do your best." He also said that Gunji and Fukutani, who were both with Chunichi Dragons, introduced him to teammates and support staff, and he looked ahead, saying, "First, I want to start by getting used to the environment."

He joined Yakult in 2013 as the first overall pick in the draft from Kokugakuin University, and was traded to Nippon-Ham midway through the 2017 season. The right-handed pitcher, who hails from Obihiro City, Hokkaido, will be taking on this challenge alone, leaving his family in Sapporo. "That's the kind of job it is, so I'm prepared for that. I do have some anxieties, but right now I feel more positive," he said enthusiastically.

Last season, he appeared in 18 games as reliever. In 2021, he had a career-high 56 appearances, and the experienced 34-year-old with a total of 221 games will be showcasing his skills in Nagoya.