Nippon-Ham Kota Tatsu pitcher (22) fired up for a triumphant return to his hometown in Osaka on the 7th. He is scheduled to start against Orix Buffaloes on the 8th, and will make his first appearance in his fifth professional year at Kyocera Dome. "His condition isn't bad. I wonder why Osaka can win. "Because I've just grown up." Born in Sakai City, Osaka, he showed his growth in this match, with his family and trainers who have supported him since childhood coming to cheer him on.

When he was a senior in elementary school in Sakai City, Takaishi The Swallows had the experience of practicing at Kyocera Dome. I remember he was very happy when his ball speed reached 100 km/h. I think he was very happy. I think he was really happy. I was the fastest on the team. He was one of the best elementary school players to have a ball speed over 100 km/h, and he showed glimpses of a big talent from that time onward. The distance between mound and home base at baseball for boys was 16 meters. In the first Kyocera Dome in about 10 years, he will stand on a genuine, clean mound pitch. The right-handed pitcher, who boasts the fastest speed of 156 km/h, said, "I want to go over 100 km/h. I have to break the record (laughs). I have to break the record (laughs)," he said with a mischievous smile.

On this day, after playing catch ball and dash at Escon, he entered Osaka. He sealed his third win of the season by defeating the leader, Orix Buffaloes, in a memorable mound where he admired professional baseball players and chased the white ball. （Haruki Kawakami)