◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Yakult vs. Nippon-Ham (May 5th, Jingu Stadium)

Nippon-Ham pitcher Fukuya Yamazaki (33) will make his first start of the season against Yakult Swallows on June 6th at Jingu Stadium. This season, he made the opening day roster as reliever, posting a 5.68 ERA in seven games. After being demoted on April 22nd, he continued to adjust as a starter in the minor leagues, posting a 2.00 ERA in six games, showing improved form. "In terms of results, I wanted to get at least a minimum result in every game, and technically, there are things I've been working on, such as pitch form, so I've been working on those to the fullest," he said, indicating that he has prepared thoroughly and will take mound as a starter.

He’s aiming to set a new record as a “two-way player.” In last season’s game against DeNA on June 7 (in Yokohama), he started as the No. 6 batter (pitcher) and hit a two-run single to right field in the seventh inning, tying Sugiuchi (Softbank Hawks) for the longest streak of five consecutive years (Pacific League pitcher) of hitting a home run in the first game of the season (hit). If he hits a home run in the first game this season (hit), it will set a new record, and“I’m also tied for the record in the Spring Koshien Senbatsu tournament. I tend to falter in clutch situations (laughs). I’m determined to do whatever it takes to break that record.” During the 2010 Senbatsu tournament, when he was a runner-up with Nihon University Third High School, he displayed his batting prowess by hitting 13 hit—tying the single-tournament record—and will now stand alone at the top of the list.

He's also using his favorite bat to his advantage. Last season, he used a bat modeled after that of his former Orix Buffaloes teammate, Miyagi, but this year he said, "I changed it up a bit and focused on the color. When I told the manufacturer that I wanted a matte black color, they said the only model that was available was that of (Cubs) Seiya Suzuki. So, the model is Seiya Suzuki, and the color is a cool color. A black one." Last season he used a bat that was mainly white and black, but this season he's stepping up to the plate with a bat in a color he's particular about.

Jingu Stadium is a stadium he's been familiar with since his amateur days at Nichidai San and Meiji University. "I've been there since I was a university student, and also in high school. It's a stadium full of memories, so I felt nostalgic, and it's a stadium I like, so I came in today feeling excited," he said, showing his presence both as a pitcher and a hitter.