June 21st is Father's Day. For athletes, it's a day to reaffirm the importance of their fathers and to express gratitude. Rakuten Eagles Eagles pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa reflected on his memories with his father.

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My father (Tokuji, 64) is a gentle and kind man. He loves sports, so I watched all sorts of sports like ekiden (long-distance relay races) and boxing, and that influenced me to love sports too. My father did track and field, so I did it for a while as well. I think that's why I'm so fast.

Since I was little, I've always been told, "The true enemy lies within yourself." It's not about fighting others, but about overcoming the battle against yourself, and that's how you grow. This saying has been incredibly important to me throughout my growth, and it still guides me today.

For his 60th birthday, we went to Bali as a family. Now we all wear matching accessories. Now that I'm this age, I feel even more strongly how amazing he is, having supported our family for over 20 years and sending me off into the professional world. I also hope to become a father like him in the future. Thank you for raising me and supporting me this far.