Softbank Hawks ・ Akira Nakamura infielder held a press conference on the 3rd at Mizuho PayPay Dome to announce his retirement from active play. “I, Akira Nakamura, have decided to end my 19-year professional baseball career. I truly believe that I have been able to come this far thanks to the support of so many people,” he said, expressing his gratitude.

On the 2nd, he also spoke with Sadaharu Oh, the team's chairman who was the manager when he joined the team in 2008. "He told me, 'You've really contributed to the team for a long time,' and also asked me, 'Do you have any doubts?'" he recalled.

He further recalled, "I was also told, 'You should really praise yourself for getting this far.' Those words made me very happy." Although he is currently adjusting in the minor leagues, he said, "I want to complete my playing career properly until the end of the season as usual," indicating that he will work until the very end to help the team achieve its third consecutive league championship and consecutive Japan Series titles.

◆Akira Nakamura: Born November 5, 1989, in Saitama Prefecture. Age 36. At Teikyo High School, he batted fourth from his second year of high school and participated in Koshien for three consecutive seasons. He hit a total of 60 Home Run in high school. He joined Softbank Hawks in the third round of the 2007 high school draft. He made his first-team debut in 2011. In 2014, he won the most hit title with 176 hit. From 2020, he won the Golden Glove Award for first base for four consecutive years. He has played in a total of 1654 games, with 1520 At Bat 5550 hit for a batting average of .274, 69 Home Run, 555 RBI, and 44 stolen base. 175 cm, 81 kg. Left-handed pitcher, left-handed batter. Estimated annual salary: 120 million yen.