Softbank Hawks ・ Akira Nakamura infielder (36) held a press conference at Mizuho PayPay on the 3rd and announced his retirement from active play at the end of this season.Over 19 years dedicated solely to the Taka, he racked up 1,520 hit. “I came into the league aiming for 2,000 hit, so I do feel some regret, but I have no regrets about the 19 years I’ve spent here. I was able to give it my all and finish strong,” he said with a sense of relief.

This season, he appeared in 23 games primarily as a pinch hitter but struggled, batting just .129, and was removed from the active roster on June 9. He decided to retire after the game against the Chunichi on June 4.Last fall, he missed the Japan Series due to discomfort in his right hip and underwent surgery for a lumbar herniated disc in November. Through diligent rehabilitation, he made the first-team roster in time for the season opener, but was unable to regain his usual form at the plate. “I thought to myself, ‘If I can’t produce results by around the Interleague games, I’ll probably make that decision.’”There are still about 70 games left this season. He decided to make the announcement publicly partly out of consideration for the fans, who “probably want to come see me play,” and partly because he felt a sense of unease about keeping the decision to himself.

He decided to retire without consulting his family. "I've consulted them about everything, but I've worked hard at this since I was little. I thought that making the final decision myself would be the greatest respect I could show to both baseball and myself." Whenever he heads to a game, he always looks at a family photo before leaving home. He has his wife's and eldest son's initials written on his cap, and they have always been with him. "I wouldn't have been able to play baseball this far without my wife's support. My son's presence has also been incredibly important. I still want to be a cool father and husband." Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke of his gratitude to his family.

Regarding his plans after retirement, he said, "I have a bit of an image of going somewhere where I can support players," but he still has work to do as an active player. Since becoming a regular in 2013, he has contributed to six league championships and seven Japan Series titles. What he has always been most particular about is "winning." He is currently continuing his training in the minor leagues, but he hopes to end his career on a high note as a valuable asset for the team aiming for a third consecutive league championship. (Tosei Moriguchi)

◆Interview with Akira Nakamura

—How do you feel now that you've announced your retirement?

"There's a sense of relief in some ways. But the season isn't over yet, so I can't let my guard down."

—When did the idea of retirement cross your mind?

"For the past two or three years, I've always thought that if things didn't work out, I would have to quit."

—What was your conversation like with Chairman Oh, who was the manager when you joined the team?

"Yesterday (the 2nd), I had the opportunity to speak with him. He told me, 'You should really praise yourself for getting this far.' Those words made me very happy."

—What are some memorable moments for you?

"More than my own playing, the best moment was being on ground when we won the championship."

—What kind of 19 years have they been?

"It went by in a flash. I met so many people, and I grew so much as a person. I truly believe I was blessed with wonderful people throughout my professional baseball career."

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