On the program "Pro baseball News 2026" broadcast on Fuji TV ONE on the 3rd, Motonobu Tanishige, Takahiro Saeki, and Akihiko Oya commented on Softbank Hawks Akira Nakamura, who announced his retirement at the end of this season.

Tanishige said, "I played alongside him for several years, and he was a batter that opponents hated facing." Saeki added, "Just like Tanishige said, it was always a pain when this player came up to bat. He made a much stronger impression than his statistics suggest. It's sad to think that another great batter is leaving us."

Oya said, "I think it's a shame that he's gone, since he settled the matter himself. As the two of them just said, I hope that the tenacity that makes opponents uncomfortable, this kind of batting, will be passed on to the younger generation and preserved."

Akira Nakamura 's career statistics over his 19-year professional career include 1654 games played, a batting average of .274, 1520 hit, 69 Home Run, and 555 RBI.

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"