The final results of the fan vote for the “Mynavi All-Star Game 2026” (July 28 at Tokyo Dome, July 29 in Toyama) were announced on the 7th, and Softbank Hawks, Ryoya Kurihara, and infielder were selected in the third baseman category. Expressing his gratitude, he said, “I’m very happy,” noting that this marks his fourth All-Star Game appearance since 2024.

As of the final interim announcement on June 29, he had received 550,384 votes, a clear lead in the third base category. However, he joked, "Well, to be honest, I thought I'd get around 200 million votes. It's a little less than I expected, so I want to work even harder," vowing to achieve even greater success.

When asked what kind of play he wanted to showcase, he commented like a soccer forward, "The challenges in front of the goal. I think I can use my height to compete, so I'd like people to pay attention to that." When reporters corrected him, saying, "But it's baseball...", he playfully replied, "baseball? Oh, sorry. I'll do my best to swing the bat properly."

During the subsequent photo session, he posed with Shuto, arm in arm, in a crouched position, just like before a soccer match. While the world is in World Cup mode, he is thrilling fans with his batting prowess, currently leading both leagues with 24 Home Run.