Softbank Hawks announced on the 21st that they have decided to hold a retirement ceremony for player Akira Nakamura who will retire at the end of this season, after their game against Orix Buffaloes on September 27th.

Akira Nakamura turned professional in the 2007 high school draft as the third-round pick, and made his first-team debut in 2011, his fourth year. In 2013, he reached the required number of plate appearances for the first time in his career and became a regular player. In 2014, he won the most hit title and achieved a batting average of over .300 for two consecutive years starting that year. He played in every game in 2016 and 2017, and has been a regular player for Softbank Hawks for many years.

Last season, manager Hiroki Kokubo stated that he would be used as a pinch-hitting specialist, but due to a series of injuries to key players, he ended up playing in more regular games, ultimately appearing in 116 games. This season, he has appeared in 23 games so far, with a batting average of .129. He was removed from the active roster on June 9th and announced his retirement through the team on July 3rd.