On the 3rd, Softbank Hawks catcher Yudai Yamamoto emphasized his calm and composed attitude even as the decisive month of September begins. On this day, he returned to Fukuoka by air from Hokkaido. Starting on the 4th, there will be a three-game series against the second-place Seibu Lions, who are five games behind, at Mizuho PayPay Dome. The magic number for winning the championship is 18. 'I try not to think about it no matter how far we go. I feel like it's not very good if I look at that. Since my time with The BayStars, I have played with the desire to win every day,' he said, vowing to win each game one at a time.

What I always keep in mind is that 'because there is an opponent, being perfect doesn't necessarily mean you will win.' That is exactly why I want to focus on 'what I was able to achieve in today's match' and concentrate solely on the single game right in front of me.

In his ninth professional season this year, he joined the team via a trade from DeNA in May. Having appeared in 38 games so far, he has contributed to win with a .289 batting average and situational hitting. He also possesses the defense skills that earned him a Golden Glove Award in 2024. Although he has experience winning the Japan Series in 2024, he has never experienced a league championship. Alongside Umino, who has appeared in a team-high 81 games, and the rest of the catcher group, they are pushing forward as one toward the moment of joy.