The Saitama Seibu edition of the "Pacific League FANS MEETUP 2025" is now available on the official YouTube channel of Pacific League TV. pitcher Yutaro Watanabe, Taiga Ueda pitcher and Shoya Makino talk about Takumi Kuriyama.
During the talk titled "The Lions Insiders," Ueda revealed, "We're in the exhibition games right now, so some of the players don't have lockers at Belluna Dome, but Yamada (Yoto) is sitting in Kuriyama's seat," which made both pitcher burst out laughing.
"There are several chairs (gaming chairs) like those used by the manager on the bench in the locker room, and the veteran players use them, and Kuriyama also uses one of them. During the exhibition games, Yamada was using Kuriyama's place, inning the chair and putting his feet up, and Gin-san (Ginjiro Sumitani) took a picture of him relaxing (laughs)."
Yamada shows his strong heart in the locker room, but perhaps he is proud of being able to use Kuriyama's chair, as he apparently shakes off the sand on spike bag over a trash can before sitting down, saying "I can't let a single grain of sand fall off," and he appears to be very careful, saying "I have to leave the place cleaner than when I arrived."
fielder’s choice leaked the following information about Kuriyama.
"I talk to Kuriyama quite a bit, but he would tell jokes with a serious look on his face. For example, when he saw the rocks by the sea in Nangou, he said, 'That was originally soil.' Kuriyama has been coming to Nangou for many years, so when I said, 'Oh, is that so?' he said, 'That's a lie!' (laughs). It would be fine if he'd said it jokingly, but he said it in a serious tone," he said, recounting an episode in which he was at the mercy of his senior colleague.
When asked how pitcher would respond to that, he replied with a laugh, "No, he wouldn't!" fielder’s choice followed up on his pitcher by saying, "Ueda would never respond to something like that. The hierarchical relationship is very clear."
In addition to this "The Lions Inside Story," we will also be bringing you topics that give you a glimpse into the players' true faces, their friendships, and even the relationships between seniors and juniors that you would never see during a game. Don't miss the "Pacific League FANS MEETUP 2025" for all teams.
