22 Years Epitaph] Mr. Choji Murata: “A Message to Baseball Boys,” as he told a reporter one week before his death.

Former Lotte ace Choji Murata, known for his “masakari pitching technique. 72 ) passed away on 22 year of his death November Nov. November 11, 2010. It was November 11, 2010. A fire broke out at his home in Seijo, Tokyo, earlier that day, and Murata-san, who was on the second floor, was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state. His death was confirmed shortly before 6:00 a.m.

On the day of Mr. Murata’s death, “Friday Digital” distributed a memorial article. One week before his death, Mr. Murata sent a meaningful message to this reporter. Total 215 Wins ( 177 Murata was a great pitcher with a total of 215 wins (177 losses), and in memory of him, we would like to reintroduce the following message.

Here, I give you this.”

A baseball handed to a reporter of this magazine. In September 2010, at a hotel in Tokyo, Mr. Murata was given a baseball. It was in September 2010, after an interview at a hotel in Tokyo. On it, in his own handwriting, he had written.

I will pitch the first complete game of my life.

True to his words, he had lived his life according to his own wishes until the very end.

Pitching with all his might, even when playing grass baseball against amateurs

Mr. Murata was September 22 September 22 On September 23, 2010, he assaulted a woman at a security checkpoint at Haneda Airport. On September 23, 2010, Mr. Murata was caught red-handed for assaulting a female security checker at Haneda Airport (Ota Ward, Tokyo). Two days later, he was arrested for assaulting a female security checker at the security checkpoint in Ota Ward, Tokyo. Two days later, on the 25th, he was released on bail. He was released on bail on March 25, but he seemed dissatisfied with the way he was treated at the security checkpoint.

83 Murata underwent ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John surgery) on his right elbow in 1964, but made a comeback toward the end of the following season. He was called “Sunday Choji” because he often pitched on Sundays.

Murata-san is an honest man. He tries to follow his own style, no matter what the situation. Even when playing grass baseball against amateurs, he would throw a hard fastball without cutting corners, which sometimes caused those around him to back away. He was also particular about his meals and loved to eat high-class Matsusaka beef.

After the interview mentioned at the beginning of this article, Mr. Murata continued to communicate with our reporter. He must have had some feelings about the incident at Haneda Airport. About a week before his death, he called the reporter and left a meaningful message.

He left a meaningful message: “I was arrested, so of course I apologize for what I should have apologized for. But I don’t agree that it is my fault unilaterally. I’m discussing it with the people around me now, but I’ll tell them everything once I’ve calmed down. I also want to insist on my idea.

What is unfortunate is that I can no longer teach baseball to children on remote islands because of the recent turmoil (Mr. Murata said). 08 (Mr. Murata had made it his life’s work to promote remote islands throughout Japan through baseball since 2008). These days, the number of children playing baseball is probably decreasing rapidly. They have gone to soccer and basketball. I want to expand the horizons of baseball. It is really frustrating that I can no longer go to the island. I hope to convey the joy of baseball to the boys again after the turmoil is settled.”

Until the very end, Mr. Murata was determined to follow his own will. His life was one of “starting and finishing” without blurring.