Former Tigers Left Arm Yuya Yokoyama & Shoya Yamamoto Begin Second Life in Apparel Industry

“What’s your earliest memory related to clothing? When I was in elementary school, I often went to a clothing store near my home and I remember wearing a shirt with a monkey pattern every day.”

Coaches, directors, team staff, commentators, insurance agents, restaurant owners—while there are many second careers for professional baseball players, fashion designers are undoubtedly a minority.

Drafted as the glory of ’14, Yuya Yokoyama (30), a left-handed pitcher who joined Hanshin due to his straight MAX151 km fastball, is a rare talent. Despite showing brilliance on the mound multiple times after turning pro, he was plagued by repeated injuries and didn’t last long. After retiring at the end of the ’20 season, he joined the apparel maker SIR in January ’22. His second life has begun.

“I originally had an interest in fashion, and the opportunity to join SIR came from the many apparel-related individuals in the amateur baseball team I belonged to. Leveraging this connection and environment, I launched the internal brand ‘GAUCHER’ from my first year.”

The launch of GAUCHER, which advocates “baseball street fashion,” was also spearheaded by Yokoyama, a former Tiger warrior. Shoya Yamamoto (35), drafted in the fifth round in ’13, was also a left-hander.

The two were close even during their active careers, often going shopping for clothes together on their days off. It was Yamamoto who invited Yokoyama to join the aforementioned amateur baseball team.

The team’s manager, who was also the owner of the apparel maker ZEAL, and the fact that Yokoyama’s teammate was managing SIR, led Yokoyama to join SIR. However, Yamamoto was already working at an insurance agency, so he decided to participate only as a director for GAUCHER. In the same brand, Yokoyama handles everything from design to fabric selection and processing, while Yamamoto is responsible for design and posting on Instagram.

“Because I was a left-handed pitcher, I think I was able to advance to the professional world.” (Yamamoto) “I personally like left-handed pitchers because they have a unique flair.” (Yokoyama) Both take pride in being southpaws in baseball, but in the design world, Yokoyama laughs, “There’s absolutely no advantage to being a lefty.”

“In pitching, I had a core for leveling up within myself, but in design, what matters is how customers perceive the design. Just because I think it is great doesn’t mean it will sell. You always need to think from the perspective of the buyer. It’s tough.”

Their former teammates are cheering on their new endeavors. Yokoyama commutes alone to a one-room apartment he rented in Nara prefecture on weekdays. He can only see his family in Hyogo prefecture on weekends, but he says, “The words of encouragement from my seniors and juniors keep me going.”

Yamamoto treasures the words of former manager Akihiro Yano (55).

“This next phase of life is longer. I was told to walk a path without regrets and to enjoy it.”

Even without saying a word, there are friends who quietly support them. It is not unusual to find the names of former teammates in the buyer list. The southpaw Haruto Takahashi (28), the ace reliever Yu Iwasaki (33), and last year’s most winning pitcher and ace Akihiro Aoyagi (30) are said to be regulars.

“Last year’s championship moved me deeply. There were members who spent their active years together. We are in fourth place this season, struggling. I believe they will somehow hang on and achieve consecutive victories.”

Reflecting on their best memories from their time with the Hanshin Tigers include his “First Start, First Win” (October ’15, 5 innings pitched, 2 earned runs allowed in a game against DeNA at Yokohama Stadium) and “Debut on the Professional Mound” (May ’15, 7 innings pitched, 1 earned run allowed in a game against the Giants at Koshien Stadium). Now in the world of apparel, they strive daily to experience moments that surpass these milestones.

On August 10th, they plan to host an event at Wakayama Castle Hall titled “BALL&MUSIC Festival presented by GAUCHER,” blending baseball and music with performances by singers hitomi (48), Tomiko Van (45), and Noriko Sakai (53).

“Under GAUCHER’s brand theme of ‘bringing baseball to the streets,’ we hope to introduce the brand to those who haven’t experienced baseball before. The highlight will be live performances by artists. Attendees can enjoy songs that are used as entrance music by professional baseball players, performed live. Additionally, GAUCHER’s apparel, which is normally only available online, will be sold at the venue on the day of the event. You’ll be able to physically pick and choose what you like.”

Can this left-handed duo shine on their second stage as well!?