Coach Kazuhiro Hatakeyama Reveals Pachinko as His Stress Relief Method After Sudden Departure from Yakult

What happened to Kazuhiko Hatakeyama, the former second-team hitting coach of the Yakult Swallows?

 

On June 27, Yakult announced that Hatakeyama would be leaving the team as of June 30. The reason given was personal reasons, but the cause remains unclear. 

 

Hatakeyama hit a total of 62 home runs during his time at Senshu University Kitakami High School and made two appearances in the summer Koshien tournament. Drafted by Yakult in the 5th round in 2000, he was expected to become a future cleanup hitter. He earned his first promotion to the first team in his fourth year after winning two titles in the Eastern League during his second year, but struggled to establish himself, alternating between the first and second teams.

 

“In 2008, he finally secured a regular spot on the first team, and it was in his 12th year, in 2015, that he won his first title, the RBI leader. He was a late bloomer. When he retired in 2019 and took on the role of Yakult’s second-team hitting coach in 2020, I was honestly surprised. During his active career, he was known for his problematic behaviors, such as slacking off and issues with drinking, so I wondered if he would be able to coach players effectively.” (sports newspaper reporter)

The reason for Hatakeyama’s departure was reported by Nikkan Gendai DIGITAL on June 27, citing sources within the baseball community, as financial troubles. It is alleged that Hatakeyama borrowed money from team associates, including team alumni, and accumulated debt amounting to several tens of millions of yen, leading to disputes over repayment. Shukan Josei PRIME reported on July 2, based on information from acquaintances of Hatakeyama:

“It seems that Hatakeyama is burdened with debt exceeding 100 million yen. He was known for his gambling habits, including pachinko, during his playing days, and it appears that his financial situation has become untenable due to mounting debts.”