Nakamaasa Banpa: From Nerima’s Top Student to Baseball Star

His batting and shoulder strength were already amazing in junior high school, and his physical ability had been outstanding since elementary school.

Her swing was so powerful that she was breaking bats.

“Even back then, as a middle schooler, his hitting distance was exceptional. He effortlessly cleared the outfield net in center field, which was 108 meters away, and hit several splash hits into the Arakawa River that runs alongside the field” (middle school baseball official).

In the second game of the first stage of the Climax Series (CS) against Lotte, young slugger Nakamasa Mannami (24) of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters made a dramatic game-tying home run, showcasing his performance that lived up to fan expectations. Last season, he hit 25 home runs and won both the Golden Glove Award and the Best Nine, finally breaking through. This season, he was solidified as the leadoff hitter from the middle of the season, contributing to the team’s success with 18 home runs and 60 RBIs in the final year of manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo’s contract (52).

According to those familiar with his time on the middle school hardball team, the Higashi Nerima Little Senior, his batting and strong arm have always been outstanding.

“His swing speed was 155 km/h, which was exceptional for a middle schooler, and it was reportedly the same as that of Sho Nakata (currently with the Chunichi Dragons), who was already a slugger for the Fighters at the time.

Once, he borrowed a teammate’s brand-new bat to try it out, and his swing was so powerful that it dented the bat’s barrel. He later bought a new bat to return it (laughs)” (coach from that time).

Today, Mannami’s powerful arm and laser beam throws, which have become his trademarks, were already attracting attention back then.

No matter what other sport he tried, he was unbeatable.

A different coach reveals.

“During long throws, while the average for middle school students is about 70 meters, Mannami easily threw over 100 meters. As a pitcher, he also threw a blazing fastball with a top speed of 138 km/h. In middle school, he participated in track and field, placing second in the 100m hurdles at the Tokyo tournament and winning the shot put. By the time he was in the third year of middle school, he was already nearly 190 cm tall, showcasing extraordinary athletic abilities.”

Despite his powerful batting and exceptional baseball sense, Mannami was known as a super middle schooler among baseball officials in the Kanto area, but in reality, he was just an ordinary boy.

“I remember he received television coverage a couple of times, and he was really happy when he met the talent Ruriko Kojima during his first TV interview. He usually cycled about 30 minutes from his home in Nerima to the field by the Arakawa River. Sometimes, his mother would drive him, and he would come together in the car. He was very family-oriented, often publicly declaring that he respected his mother, and he was close with his older sister, who is two years his senior. He was very happy when she came to cheer for him during big tournaments. I remember they had a very close family bond.

When it came time to enter high school, he received invitations from many strong baseball schools in the Kanto area, but in the end, he chose Yokohama High School, considering the team’s atmosphere and practice environment” (friend from middle school).

Since Shinjo took over, the Nippon-Ham Fighters had finished last for two consecutive years, but with Mannami’s growth, the team has become vibrant. In his third year, they secured a spot in the Climax Series (CS) in second place. Depending on Mannami’s performance, it’s not impossible for them to advance through the CS and earn a spot in the Japan Series through an upset.

People from his former baseball team are looking forward to seeing Mannami succeed.

“Kenji Sugiya, who is 33 years old and a senior in the Fighters, is also from the same Higashi Nerima Little Senior. While we were excited to see him succeed, now that Sugiya has retired, we are all supporting Mannami” (team official).

We look forward to his performance in the postseason.