Japan Series MVP Kuwahara: “I Can’t Say I’m Struggling”
Interview with Yokohama DeNA's leadoff man, who dances the "Kitsune Dance" of the Fighters' girls on the bench and has many fans in the Pacific League.
DeNA’s mood maker
“Sweet Potato Tart!”
During the “WBSC Premier 12” held in November, DeNA’s Masayuki Kuwahara (31) teased Orix’s Kotaro Kurebayashi (22) while practicing. The unexpected remark made Kurebayashi burst into laughter. The atmosphere of the Samurai Japan team instantly became more relaxed. Kuwahara reflects:
“I had been calling him ‘Sweet Potato Tart!’ from the bench because of his last name. Since we became teammates, I thought I’d say it again.”
Kuwahara is the lead-off man and mood maker for DeNA. During the Japan Series against SoftBank, he earned the MVP award by achieving a team-leading .444 batting average, one home run, and nine RBIs. Although he gained widespread attention as a star player, his path hasn’t been without hardships. He shares his challenging baseball journey.
Born in Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, Kuwahara began playing baseball in second grade. In middle school, he played for the “Izumi Boys,” and later attended the prestigious Fuchiyama Seibi High School in Kyoto Prefecture. Although he didn’t make it to Koshien, he stood out as a regular third baseman and shortstop, finishing his senior year with a solid performance of 6 hits and 5 RBIs in 16 at-bats during the Kyoto Prefecture summer tournament.
“I’ve wanted to be a professional baseball player since I was a kid. So when I was drafted by the BayStars in the fourth round (in 2011), I was genuinely thrilled. To this day, that’s the only time I’ve cried tears of joy.”
