Why we have “nothing but high expectations” for new manager Fumiya Nishiguchi of Seibu, who has been successful in the open season… A glimpse of the “ALL ONE” spirit as seen by this magazine

The shy “second helping” of Nakamura is ……

It was after 4:00 a.m. when the party was over and the players came out of the restaurant in droves. I asked Nishiguchi (36 at the time), the oldest of the pitchers at the time and a starter in Game 7, if he would be willing to be interviewed,

He said, “A picture?　Oh, sure.

He responded in a friendly manner,

Hey, Mr. Friday wants to take your picture,” he said to the nine players in the store.

He even led the way to the other nine in the restaurant.

Friday?　Wow, you are surprisingly polite!

(laugh), the players lined up smiling, shoulder to shoulder, as Nishiguchi called out to them.

The lineup included veteran players Nishiguchi and Kazuhisa Ishii, Japan Series MVP Takayuki Kishi, Hideaki Wakui, Hiroyuki Nakajima, and Takumi Kuriyama, as well as Seibu’s proud lineup of handsome men. Yosuke (retired) can also be seen.

Wentz is known to be a big Seibu fan and was invited by team officials to attend the victory celebration. Both Suehiro and Matsuo were also invited, as was Wentz.

I didn’t win, but thank you very much (laughs). I am very happy!

When Wentz exclaimed, “I’m so happy!

Thanks to all of you, we won the MVP award.

I’m fine (with the left side of my stomach that I hurt during the series). (Kishi) “I’m fine (in my left side, which I hurt during the Series). I’m really happy to be number one in Japan (laughs). Thank you very much! (Nakajima)

(Nakajima) “Thank you very much!” All of them commented with their best smiles.

Incidentally, the No. 4 hitter, Takeya Nakamura, aka “Okawari-kun,” seems to be considerably shyer than he appears to be,

I’m a little embarrassed about ……,” he said.

He did not join the group for a commemorative photo with the Nine. Instead, he stood alongside his teammate Kuriyama and showed us his “winning smile,” as if he were about to be beheaded.

Nishiguchi was well-liked by his teammates. I was truly grateful to the reporter for giving me such a great opportunity to interview him.

Later, when I was on a stakeout for another case, Nishiguchi happened to be living in the same apartment building. I also witnessed him inviting young players, regardless of whether they were pitchers or fielders, to his home.

Incidentally, in 2008, the team rose from fifth place the previous year to become the number one team in Japan under new manager Hisanobu Watanabe. Nishiguchi, who has been leading the team as “all one” since his playing days, should be able to pull off such a comeback.