Playback ’15] Katsuya Nomura and Satchi’s “battle against illness” – “Theories that he is bedridden due to a serious illness”…

What did “FRIDAY” report 10, 20, or 30 years ago? In “Playback Friday,” we take a look back at the topics that were hot at the time. This time, we look back at “Ganbare Nomu-san,” which appeared in the April 10, 2003 issue 10 years ago!　I was moved by the way he moved forward step by step, borrowing Satchi’s shoulder.

Katsuya Nomura (79 at the time), a.k.a. Mr. Nomu, left many legends in the baseball world, including leading the Yakult Swallows to three Japan championships as manager of the “ID Baseball” team. However, he had not been seen in public since October 2002, when he became ill and left his regular program “S☆1” (TBS). At the end of that year, he canceled his annual family trip to Hawaii. He also canceled his visit to a professional baseball camp in 2003, and there were even whispers that he was seriously ill. The following is a scoop article that captured Nomu in such a state. All ages and titles are current as of the time of the article).

He had lost nearly 20 kg of weight…

Is this that Nomu-san? ……

The man in the aisle of the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo is unmistakably baseball critic Katsuya Nomura, 79. He is still wearing the same jacket and flashy outfit as before, but the impression is completely different. He has lost weight. His cheeks are flushed and his entire body has become thinner. The hair on his head was also somewhat thin.

At his side was his wife, Sachiyo (82), also known as Satchi. She is as gorgeous as ever, but she does not act like a fiercely married woman. She is lending her shoulder to Mr. Nom. Satchi is walking slowly, like a bride walking down the aisle. With her left hand on his shoulder, Nomu-san walks as if she is chewing each step. Good luck, Nomu-san!　I couldn’t help but call out to him on the night of March 17.

The reason for Nomu’s disappearance from the stage in the fall of 2002 was due to a recurrence of a past illness.

　”Five years ago, he was hospitalized once for a dissecting aortic aneurysm in his chest, which seems to have recurred. This disease causes a bump on the inside of the aorta, and if left untreated, 60% of patients die within a week. Last time he was treated with antihypertensive drugs, but this time he underwent surgery. The operation was a success, but he was in the intensive care unit until the end of last year and has lost nearly 20 kg.

The prevailing theory among baseball and media people was that “Mr. Nomu was seriously ill and bedridden. However, since the end of 2002, Satchi has stubbornly denied the “serious illness theory,” saying, “He is only not appearing on TV because he is still giving lectures. His son, Katsunori (41), also responded to media inquiries, saying, “There is no problem at all.

Satchi told the people around him, “Don’t tell anyone! Satchi has issued a gag order on the illness, saying, “Don’t tell anyone! However, Nom’s health has been improving recently, and he is able to walk with support, and his doctor has advised him to go out as much as possible, so he often eats at his favorite hotel restaurant.

On February 19, 2003, two days after the scene described at the beginning of this article, this magazine also witnessed Nom’s healthy appearance at the New Otani.