Rumors Surrounding Former Hanshin Tigers Manager Akihiro Okada’s Health Spark Concern in Baseball Community

He is clearly not his usual self.

Former Hanshin Tigers manager and currently serving as a senior advisor to the team’s owner, Akihiro Okada (67), has been reported to be suffering from serious health issues since last week, causing a stir around the team.

Okada was in charge of the Hanshin team for two years until last season, his second as manager.

“In his first year back, he achieved a league championship and the long-awaited Japan Series title, and last season he again reached 74 wins, considered the benchmark for the championship line. Unfortunately, they finished second in the Central League but delivered a performance that closely challenged the leading Giants.

Naturally, there were expectations for him to continue leading the team this season as well, but he stepped down at the end of his contract. Without holding a press conference or giving a farewell message to the fans, he took off his uniform in a manner uncharacteristic of ‘Donden’ (Okada’s nickname), who is known for his strong sense of duty and compassion,” said a former club member.

Behind the limited communication to fans was reportedly Mr. Okada’s health issues.

“Immediately after stepping down, his condition was such that he had to be hospitalized without delay, and he didn’t even have the strength to hold a press conference or address the fans. His condition deteriorated to the point where his life was in danger, but he later recovered. In February, he visited the spring training camp in Ginoza Village, Okinawa, to observe his successor, the new manager Kyuji Fujikawa (44), and also visited other teams’ camps, where he showed his lively character again,” the source said.

On March 27, he appeared alongside his junior from Waseda University, Takashi Toritani (43), at a talk show hosted by a local Osaka TV station. The next day, he also appeared as a guest commentator for the season opener between Hiroshima and Hanshin at Mazda Stadium. However…

“Right after that, he reportedly fell ill again. Okada, who loves baseball and Hanshin so much that he would usually show up at the stadium every day, stopped appearing at games. At the Kyocera Dome opener on April 1 and the Koshien opener on April 8, both celebrating the team’s 90th anniversary with events featuring famous former players, Okada was scheduled to attend but did not appear. The club only announced that he was ‘resting due to poor health.’

There are some rumors that he is hospitalized for tests and will be discharged soon, but the club’s unusually tight-lipped attitude clearly shows something is different this time. Even at the farewell ceremony for his mentor, the late Yoshio Yoshida, which he attended despite feeling unwell on March 25, he reportedly said, ‘I can’t even speak at important times,’ suggesting he is suffering from a serious respiratory illness. Many staff members at our TV station who were looked after by Manager Okada are desperately praying for his recovery,” said a source from a local TV station.

Yoko, his wife, who is well-loved among Hanshin fans as a celebrity wife, reportedly told those around her, “My husband’s condition is not the worst, but he’s still suffering from lingering health issues since last year.”

“Yoko is usually a cheerful, open-hearted person who behaves brightly even around others, but she seems a bit subdued lately. It might mean that his condition is worse than we had thought,” commented a sports newspaper reporter covering Hanshin.

Mr. Okada, who loves being on-site and was reportedly quite eager behind the scenes for a third stint as Hanshin manager, is dearly hoped to recover and once again entertain many fans with his spirited ‘Donden’ style.