Pretty Nagashima in Tears as He Shares Touching Words from Shigeo Nagashima

A famous speech was a turning point in his life

It was during his morning commute on a crowded train that his eyes became glued to the screen of his smartphone.

“Nagashima-san has passed away.”

Pretty Nagashima (70), a member of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly, learned of the death of “Mr. Pro Baseball” Shigeo Nagashima (aged 89) — who passed away on June 3 — through an email from an acquaintance. Pretty is a celebrity impersonator officially recognized by Nagashima himself. He recalls:

“My heart was shaken to its core. I somehow managed to take my seat at the prefectural assembly, but at the beginning, Governor Toshihito Kumagai mentioned Nagashima-san’s passing. After the plenary session ended, the grief I had been holding back overflowed, and I couldn’t stop my tears.”

Pretty went on to share some personal stories about his connection with Mr. Nagashima — and the unforgettable words that moved his heart.

He first became aware of Nagashima at the age of four.

“I have four older brothers, and back then they were always talking about Nagashima-san, who had just joined the Giants. Naturally, I started paying attention to him too and got interested in baseball. I played casual sandlot games, with no coach or manager. I kept wondering how to improve, and decided to imitate the best player in Japan — Nagashima-san.”

Even after graduating high school and starting work at the Chiba Prefectural Waterworks Bureau, Pretty continued playing baseball.

“During games, opponents would heckle me, saying things like, ‘Stop imitating Nagashima and play seriously!’ But I wasn’t joking around. I genuinely used him as a model to become better.”

Nagashima’s retirement in October 1974 and his now-legendary speech at Korakuen Stadium — “Our Giants will live on forever” — would mark a turning point in Pretty’s life too.

“One time, after a sandlot game, someone at a drinking party asked me to perform Nagashima-san’s retirement speech. When I began passionately reciting it in his voice and tone, people started disappearing one by one. I wondered what was going on — turns out, they were all crying out in the hallway, moved by the performance. That was the moment I decided I wanted to show my impersonation of Nagashima-san to more people.”

“Can you make a living?”

Pretty began appearing on television by applying to amateur participation shows. Eventually, he became a regular on the popular variety show Waratte Iitomo! (Fuji TV), which began airing in October 1982.

“At the time, I was essentially under Fuji TV’s care, so I couldn’t appear on Nippon TV, which is part of the Yomiuri network and where Nagashima-san often appeared. I just wanted to meet him! That desire was so strong that I stepped down from Iitomo! and became a freelancer.”

Freed from restrictions, Pretty gradually had more opportunities to see Nagashima at events. After Nagashima returned as Giants manager in 1993, Pretty even visited the team’s spring training camp in Miyazaki by bicycle from his home in Chiba.

“It was probably spring of 1998. Nagashima-san personally came out to greet me and said, ‘Pretty! Wasn’t it cold?’ Then he said, ‘Let me try it,’ and got on my bike, riding it around the training grounds. He seemed delighted, saying, ‘It’s fast. I hit 40 km/h!’”

When Nagashima stepped down as manager after the 2001 season, he showed thoughtfulness toward Pretty.

“I heard from a Giants beat reporter that ‘the manager is worried about Pretty.’ I thought it was a joke. But in the greenroom at a joint event, Nagashima-san said to me, ‘Pretty, now that I’ve taken off the uniform, will you still be able to make a living?’ He was worried that without him, I’d lose my material. I was so moved I cried.”

In April 2011, Pretty ran for the Chiba Prefectural Assembly and was elected. In May 2013, when Nagashima visited the prefectural government to receive the Prefectural Honor Award, Pretty presented him with a bouquet.

“Remembering when he asked me if I could still make a living, I handed him the bouquet and said, ‘Actually, I’m working here now as an assemblyman.’ Then Nagashima replied, with a clear voice and a smile, ‘You think I don’t know that you work here?’”

Concerned for Nagashima, who had suffered a stroke and was undergoing long-term rehabilitation, Pretty would send local specialties from around Chiba during his work travels. When he visited Chōsei District, he sent “Chōsei Melons” (which can be read as “long-life melons”). Nagashima always responded with a handwritten thank-you postcard.

“Nagashima-san always treated me with a warm smile. He’s been a model for my life, and I want to continue emulating the way he lived.”

Pretty prays before Nagashima’s portrait at the Chiba Prefectural Office every morning and evening.

From the June 27 and July 4, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”