Yoshida Chases “Kana-nō Whirlwind,” Abe Leads Yokohama — Koshien’s Golden Eggs Speak Out
Golden Eggs in Koshien in the Summer of 2025 (Part 2)
August is about to get even hotter!
— A spotlight slugger, son of a Giants coach / The younger brother of a star aiming to revive the “Kana-nō whirlwind” / Yokohama chasing another national title after fall and spring triumphs
Son of former Giants player Shigeyuki Furushiro, Daisho Furushiro of Hanamaki Higashi
The standout slugger in this tournament is Daisho Furushiro (2nd year) of Hanamaki Higashi, son of former Giants player Shigeyuki Furushiro. With so many talented left-handed pitchers lined up, a right-handed power hitter like Furushiro, who posted a .524 batting average in the Iwate tournament, is sure to draw attention. Speaking as he steps up to the plate with a wooden bat, Furushiro says:
“With metal bats, it felt like the ball would fly just by making contact. I have a strong bottom swing (for a right-handed hitter like me, using the left hand effectively), and the wooden bat lets me make the most of that. I want to showcase my strengths—clutch hitting and power—at my second Koshien.”
Daiki Yoshida of Kanano Agricultural, aiming for a repeat of the “Kanano Storm”
Also returning to Koshien from Tohoku is Daiki Yoshida of Kanano Agricultural. Last summer, he experienced Koshien in his second-year summer—a feat his older brother Kosei (Orix) had not achieved—and this summer he pitched a shutout in the Akita tournament semifinals against North Asia University Meisou. On that day, the red glove Daiki wore had been given to him by his brother. It was the same model Kosei used seven years ago, with the same “Tenka” embroidery.
“It still doesn’t quite fit my hand, and I kept making errors, but I took the mound in the prefectural tournament with the feeling of fighting alongside my brother. The opponent (Meisou’s ace, Rui Izumi) is the best left-hander in Akita. So as a right-handed pitcher, I wanted to prove I could be the number-one pitcher in Akita,” he said.
In the final, though he gave up a run in the last inning and the game went to a tiebreaker, he won 2–1. This second Koshien was earned more through pitching skill than momentum. When Daiki sparks a Kanano storm like his brother did after last year’s first-round exit, he will take a step closer to his ambition of surpassing his brother.
Top championship contender: Yota Abe, captain of Yokohama, & Raito Okumura, ace and cleanup hitter
The top championship favorite for the 107th Summer Koshien is Yokohama, aiming for a national title following their successes in spring and fall.
In late June, the team held a practice game against Osaka Toin at Nippon Sport Science University’s grounds. That day, captain Yota Abe did not play, and Yorito Okumura (3rd year), shouldering the heavy responsibility of both ace and cleanup hitter, took the mound partway through but gave up a home run.
What surprised the writer more than the result was the transformation of Okumura, who had been sidelined due to a left thigh muscle strain. His body had grown remarkably compared to spring. He reportedly improved his strength through initial-load training, a method practiced by players like Ichiro.
As mentioned at the start, in the Kanagawa tournament quarterfinal against Hiratsuka Gakuen, Abe, who had served as captain since his second-year spring, rescued the team from a tough situation. Abe said:
“Summer is the place all high school players nationwide aim for, and only by becoming number one there does a spring championship truly have meaning.”
In the semifinals and finals, it was the 3rd-year ace Okumura who led the team to Koshien—not with his pitching but by hitting three home runs. Summer’s spotlight belongs to Yokohama—can any player resist their dominance?
A hitting talent also attracting professional attention: Yorito Okumura / Yokohama, pitcher / from Shiga Prefecture. Height 178 cm. Wearing jersey number 1 while entrusted with the cleanup spot, he is a rare talent. Professional scouts are also watching him as a position player.Reporting and writing： Yuji Yanagawa (nonfiction writer) PHOTO： Yuji Yanagawa (Okumura), AFLO (Furujo), Kyodo News (Abe)
