Beyond the Championship—The Explosive Managing Style Driving Hanshin’s Greatest TeamBeyond the Championship—The Explosive Managing Style Driving Hanshin’s Greatest Team

Fastest pennant clinch in Japanese pro baseball history!

It was a game that summed up the entire season.

On September 7, against Hiroshima, with the magic number at 1, Hanshin struck first on a sacrifice fly from Nozomu Takatera (22), whom manager Kyuji Fujikawa (45) had often chided as being at the child’s level and not yet ready to fight on this team, yet continued to stick with patiently.

Catcher Seishiro Sakamoto (31), who has blossomed both defensively and at the plate after being entrusted with the starting role, doubled. Pinch-hitter Kento Itohara (32) advanced him to third with a groundout, and Koji Chikamoto (30) followed with a sac fly for an insurance run.

Those two runs were all Hanshin scored, but starter Hiroto Saiki (26) threw four shutout innings before handing the baton to Atsuki Yuasa (26), Takuma Kirishiki (26), Masaki Oyokawa (24), Daichi Ishii (28), and finally Suguru Iwasaki (34)—all combining for a scoreless relay.

Winning while developing players, deploying them in the right roles, instilling discipline in the basics, and building a rock-solid pitching staff—under Fujikawa’s guidance, the Tigers burned like fireballs and stormed to the finish line faster than any team in NPB history.

Some have voiced concern that such an early clinch could be a double-edged sword. After all, back in 2005, the Tigers had more than three weeks between winning the pennant and the Japan Series. The long layoff dulled their edge, and they were swept by the Chiba Lotte Marines. But one team official insisted: “Nothing is stopping Fujikawa’s Hanshin.”

“The foundation of today’s team was laid during Tomonori Kanemoto’s era, under the banner of ‘Super Transformation.’ They declared, ‘You can only draft a cleanup hitter with a first-round pick,’ prioritizing bats over immediate pitching needs. They passed on Chihaya Sasaki (31) to take Yusuke Ohyama (30) instead, and fans booed. But the results speak for themselves.

As for pitchers, they balanced college-ready arms with high-upside high schoolers from the second round onward, favoring players with standout tools over those who were just well-rounded. Over ten years, they stockpiled elite talent, which former skipper Akinobu Okada sharpened, and which Fujikawa has now masterfully managed. The bold promotion of youngsters has paid off, too. This runaway victory was inevitable. And with most of the core in their mid-20s, the team is still developing. They’ll only get stronger before the Climax Series.”

Hanshin’s team ERA of 2.12 leads all 12 clubs. Their hitters dominate the leaderboards in RBIs and home runs. They’ve issued the fewest walks in the league, yet the top five pitchers in walk rankings are all Tigers (as of Sept. 8). It’s no exaggeration to call them the strongest Hanshin team in history. And insiders say the golden era is just beginning.

Osami Ueda, Fujikawa’s mentor from his Jonan Junior High days and later coach at Kochi Commercial High, reflected:

“When Kyuji became manager, I told him: put the players first—focus on conditioning, preventing injuries, and communicating. In his championship interview, his very first words were, ‘My players are so strong!’ and afterward he kept saying, ‘the whole team.’

He never wavered from putting the players first. He even apologized for keeping his distance from OBs and seniors so he could immerse himself in the job. Kochi Commercial is a traditional powerhouse, so it reminded me of when he told me, ‘Coach, you must’ve had it tough too,’ and we laughed about it.”

Ueda sees beyond this year’s pennant:

“Having closed games in NPB, MLB, and an independent league, Fujikawa knows firsthand the pressure of tough roles, and that experience shines in his management. I’d love to see him do what no Hanshin manager has ever done—lead them to back-to-back championships.”

Two years after their last Japan title, Hanshin is charging forward as the strongest Tigers ever—with back-to-back crowns in their sights!

From the September 26, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”