Saburo Appointed Chiba Lotte Manager: Emphasizes “Showa-Style Intense Training” and “Quality Through Quantity”
Special Interview
“Mr. Marines” Speaks Out Candidly
“Quality comes from quantity. These days, people say quality matters more than quantity, but I wanted my players to experience swinging the bat like crazy at least once in their lives.”
Lotte, which finished last last season, has brought in new manager Saburo (49) as their key to rebuilding. Although he spent about six months with the Giants in 2011, Saburo, known as “Mr. Marines,” spent the other 22 years of his pro career with Lotte. His motto: “Intense Showa-Era Training.”
“There are several reasons. For the past two and a half years until mid-last season, I served as the farm team manager. Recently, following the Major League trend, it’s common to let players take initiative in practice, but the reality is many players don’t know what to do.
Also, with lighter training, injuries piled up once the season started. So last spring, I raised the intensity of farm camp practice all at once and had players do a lot. As a result, last season the farm team had almost no injuries.”
However, the first team struggled from early in the season. To turn things around, Saburo was promoted to first-team head coach in June, and after the season, he was announced as first-team manager.
From the autumn camp, he immediately implemented a “hell camp.” Players trained over seven hours until dusk, never letting sweat dry. Batting practice included free swings, machines, tees, and long tees, all alongside base-running drills. Special fielding and batting sessions were added, and the day ended with consecutive tee batting. Right-handed slugger Koki Yamaguchi (25), who hit four consecutive homers last season, recalls:
“Some days we hit five full baskets. Even conservatively, that’s 700 pitches. It was the hardest in my baseball life.”
Saburo explains:
“Showa sometimes has a negative connotation, but people also say the Showa era was good. It’s easy to understand, and the word ‘Showa’ caught on on its own, which really changed the players’ mindset and approach.
Everyone knew this spring camp would be tough, so they trained properly on their own. From the first day of camp on February 1, they were ready to go, and coach Tsuyoshi Nishioka (41), first-team hitting and base-running coach, even said, ‘They’re ready to play now!’ In a way, the word Showa helped us.”
The term “Showa” wasn’t planned in advance. “I don’t even know why, but it just came to me during the press conference, and before I realized it, I said it aloud,” he revealed. While there was a risk of it being taken negatively or causing a stir on social media, Saburo laughed it off: “I didn’t hesitate at all. It doesn’t matter for baseball.”
Reporting on the Showa-style camp revealed that it’s not mere harsh treatment. Showa and Reiwa methods are blended perfectly.
“Players rest properly when needed. Sleep is important. I’m not against efficiency. For example, weight training is done in the morning. In the past, baseball players trained first and did weights afterward, but after intense practice, there’s no energy or motivation left. It was the same when I played. Scientific evidence shows that doing weights first thing in the morning, when fresh, is the most efficient for improving both strength and skills.”
Valentine’s “Guidebook”
Organizational leaders are often told not to fear being disliked. But Saburo fully understands that in the Reiwa era, toughness alone cannot lead young players.
“My ideal manager style is also a fusion. At Lotte, I worked under Bobby Valentine and Koji Yamamoto; at the Giants, I learned from Tatsunori Hara; and with the Japan national team, from Senichi Hoshino. I want to inherit the good aspects of each of these renowned managers.”
Valentine brought a bright atmosphere to the team and led Lotte to both league and Japan Series championships in 2005. At the time, Saburo was a regular outfielder and batted cleanup in all Japan Series games.
“Valentine’s team was strong. Besides his cheerfulness, he used data extensively and excelled in strategy and game sense. At the end of last year, we had a reunion with the Japan Series champions, and I asked Valentine, ‘What kind of magic did you use?’ He laughed, saying, ‘I don’t know myself,’ but he showed us a notebook where he had listed his managerial principles. I thought, ‘Wow! This is exactly what I needed.’”
Saburo also brought in Hideaki Matsuyama (58), a former coach under legendary manager Akira Ogi, as first-team chief infield and base-running coach. He plans to actively absorb Ogi’s famed “Ogi Magic.”
“Ogi was a great manager, and Matsuyama was my senior at PL Gakuen. I’ve long heard stories about Ogi from him. He’s outstanding at using data and managing relationships with players.”
This season marks the starting point for restoring a strong Lotte. Last year, rookie Fumiaki Nishikawa (22) won Rookie of the Year, Daito Yamamoto (23) led Japanese players on the team with 11 home runs, and Ryusei Terachi (20), in his second year after high school, secured the starting catcher role. Yet Saburo cautions:
“Some young players got playing time because of last year’s low ranking. I’ve told them, ‘Nothing is guaranteed for next year.’ Young players need to leverage last season’s experience, while veterans and mid-career players must turn the frustration of finishing last into motivation. I have some expectations there.”
Fans are also watching the resurgence of veteran pitcher Naoya Masuda (36), who is two saves shy of entering the Meikyukai with 250 career saves. After a disappointing five-save season, Saburo emphasized a clean slate for the closer role:
“I’m especially strict with him. Of course, he’s a junior I care about from my playing days. But in this world, results are everything. That’s real professional baseball, and it applies to everyone.”
This year’s Lotte will be gritty. Yet the nostalgic Showa-era flavor adds a comforting touch. Saburo, wearing a confident smile, teased:
“Last year we finished last. There’s nowhere lower to go, so we’ll just go all out. I want to do things that might surprise the opposition a bit. I’m usually orthodox, but this year, I plan to shake things up.”
Saburo Baseball is set to stir up a whirlwind in the Pacific League.
From the March 6, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”
Interview and text by： Kotaro Tajiri PHOTO： Hiroyuki Komatsu