Masahiro Tanaka Returns to NPB After 11 Years, Reveals Strict 20-Step Daily Routine

Good rhythm, good habits

“Just call me ‘Maeken’!”

When the reporter hesitated between calling him “Mr. Maeda” or “Maeken,” Maeda Ken (37) of the Rakuten team responded in a friendly manner.

Having recorded 68 career wins in MLB and returning to Japanese baseball after 11 years, Maeda is a legendary figure, but he shows no air of superiority. During practice, he chats casually with younger players and actively communicates with them (remarks below are from Maeda).

“I’m not the kind of person who acts all high and mighty. There are players more than ten years younger than me, but when I talk with them, I often learn things like oh, I see. I don’t really go around telling younger players, this is what I think. Nobody likes being spoken to from above, right? If they ask, what should I do? then I give advice.”

Maeda is also famous for his “Maeken Exercise,” where he rotates his shoulders in circles, and his routines on the mound, such as repeatedly swinging his arms backward while spreading them out. The content of these routines changes year by year, and they also include lifestyle habits such as sleeping 7.5 hours. The origin goes back to June 2008 in his second professional year with Hiroshima, in a game against Nippon-Ham.

“I pitched a near no-hitter through seven innings and got my first career win. I wanted to keep that momentum, so before my next start (against the Giants), I looked back at what I did the day before that first win… and remembered, ‘I ate yogurt and gummies.’ Since that was a good rhythm, I bought the same things and went into the Giants game, and I won again with 7 innings and 1 run allowed! I thought I had to keep it going, and little by little I built good habits. Now I have over 20 daily routines.”

These routines are not just superstition.

“I’m actually a pretty nervous type. If I don’t get results, I get anxious and even depressed. But if I calmly go through my routines, I don’t overthink things like ‘will I be okay today?’ I can focus on what’s in front of me, my mind becomes organized, and I gain mental space. I can convince myself, ‘I’m doing what I always do when I’m in good form, so I should pitch well.’ It’s like a ritual for winning.”

Another thing Maeda values is breathing room.

“It overlaps with what I just said, but what I value most is mental space. If you live every day giving 100% with no room to spare, both your body and mind will break down. Even if you train at your absolute limit, if results don’t come, you’ll feel discouraged. That’s why I think I’ve been efficient since my high school days (PL Gakuen in Osaka). I would act like I was training at full intensity, but sometimes I would ease off. Some might call it slacking, but if you get injured it’s meaningless. I wanted mental room to breathe for my performance.”

(continued in part 2: “The 20% margin is important! Rakuten’s Maeda Ken explains how Darvish influenced him in every way”)

From the April 17/24, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”