Chunichi’s Hideaki Wakui: “I’m Determined to Keep Playing Until I’m in My 50s”—170 Career Wins and Counting!

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Hideaki Wakui, 40, looks back on the game in which he achieved a feat accomplished by only three players in history. Wakui started against the Hiroshima Carp on July 11 and earned his first win of the season after allowing one run over six innings. Winning at least one game for 22 consecutive years since his rookie season is a remarkable achievement, following former Hankyu Braves pitcher Tetsuya Yoneda and Yakult Swallows pitcher Masanori Ishikawa.

Read the first part here: Chunichi’s Hideaki Wakui: “The Words of Daisuke Matsuzaka That Made Me Resolve Myself” — 22 Consecutive Years of Winning Since His Rookie Season

“You changed the way you use your arm”

“In 2009, I was happy that I was able to win the Sawamura Award (a special award given to the starting pitcher who had the most outstanding season) ahead of Darvish. Darvish, who was the same age as me, had won the Sawamura Award in 2007, so I had always thought, ‘Someday, I want to win it too.’ At the time, Darvish was watching the games I pitched, and he noticed subtle changes, saying, ‘You changed the way you use your arm, didn’t you?’ He would talk to me whenever he had the chance. I was impressed by how closely he watched, and I also learned a lot from him, such as how to move my body more efficiently.”

Wakui’s fastball averages in the 140-km/h range, which is by no means particularly fast. However, batters seem to feel more life on his pitches than the speed alone would suggest.

“What I look for in my fastball is the kind of strength that makes it feel as though the ball accelerates as it reaches the batter. The time I was able to throw the kind of pitch I had envisioned was during an exhibition game against the Giants at Tokyo Dome in March 2020. I threw two consecutive fastballs to Yoshihiro Maru, and he swung and missed in a way he normally doesn’t.

He was beaten by a ball that I had gotten a firm grip on with my fingers, and I think Maru also felt that the pitch had more life than its speed suggested. He had a surprised expression on his face, as if to say, ‘Oh!’ That year, the number of games was limited due to the spread of COVID-19, but I went 11–4 and won my fourth Most Wins title (since 2015).”

After moving through the Seibu Lions, Chiba Lotte Marines, and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Wakui entered his 22nd season with the Chunichi Dragons this year. Perhaps the accumulated fatigue from pitching for so many years had taken its toll. He began the season in the minors. He did not earn a win when he was called up to the first team for the July 4 game against the Giants, but he pitched well, allowing just one run over seven innings, and finally earned a spot in the starting rotation. His 22nd consecutive season with a win, as mentioned at the beginning, came in his next start against the Hiroshima Carp.

“I did have this frustrating feeling that while other pitchers were winning, I wasn’t. But I didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it. I’m still continuing to do intensive running workouts. You can’t take the easy way out. With my first win of the season, I finally feel like this year has truly begun. I’m still confident that I can keep pitching. I’m prepared to continue playing until I’m in my 50s.”

Wakui started against the Hanshin Tigers on August 26 and earned his fourth win of the season after pitching six scoreless innings. His career win total has now reached 170, tying his senior Daisuke Matsuzaka. His record looks likely to continue growing.

From the September 25, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”