Masahiro Tanaka (32), who returned to Rakuten for the first time in eight years, thanked Mr. Nom in heaven. On the 11th, a year after Katsuya Nomura died at the age of 84, I interviewed him after practicing on the first day of the third course at Camp Kinbu in Okinawa. I take my master’s death as “I feel like it’s sudden and I don’t really feel it.” Nomura was the director when he joined the professional team in 2007. “After all, I was the first director when I started my professional career, and he taught me all the basics of really living in the professional world. He is still special to me, and I’m a team manager. Even after I left my position, I spoke about it through interviews and television talk, and although it was irregular, I had the opportunity to speak, and that was something I was looking forward to. “

“Every year off, I would meet with Coach Katsunori (Nomura) and when I played golf with him he would say, ‘How are you?’ Again. I can’t believe it. ” It is, “he says.

Asked “Nomura’s teaching” which supports the record of 177 wins in Japan and the United States, “Practice throwing a low inside angle at the batter at any time with the home skill” “Pitching is not balance of power” ” Control is important “, He gave three points. “Anyway, at the beginning, there was a part where I was pulling by force, but from then on I started to shoot with a conscience of control and balance, and I felt that I could detach myself from there, or that I improved. I’ve been doing it for a long time. “

Come back for the first time in 8 years. What can Mr. Nom tell me about heaven? “On the contrary, I was wondering what he said. I was wondering how he would come back right now and say something.” With Rakuten’s No. 18 uniform on his back, he wants to offer a clear appearance to his teacher, aiming for joy since 2013. “Anyway, I am not ashamed of myself. The result is that I cannot control myself for good or bad luck, but I’m not ashamed to do what I do and keep fighting for the team until the end. I think I can control it myself, so I hope you can see it. “