From our other sites
The story
Chunichi Sports reported on the 19th that pitcher Kou Nio (26) was photographed without his cap after live batting practice, with the shot posted on the team’s official Instagram. His newly trimmed hairstyle, short on both sides, drew approving comments on the 5ch Geinou/Sports Breaking News+ board like “He’s fired up” and “Leveling up, huh.” At the same time, some posters admitted they don’t recall his Koshien heroics and couldn’t see why he’s getting so much attention, while others voiced concern over new manager Kudo’s reputation for being tough on players — turning a thread about a haircut into a wider debate about Nio’s future role.
The Chunichi Dragons’ official Instagram was updated on the 19th with a photo of pitcher Kou Nio (26) with his cap off, and fans are buzzing about his new hairstyle.
The post shows Nio, looking fired up, removing his cap with his right hand as he walks off the mound. His hair was cropped short on both sides. The caption read: “Nio heads off the mound after pitching in live batting practice — October 19, at Nagoya Dome (photo by Keita Imaizumi).”
The comments section filled with words of encouragement: “Cut his hair even shorter — fired up, leveling up, huh,” “Got a haircut, he’s fired up,” “Damn, good face on him,” “The manager change is in a way a new shot at opportunity,” “The new manager likes players who give it their all, so go get ’em.”
Source: chunichi.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
"Bounce back" is for guys who actually succeeded before, man
At Koshien he was only the second-string pitcher — he made his name as an infielder with his all-around play, batting, fielding, running. That's why it doesn't click if you're only thinking of him as a pitcher
This IS him breaking out apparently
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2110552888871411712/vid/avc1/1280×720/ep2n51R3NeTSrGIo.mp4
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2110727385754877952/vid/avc1/1276×720/9A8MRY7bU8wYdHBt.mp4
A genius at creating an unpleasant atmosphere
Why so hostile? Just coast through it, man
Never imagined Kudo, of all people, becoming a great manager after being such a great pitcher
Can we just let the guy be
It was Tatsunami who turned him into a plaything
First time I've ever heard this name in my life. Don't start threads just to hype some entertainer, man
Kudo and Nio…
Is a mentor-student relationship forming here?
A shoebill?
Honestly wouldn't be surprised if he got put up for this year's active roster draft
For the record, his dad's a salaried hospital doctor, not one running his own practice — kids from private-practice-owning families don't go to Jichi Medical University. That school's full of kids from regular salaryman families with no money
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
Kou Nio was the Chunichi Dragons’ first-round pick in the 2019 draft, an unusual player who split time between pitcher and infielder in high school. As a pro, he’s never settled into a fixed position or role, and has gone long stretches without producing results. That’s the backdrop to why a simple change in hairstyle is generating buzz: it reflects his status as a player who draws attention for reasons other than performance. The thread split between posters reading the new look as a positive sign and those taking a cooler view of a player who hasn’t delivered results still getting image-driven coverage. Comments about the new manager’s strictness likewise mixed hope and anxiety, and it should be noted that the manager’s actual approach can’t be definitively judged from thread comments alone.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Breaking News+) thread “[Chunichi] “He’s fired up” — Kou Nio’s hatless hairstyle draws attention, fans stare: “Leveling up, huh” “Good face on him” [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★]” thread.
Leave a Reply