Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

The live-thread for the Giants–Hiroshima game at Tokyo Dome was buzzing. Hiroshima starter Morishita held the Giants offense to just one run while notching his 1,000th career inning pitched, and posters flooded in hoping he wouldn’t be pulled early so he could pick up the win — while also firing off questions about the Giants’ bullpen management and batting order.

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “Giants Acting Manager 109.”

At the first-pitch ceremony before the Seibu–Orix game at Tokyo Dome, the idol group “ME:I” wore Kazuhisa Inao’s permanently retired number “24” — and it’s causing a stir.

The team explained it was simply because it was the guest’s lucky number, but on the thread the conversation spread from criticism of that flimsy reasoning and doubts about the team’s judgment, to comparisons with other teams’ quasi-retired numbers.

Published 8/21 (Fri), 10:53

Sankei Shimbun

Before the professional baseball Seibu–Orix game held at Tokyo Dome on the 18th, the idol group “ME:I” (Mī Ai) performed the ceremonial first pitch wearing uniform number “24” — the number worn by legendary pitcher Kazuhisa Inao during his Nishitetsu days, and now the team’s permanently retired number — sparking both support and criticism on social media. Responding to an inquiry from the Sankei Shimbun, the team said, “We are aware that we’ve received a great many reactions on social media.”

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[Pro Baseball] Seibu’s Kazuhisa Inao Retired Number “24” Worn by Guest Idol Group ME:I at Event — Mixed Reactions on Social Media“.

It’s been reported that DeNA’s Shintaro Fujinami will start against the Giants on the 20th (in Yokohama), vowing to pitch with the same fiery spirit as his words, “I want to be a real man,” as he chases his first win of the season. On 5ch, discussion ranged widely over why a pitcher once mentioned in the same breath as Shohei Ohtani keeps struggling with control problems — from running gags like “Genocide Throw” and “the hand grenade” to commentary from former catcher Akihiro Yano.

August 19, 2026, 5:55 PM

DeNA pitcher Shintaro Fujinami (32) will start against the Giants on the 20th (in Yokohama) as he aims for his first win of the season. On the 19th, he tuned up at Yokohama Stadium. “The main thing is just to attack the strike zone. I’ve been throwing pretty well in the bullpen, so now it’s just about whether I can bring that into the game,” he said.

The 20th is the final game of a three-game series billed as the “Yokohama Men’s Festival.” Fujinami said, “I’m the type who wants to be a real man. I don’t dislike a style that wears its fighting spirit on its sleeve, so I want to keep a cool head and a hot heart,” vowing to close out the festival with a fiery performance.

Source: chunichi.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is compiled as excerpts and a summary from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[DeNA] Shintaro Fujinami to Start vs. Giants on the 20th Chasing First Win of the Season, Vows Fiery Pitching: ‘I Want to Be a Real Man’.”