Katsunori Nomura, current second-team battery coach, receives batting instruction from Hanshin manager Nomura (right) at Aki camp in February 2000.
Photo By Sponichi
February 11th is the anniversary of the death of Katsuya Nomura, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 84. His son, Hanshin’s second-team battery coach Katsunori (50), spoke about his feelings for his father.
It was not long after the arrival of baseball that the great father and baseball teacher departed for heaven. However, this season is not the only thing Coach Katsunori thinks about.
“I always remember him. He’s my father. I always try to thank my mother (Sachiyo) and father before I go to bed.”
Currently, he is involved in the development of young catchers. He hasn’t forgotten the words that were said to him when he was appointed as coach. “Perseverance, passion, love. Cherish that.” In promoting the growth of catchers, who are also referred to as managers on the field, the team places emphasis on not only improving their skills, but also honing their personality in order to earn the team’s trust. “That’s what he said so much about,” she said, looking back on his life.
Last season, Hanshin won the No. 1 title in Japan for the first time in 38 years. Team manager Satoshi Shimamura, who is in charge of building the team, served as a public relations staff member for manager Nomura from 1999 to 2001, and as a staff member in the organization headquarters when he was manager of Rakuten, and absorbed Nomura-ism up close. Nomura’s teaching that “leaving a legacy is first class” has been passed down from generation to generation.
Coach Katsunori says: “We’ve become a team that can compete for championships every year. I don’t know how that (my father’s teachings) is working, but I’m in the position of developing players on the field. I’ve managed to turn the players that have come in into first-team players. I’m doing it with this in mind.” This is my 29th year in the professional world. I will stand on the field today as well, thanking my father. (Mikio Obayashi)
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2024-02-10 20:15:00
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