He led the Japan Series for the first time in 38 years, but retired to replace the 67-year-old coach, Hanshin Okada, and the next head coach Fujikawa (Min Chang-ki's Japanese baseball)

Oct 03, 2024

Okada, who led Hanshin to the Japan Series title last year, will put down his baton after the end of this season. In 2011, when Okada was the head coach of Orix, Lee Seung-yeop joined and joined. Sports Chosun DB

Okada returned to Hanshin's leadership for the first time in 15 years last year, leading the team to win the Central League and Japan Series. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS

Hanshin players at the top of the Japan Series last year rinsed Okada. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS

Manager Akinobu Okada (67) of the Hanshin Tigers will leave the team. He took the helm for the second time last year and dropped the baton in two years. Japanese sports magazine Sports Hochi reported that Okada met with a club official on the 29th, when the second place was confirmed, and decided to retire. This is also the last year of the two-year contract.

It is a retirement that is far from a general poor performance.

Coach Okada's Hanshin rushed to win the Central League. He pushed his destiny rival Yomiuri Giants to the end, but lacked a sense of background. After fierce competition, he gave up the championship to Yomiuri. He lost his first league title in a row. But the postseason, climax series is waiting. There is still a chance to lose two consecutive Japanese series.

The final season of a two-year contract. We can't help but talk about a second term. In the meantime, the team's leadership has been reticent. Coach Okada said, `I don't intend to do it for long.' When I signed the contract two years ago, I said, `I hope a successor will come out in two years,' but it became a reality.

Born in 1957. He is the oldest head coach. When he was appointed last year, he was one year older than former Yomiuri coach Tatsunori Hara. Former coach Ha-ra, who welcomed Okada to return, retired at the end of last season as he finished the B-Class (4th to 6th out of 6 teams) for the second consecutive year.

Coach Okada, who returned to Hanshin for the first time in 15 years, led the team to win the league for the first time in 18 years and the Japan Series for the first time in 38 years. Made a shining 2023.

I achieved a lot as a player and a leader. Infielder Okada contributed to his first win in the Japan Series as a Hanshin center hitter in 1985. He had a batting average of 342, 35 home runs, and 101 RBIs in that year. And 38 years later, he led Hanshin to his second victory as the head coach.

Hanshin won the Central League for the first time in 18 years and the Japan Series for the first time in 38 years last year. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS

He previously served as Hanshin coach for five years from 2004 to 2008. He won the league in 2005. At that time, Lee Seung-yeop lost all four games to the Chiba Lotte Marines, who were very active in the Japan Series. Okada won 551 games as Hanshin, the most ever. From 2010 to 2012, he coached Orix. This is when Lee Seung-yeop played for Orix.

Generational change awaits. Hanshin's Finishing 'Legend'Fujikawa Kyuji (44) is mentioned as the likely successor head coach. He is 23 years younger than Okada.

Fujikawa played as the main pitcher during Okada's tenure in the mid-2000s. He retired as a player at the end of 2020 and has worked as a special assistant for Hanshin owner for the past two years. He mainly recruited foreign players and analyzed the power of other teams.

Fujikawa, who joined as a rookie in 1999, played 782 games for Hanshin. He recorded a career-high 60 wins, 38 losses, 243 saves, 163 holds, and 2.08 ERA. He was the save king twice and the hold first twice.

He moved to Major League Baseball in 2013. After three years, he returned to Hanshin. When he left for the United States, Hanshin recruited closer Oh Seung-hwan. Fujikawa played 29 games for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers, but did not show the expected performance.

Fujikawa, who returned to Hanshin in 2016 after three years in the Major League. He is mentioned as the next Hanshin coach. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS

During the 2015 season, he returned to Japan and returned to Hanshin through the independent league, Shikoku Island Lead Kochi Fighting Dogs. He stayed in his hometown Kochi team for a while without a salary. Fujikawa is the winning member of Japan's World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2006 and 2009.

Earlier, the Chunichi Dragons and Seibu Lions decided to replace their coaches.

huelva@sportschosun.com