"I want to be the kind of person that people think, 'It's okay because he's a Waseda player.'"
Tsubasa Yoshino, 4th year student School of Sport Sciences
Shu Yamagata, 4th year, School of Commerce
In front of the stone monument to "Father of Japanese Baseball, Abe Isoo" at the entrance to the Baseball Club Abe Dormitory on Higashifushimi Campus
On November 12, 2024, the Waseda University baseball team won the championship game of the Tokyo Big 6 Baseball Autumn League, achieving consecutive spring and autumn victories for the first time in nine years. At the 2024 Professional Baseball Draft Conference (hereinafter referred to as the Draft Conference) held on October 24 of the same year, Tsubasa Yoshino was selected 5th by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (hereinafter referred to as the Rakuten Eagles) and Shu Yamagata was selected 5th by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (hereinafter referred to as the Nippon-Ham Fighters), resulting in two Waseda University players going pro. We asked both players, who are expected to do well in professional baseball, about their memories of their four years on the baseball team, their thoughts on being drafted, and their future goals.
*The interview was conducted in late November.
--How do you feel now that you have been selected at the draft?
Yamagata: Immediately after I was selected, I was honestly happy and thought, "I'm really going to become a professional baseball player." I'm a bit nervous about playing in the professional world, but I'm thinking positively, "I have nothing to lose," and I want to start from scratch and tackle the challenge with a new mindset.
Yoshino: First of all, I was happy, but at the same time, I also felt relieved. As I received congratulatory messages from various people, as well as preparing to join the team by opening a bank account, I think it finally started to sink in.
Joint voluntary training for rookie players will begin in the new year and they will join the camp in February 2025, so we are now working hard every day to prepare for that.
Left: At the nomination greeting. From the left, Rakuten Eagles scout Jun Inoue and player Yoshino
Right: At the nomination greeting. From left, Nippon Ham scout Kazunori Yamamoto, player Yamagata, and head of scouting Takashi Ofuchi
--Looking back on the Waseda-Keio game in the Tokyo Big Six Baseball Autumn League held in November 2024, and the championship game against Meiji University, please tell us your thoughts.
Yoshino: First of all, I'm glad that we were able to achieve our goal of winning both the spring and autumn championships. On the other hand, I was really disappointed that we lost two games in a row in the Waseda-Keio game, not only as a member of the baseball team, but also as a Waseda student.
Yamagata: The day before the final against Meiji University was exactly one year since our team started. We talked to each other and said, "Today, let's practice harder than we've done in the last year," which boosted morale and helped us to switch our mindset and go into the final. I think that winning the final was a turning point in my life, and the most valuable experience I've ever had.
A photo of the moment the victory was decided in the championship match against Meiji University on November 12, 2024.
--What is your most memorable experience during your four years on the baseball team?
Yamagata: Winning the 2024 Tokyo Big Six Baseball Spring League for the first time since the fall of 2020. It was the first victory for our generation since entering the school, and I will never forget the joy of being able to erase all the disappointment we had felt by winning the championship. Personally, it was also great for me to receive the Best Nine award that season, as it was the first time I felt that I had contributed to the team.
Yoshino: For me, the 2023 Los Angeles expedition was a particularly good experience. I was impressed by the fact that the college players I interacted with there told me that they valued enjoying baseball above all else. It made me realize once again that even as I go on to play as a professional baseball player, I must not forget to enjoy baseball.
I also have fond memories of the domestic camps I went to in places like Niigata and Okinawa, where I went with a larger group of people. I walked for about an hour to play in the river and practice batting at night, which were experiences I couldn't have had at Abe Higashifushimi Campus where I usually practice.
Left: At Angel Stadium of Anaheim, which the team visited during a trip to Los Angeles in late February 2023. From the left: Taisei Shikada (4th year, School of Commerce) and Yoshino
Right: A photo taken after defensive practice at the Minamiuonuma Camp in Niigata Prefecture in August 2024. From left: Yamagata, Kansei Nakamura (4th year, School of Sport Sciences), Kazuki Matsue (3rd year, School of Human Sciences), and Yamato Umemura (4th year, School of Education)
--What do you like about Waseda University? What are the good things about enrolling here?
Yamagata: There is a strong feeling that everyone loves Waseda University. When I walk around the campuses, I often see students wearing hoodies or sweatshirts with the Waseda logo.
Being able to study at School of Commerce was one of the good things about enrolling at this university. Studying up until high school was tough and difficult, but thanks to the teachers, the classes at the Faculty of School of Commerce were very enjoyable and suited me. Of the lectures I took, the one that made the biggest impression on me was "Japanese Companies Adapting to Change" (a course offered by School of Commerce), where we could hear talks from people from various companies every week.
Yoshino: When I felt the warmth of the people who supported Waseda during the game at Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium, I felt glad to be able to play baseball at Waseda. When I was playing in the outfield, I could hear the cheers of the fans. Also, when I heard a friend from my hometown, Aichi Prefecture, who came to watch the game say, "There is no other university in the university baseball league where the support is so enthusiastic," I felt very happy to have been able to play as a starter for the Waseda University baseball team. Even after I become a professional, I want to keep that feeling in mind and be the kind of person that people think, "It's okay because he's a Waseda player."
Yamagata (left) and Yoshino (right) during the interview
--Please tell us about the strengths you would like to utilize in professional baseball and your future goals.
Yamagata: I'm most confident in my defensive stability. Coach Komiyama often says, "Defense is different from batting; it can be 100% successful," and I want to be a player who can convey that this is the charm of defense, and a player who can win the Golden Glove Award many times. To do that, I think it's essential to strengthen my batting and continue to play throughout the year, so I'd like to work hard with that goal in mind.
Yoshino: My strengths are hitting long balls in a wide range and hitting home runs, so I would like to aim for the home run title, the RBI title, and the triple crown. I would like to be able to show off my defensive skills by taking advantage of my strong shoulders, in addition to my batting.
I think we have an image of "Yoshino the hitter" and "Yamagata the defenseman," so I would be happy if I could win the batting title and Yamagata the defensive title, and we could meet again someday at the NPB AWARDS ceremony. I hope we will continue to be good rivals and have long careers together.
Yamagata: Together with our seniors who have gone on to play professional baseball and are doing well as members of the Waseda baseball team, we both want to carry the "Waseda banner" on our shoulders.
The words written on the colored paper were "If you keep trying, you can do it" (Yamagata) from the manga "Haikyu!!" and "To infinity and beyond" (Yoshino) from the movie "Toy Story".
No.892
Interview, text and photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Shiori Kato , 4th year, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
【Profile】
Tsubasa Yoshino: Born in Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from Toho High School. Outfielder, right-handed, left-handed batter. Played in the spring league from his first year, won the home run title and was named to the Best Nine in the fall of his third year, and was selected to represent Japan University in his fourth year. His favorite Waseda meal is a set of Zaru Udon and Mini Mabo Bowl from Nagomi, located near the Abe dormitory. He is a big Disney fan, and even during the season, he would sometimes go to Tokyo Disney Resort with his teammates on off days. His favorite character is Woody, the main character from the movie "Toy Story" (Pixar Animation Studios), and he says he is attracted to his strong sense of justice.
Shu Yamagata : Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Waseda University Senior High School. Infielder, right-handed batter and thrower. Played in the fall league from his second year, won the Best Nine in the spring of his fourth year, and was selected to represent Japan University in his fourth year. His favorite Waseda meal is the sashimi set meal at Kawauchi. His hobby is piano, which he started playing in the second year of elementary school due to his older sister's influence, and he is good at Chopin's "Fantaisie-Impromptu." His favorite manga is "Haikyu!!" by Haruichi Furudate (Shueisha), and he sympathizes with the libero, whose role is to support the team defensively.
The first round of the Waseda-Keio match in the Tokyo Big 6 Baseball Autumn League. Yoshino is on the left, and Yamagata is on the right.
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